Having taken the churning staff from the large dish, putting both his hands into it, and taking out the butter, he began to throw it about, and besmear his body with it; and kicking about his feet, and laying hold of his dress, he began to cry.
Then Nund’s wife, being frightened and angry, said, “Son! what have you done?” or “what sort of behaviour is this? Get up, and come along with me, and I will give you food,” Krishnù said, “I will not take any now; why did you not give it me at first, mother? For me to take it now would be a calamity.” At length, with coaxing and kindness, Jusodha kissed him, and took him in her lap, and gave him thick milk, and bread and butter to eat. Huri laughed and ate; Nund’s wife, placing a cloth over him in such a way that no one could see him, continued to feed him.
In the mean while a cowherdess came, and said, “You are sitting here, while there all the milk has boiled over the fire-place.” On hearing this, having quickly put down Krishnù from her lap, she ran off, and went and saved the milk; whilst Krishnù, having broken the vessels, containing the curds and buttermilk, destroyed the churning staves; and having taken a small earthen pot, filled with butter, ran off to the cowherds’ children. He found a wooden mortar, placed upside down, upon which he sat, and having seated his companions on four sides, they began to distribute the butter to each other laughing, and to eat it.
When Jusodha came back, after having taken off the milk from the fire-place, she saw that the court-yard and hall were greasy with curds and buttermilk. Reflecting, and considering upon this, she came forth with a stick in her hand; and searching about, came to the spot where Shree Krishnù had formed an assembly, and was eating and distributing butter. When she went behind, and placed her hand on him, Huri, seeing his mother, crying and entreating, said to her, “Mother! I do not know who caused the buttermilk to be spilt; let go of me.” Hearing him speak with so much humility, Jusodha, laughing and throwing away the stick, embraced Krishnù with the greatest delight, though pretending to be angry; and having brought him home, began to fasten him to the wooden mortar. Shree Krishnù contrived, that whatever string she fastened him with, should be too short. Jusodha sent for all the strings in the house; but nevertheless, Krishnù was not fastened—At length perceiving that his mother was vexed, he allowed himself to be bound. Nund’s wife having fastened him, and having exacted an oath from the cowherdesses, that they would not let him loose, began to occupy herself with domestic matters.
CHAPTER XI.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—Raja! whilst Shree Krishnù was bound, the recollection of a former birth occurred to him, when Narud had pronounced a curse on the two sons of Kooverù, whom it was necessary for him to liberate.—On hearing this, the Raja Pureechit said to Shookdeo Jee, “O great king! please explain how Narud, the sage, cursed the sons of Kooverù.” Shookdeo, the sage, said,—In the mountain Kylas, Kooverù had two sons, named Nul and Koover, who, attending upon Sivù, became very rich—One day, accompanied by their wives, they went into the forest for amusement; and having drank wine there, became intoxicated. Stripping themselves and their wives naked, they began to bathe in the Ganges, and throwing their arms round each other’s necks, indulged in various kinds of amatory playfulness, in the midst of which, Narud, the sage, made his appearance. On seeing him, the women came out of the water, and dressed themselves;—but the two men, who were intoxicated, remained where they were. Seeing their condition, Narud Jee began to say to himself, “They have become proud on account of their wealth; and for this reason, indulge in anger, and amorous sports—A man without wealth has no pride; and a wealthy man, no thought of religion, or irreligion.”—It is said, “that fools having cherished their false bodies, (that is, indulging in all sorts of luxury and excess,) forget themselves. At the sight of wealth, and their families (meaning, high connexions,) they are elated—and virtuous men do not entertain any pride of wealth in their minds, but regard good and bad fortune alike.” Saying this, Narud, the sage, pronounced a curse upon them—“For this crime, go to Gokool, and become trees; when Shree Krishnù descends upon the earth, he will liberate you.” Narud, the sage, thus cursed them, for which reason they came to Gokool, and were transformed into trees—and they were named Jumlajoorun.
Having narrated thus much, Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! recollecting this circumstance, Shree Krishnù, dragging along the wooden mortar, came to the place in which the trees named Jumlajoorun, were. On going there, having cast the wooden mortar across, between the two great trees, he gave such a sudden jerk, that the two trees fell down, uprooted; and two very handsome human beings, coming forth from them, and joining their hands, began to sing his praises—“O Lord! who, but you, would recollect such great sinners as we are.” Shree Krishnù said, “Narud, the sage, has shown great compassion towards you, in having granted you liberation in Gokool; through his beneficence, you have obtained me—Now ask from me any boon you wish.” Jumlajoorun said, “O lord of the poor! through the favour of Narud Jee, we have touched your feet, and obtained a sight of you; we have now no desire of any thing else; but be pleased to grant this much, that faith in you may always continue in our breasts.” On hearing this, Shree Krishnù, having granted what they asked, and laughing, dismissed them.
CHAPTER XII.
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,—Raja! when those two trees fell, hearing the sound, and being alarmed, the wife of Nund came to the spot where Krishnù had been tied to the wooden mortar; and all the cowherdesses and cowherds came also after her. When she did not find Krishnù there, being agitated in mind, Jusodha went about calling out, and repeating the name of Mohun—“Where has he gone, that was tied down? Has any one seen my boy Kunhya any where?” In the meantime, (or at this time,) a woman of Bruj, having come before Jusodha, said, “Two trees have fallen down, and there Krishnù has escaped.”
Having heard this, they all advanced and saw that two trees had indeed fallen down, uprooted, and Krishnù was sitting between them, tied to the wooden mortar, and contracted in size. Going up to him, Nund’s wife, loosing him from the wooden mortar, and weeping, clasped Krishnù to her bosom; and all the cowherdesses, supposing that he was alarmed, began to snap their fingers, and clap their hands to make Krishnù laugh. Upon this, Nund and Oopnund began to say to each other, “How have these trees, which have been growing up for ages, fallen down, uprooted; this strange occurrence cannot be understood, nor is the secret of it comprehensible.” Having heard this, a young boy explained the circumstances of the trees falling, exactly as they had occurred; but no one could understand them. One said, “How can these children understand such a secret as this?” Another said, “Perhaps it may be so, for who can comprehend the state of Huri?” Thus making remarks of various kinds, and taking Shree Krishnù with them, they all came with delight to Gokool: then Nund Jee gave many presents, and performed many charitable acts. After the lapse of some days, Krishnù’s birth-day came round: Jusodha sent an invitation to all their relations; and having given an entertainment, tied the anniversary birth-day knot. When they all sat down to eat, Nund Rae said, “Brethren! how can we possibly remain in Gokool? Every day, many acts of injustice are committed; let us go somewhere, where we can have grass and water”—Oopnund said, “If you go and live at Brindabun, you will live there with delight.” Having heard this speech, Nund Jee entertaining them all, and giving them seats after distributing pawn, sent for an astrologer, and enquired the proper division of time of (48) forty-eight minutes for the journey. He, considering, said, “To-morrow is a very good day for a journey in that direction; the spirits, attendant on good and bad luck, are on the left; the unlucky quarter is behind us, and the moon before us: you may start off early in the morning without any anxiety.” Having heard this, all the cowherdesses and cowherds went to their homes, but early in the morning they all assembled together, having packed up all their goods and chattels on carts. Nund Jee also accompanied them, with all his relations; and proceeding on their journey, and crossing the river, they arrived in the evening. Having propitiated the goddess Toolsee, they occupied Brindabun; and all began to live there with ease and pleasure.