Basoodeo Jee having then placed Shree Krishnù in a basket, put it on his head, and went off immediately to Gokool—Above the gods were pouring rain, behind him lions roared. Basoodeo became anxious, on beholding the great stream of the Jumna.
Standing on the bank of the river, Basoodeo began to reflect “that behind lions are roaring, and in front the fathomless Jumna is flowing, what shall I do now?” Saying this, and fixing his thoughts upon Bhugwan, he went into the Jumna; and the depth of the river increased as he advanced. When the water came up to his nose, he was very much frightened—Perceiving that he was agitated, Shree Krishnù, extending his foot, uttered the mystical sound, “hoon,” and in consequence of the stretching out of his foot, the Jumna became fordable. Basoodeo having crossed the river, came to Nund’s house, and found the doors open; on going in, he found all asleep. Dewee had thrown her into such a trance, that Jusodha was not conscious of having been delivered of a girl. Basoodeo, having put Krishnù asleep by the side of Jusodha, and taken away her infant daughter, quickly returned homeward. After re-crossing the river, he came to the spot where Dewukee was sitting in anxious thought. Having given her the little girl, he told her all the news of his journey. On hearing the account, Jusodha, delighted with joy, exclaimed, “O husband! what need we care now, if Kuns should put us to death, since our son has escaped from the hands of that demon.” Having told thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit, When Basoodeo had brought the female infant, the doors of their prison became closed as before, and both had chains and handcuffs fastened on again—the little girl began to cry. On hearing the noise of the crying, the sentinels awoke, and snatching up their arms, and being on the alert, began to fire their muskets. On hearing their report, the elephants began to scream, lions to roar, and dogs to bark. At this time amidst the darkness of night, and in the rain, a sentinel came, and having joined his hands, said to Kuns, “O great king! your enemy has been born.” On hearing this, Kuns fell down insensible.
CHAPTER V.
On hearing of the birth of the infant, Kuns trembling with fear arose, and taking a sword ran reeling along; his hair dishevelled, bathed in sweat, he came to his sister in extreme agitation. When he snatched away the child from her, she said, joining her hands, “O brother! this infant girl is thy niece, do not kill her, as she is my last child. You have put to death my sons, the loss of whom afflicts me greatly; why will you increase your crimes by killing this infant without cause?”
Kuns replied, “I will not give the child alive to thee; that is, I will not let her live, because whoever marries her, will put me to death.” Having said this, and gone outside, just as he was about to dash the child to pieces, she escaped from his hand, and ascended to heaven, and exclaimed, “O Kuns! what have you gained by attempting to dash me to pieces, thy enemy has been born somewhere, and now thou shalt not escape with life?”
Having heard this, Kuns filled with regret, came to where Basoodeo and Dewukee were standing, and on his arrival, had their handcuffs and leg-irons cut off; and submissively said, “I have committed a great crime in putting your sons to death; how will this stain be washed out, in what birth shall I obtain salvation? Your gods were false, who said, that in Dewukee’s eighth pregnancy a boy should be born; this has not been the case, but a girl has been produced, and she too having escaped from my hands has ascended to heaven; exercise compassion, and do not allow your thoughts to dwell upon my sins; because no one can obliterate what has been written in fate. After having come into the world, a man cannot be free from life, death, good and bad fortune. They, who are wise, consider life and death alike, and the proud look upon them as friendly and hostile. You are great observers of truth in having brought your sons to me.”
Having thus spoken, when Kuns began repeatedly to entreat them, Basoodeo Jee said, “O great king! you say truly, that the fault is not your’s in this case, as God had written what has happened in our fate.” Hearing this, Kuns, being highly delighted, brought Basoodeo and Dewukee in the most friendly manner to his house; and having entertained them, and presented them with robes, brought them back again with the greatest respect: and having sent for a counsellor, he said, “Dewee has stated, that my enemy has been born; for which reason, put the gods to death wherever you find them; because they have spoken falsely to me, in stating, that my foe should be born in the eighth pregnancy of Dewukee.”—The counsellor said, “O great king! what great difficulty will there be in destroying them: they are beggars from birth; and whenever you show anger, they will run away. What power have they of opposing you? Bruhmù is engaged during the eight puhurs in reflection, and contemplation: Muhadeo eats bhang, and the thorn apple: Indrù has no power over you—There remains Narayun, who does not understand war; he remains enjoying himself with Luchmee.”
Kuns said, “Explain, how can we find Narayun, and conquer him?”—The counsellor replied, “If you wish to conquer Narayun, destroy all those in whose houses he dwells during the eight puhurs: Brahmins, worshippers of Vishnù, Jogees, devotees with matted hair, religious asceticks, Sunyasees, wandering religionists, and all the worshippers of Huri:—seize them all, from children to old men, so that not one may be left alive.” On hearing this, Kuns said to the counsellor, “Do you go, and destroy them all.” Having obtained this order, the counsellor, taking with him all sorts of devils, departed, and having gone into the city began to search for cows, Brahmins, children, and the worshippers of Huri, and adopting treachery and violence, to put them to death.
CHAPTER VI.
Having narrated so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—Raja! once on a time, Nund and Jusodha performed a great religious penance for a son; when Shree Narayun himself gave a promise, that he would be born in their house. When Shree Krishnù came at midnight on a Wednesday, the eighth of the dark part of the month Bhadon, Jusodha being awake at the time, and having beheld her son’s face, sending for Nund, was highly delighted, and thought that she had gained every object of her life. Early in the morning, Nund Jee having got up sent for pundits and astrologers, who came with their books and almanacks, and Nund offered them seats with great respect, and honour. They, according to the precepts of the Shastrùs, having fixed upon the year, month, lunar-day, solar-day, division of the zodiack, the lucky moment, and exact ray of light, and having considered the rising of a sign of the zodiack, and having settled a division of time equal to (48) forty-eight minutes, said,—“O great king! after consulting our Shastrùs we are of opinion, that the child about to be born will be a second deity, as Bruhmù; having destroyed all evil spirits, and relieved the burthens of Bruj, he shall be called the lord of cowherdesses, and the whole world shall sing his praises.” On hearing this, Nund Jee made a vow to offer up two hundred thousand, (200,000) cows, with horns of gold, hoofs of silver, backs of copper, and arrayed in yellow silk robes; and having given all sorts of gifts and presents to Brahmins, and receiving their blessing, he dismissed them—After this, he sent for all the musicians and singers of the city: they came, and began to display their accomplishments; the musicians to play, the dancers to dance, singers to sing, and the bards to celebrate praises. And all the cowherds of Gokool made their wives bring vessels, containing sour milk, on their heads. Assuming various disguises, dancing and singing, they came to offer congratulatory presents to Nund. On their arrival, they threw about, and at each other, so much coagulated milk and clay, that the whole of Gokool seemed to be covered with coagulated milk—When they had finished this sport, Nund having entertained them all, presented them with dresses, made the marks of “tiluk” on their foreheads, and given them pawn, (betel leaf,) dismissed them.