Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo said,—O great king! listen attentively, and I will explain the seasons and the different sports Krishnù engaged in, in the course of them. The hot season came first, and by its arrival, took away all the pleasure of the world; and having heated the earth and atmosphere, made them like fire; but owing to the glory of Krishnù, there was constant spring in Brindabun. There creepers bloomed on numerous arbours of trees; flowers of different kinds blossomed, upon which there was the buzzing of swarms of bees. Kokilas poured forth their notes on the mango branches, and peacocks strutted about in cool, shady places. A sweetly scented breeze was blowing, and on one side of the jungle, the retired Jumna exhibited its beauty. Krishnù and Bulram left the cows, and were engaged in all sorts of rare sports with their companions, when a demon, named Purlunt, who had been sent by Kuns, came in the form of a cowherd. On seeing him, Shree Krishnù said to Buldeo with a wink—“This is no friend of ours, Bulbeer, this is an evil spirit, who has come in a disguised form. Let us take measures for his destruction, we cannot kill him while he is in the form of a cowherd; when he assumes his own form, do you kill him immediately.”
Having thus instructed Buldeo, Shree Krishnù Jee laughing and calling Purlunt to him, took hold of his hand and said, “Your appearance is most beautiful; you are certainly our friend, without any deceit.”
Having thus spoken, and taking Purlunt with him, he divided the cowherds’ children into two equal portions, taking half himself and giving half to Bulram Jee, and having made two of their young companions sit down, he and Bulram began to ask, and explain the names of fruits and flowers.
In this sport of explanation Shree Krishnù lost, Buldeo won. Then those who were on Shree Krishnù’s side ran off with the companions of Buldeo on their shoulders. Purlunt outstripped them all, taking Bulram with him, and having reached the jungle, he began to increase in size.
Buldeo on this black hill-like (monster,) appeared as beautiful as the moon in a dark-coloured cloud, and the splendour of his ear-rings was as dazzling as lightning, the perspiration fell from him like rain. Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O great king! when having got him alone, the demon was on the point of destroying Buldeo, he killed Purlunt with blows.
CHAPTER XX.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—Raja! when Bulram returned, after having killed Purlunt, he met Krishnù with his companions. And the cowherds’ children, who were in the jungle pasturing the cows, having heard that a demon had been killed, left their cows and came to look at him. The cows in the mean while went from one grass jungle to another. When the two brothers arrived, they could not see any cows.
The cows and cowherds were dispersed: they lost their road, and wandered about the grass and palm jungles. Climbing up trees, they (the cowherds’ children) called out to each other, and repeating names, they waived cloths in the air.
In the meantime, one of his companions came, and said to Krishnù, joining his hands, “O great king! the cowherds’ children and the cows having broken through (or destroyed,) the Mouj jungle have been mixed up together, just in the same way as in the months of Sawun and Bhadon, rivers rushing along with high waves, mix in the sea.” At this time they perceived that there was a fire blazing furiously. On seeing it, the cowherds and their companions, being greatly alarmed and frightened, called out, “Krishnù! Krishnù! save us quickly from this fire or we shall all be instantly burnt to death.” Krishnu said, “All of you shut your eyes.” When they had shut their eyes, Krishnù, having put out the fire in a second, caused another delusion, and having taken off the cowherds’ children with the cows into a fig tree forest, told them to open their eyes.
The cowherds having opened their eyes, said, gazing round, “Where has that fire gone, Krishnù? When did we come into the fig tree forest: this is indeed strange, Bulbeer?”