Having proceeded thus far with the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O lord of the earth! whilst engaged in these festive sports, a whim seized Krishnù, and he went with the cowherdesses to the banks of the Jumna. Going into the water and engaging in aquatic pastimes, after he had got rid of his fatigue, he came out; and having accomplished the wishes of them all, said to them, “There are four ghurees of the night remaining; go all of you to your homes.” The cowherdesses were sad at these words, and said, “Lord! how shall we go home, leaving your lotus-like feet? Our greedy minds do not approve of what you have suggested.” Shree Krishnù replied, “Meditate on me in the manner that religious devotees meditate; and wherever you may be, I will always be with you.” They were gratified at these words, and taking leave returned home; and no one at their houses was aware that they had not been all along at their respective house.
Having heard thus much of the history, Raja Pureechit said to Shree Shookdeo, the sage,—“O kind to the poor! Shree Krishnù Chund had come upon the earth to destroy evil spirits, and remove the burthens of the world, and, having conferred happiness on saints and religious men, to promote piety. Explain to me, why he engaged in festivities with other men’s wives; as it is the act of a dissolute person to enjoy himself with another man’s wife?” Shookdeo Jee replied, Raja! you do not understand this mystery, and regard the deity as a mortal. His body is glorious and pure, by remembrance of whom sin is obliterated, just as any thing falling into fire, itself becomes fire.
What cannot the powerful do? because by their acts they overcome fate: as Shivù took poison, and after having taken it made of it an ornament for his neck, and formed a black snake into a necklace. Who can understand his actions? Beings with power do nothing for themselves, but confer boons on all petitioners, who worship and hold them in remembrance.
The nature of Krishnù is this; that he seems to associate with all: but if you consider, you will perceive, that he appears as separate as the lotus leaf from the water. I have already narrated to you the history of the cowherdesses’ birth, and that Dewee and the mystical prayers of the Vedas were born, and came to Bruj to see and touch Huri. And in this manner Shree Radhika also, having obtained a blessing from Bruhmù, was born to be a servant to Krishnù Chund; and remained in the service of her master.
Shree Shookdeo Jee continued, O great king! we are told to believe all the acts that Krishnù performed, but not to turn our thoughts to the manner in which, and the means by which, they were performed. Whoever celebrates the fame of the lord of the cowherdesses, obtains, fearless and unmoved, the highest dignity. And the same benefits which are procured by bathing in the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage, are procured by celebrating the great renown of Shree Krishnù.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,—Raja! listen with attention, and I will relate to you, how Shree Krishnù Jee released a celestial dancer, and destroyed Sunkhchoor. Nund Jee one day called all the cowherds, and said to them, “Brothers! when Krishnù was born, I made a vow to my family Dewee and Unbika, that I would go in musical procession with all the city, and perform poojah on his twelfth birth-day. As, through the mercy of Dewee, I have lived to see his twelfth birth-day, which is to-day, we must go and perform the poojah.”
All the cowherds arose, on hearing these words of Nund Jee, and immediately brought forth from their houses all things necessary for the poojah. Nund Rae did the same, and loaded carts and bhangees with milk, curds and butter; and accompanied them with all his relations, and arrived at the abode of Unbika. Having gone and bathed in the river Suruswutee, Nund Jee sent for a family priest, and went, accompanied by all his retinue, to the temple of Dewee, and performed poojah. And having placed before her all the different articles they had brought to offer, and having performed the act of going round to the right by way of adoration, they exclaimed with joined hands and in a supplicating manner, “O mother! through your beneficence, Krishnù has attained the age of twelve years.”
Having thus spoken, and bowing their heads, they quitted the temple, and fed a thousand Brahmins. In consequence of the delay which this caused, Nund Jee remained there with all the inhabitants of Bruj, and they fasted, as they would at a place of holy pilgrimage. As they were sleeping at night, a boâ came and seized Nund Rae’s foot, and began swallowing it. He was alarmed at seeing this, and called out, “Krishnù! Krishnù! take thought of me quickly: otherwise the snake will swallow me up.” On hearing his voice, all the inhabitants of Bruj, both men and women, started from sleep, and came to where Nund was. Having struck a light, they saw a boâ lying on the ground, having hold of his foot. In the meantime, Shree Krishnù Chund Jee having arrived, placed his foot upon its back in sight of them all. On which the snake, immediately abandoning its former body, was transformed into a handsome man; and having made an obeisance, stood before them with joined hands. Then Shree Krishnù enquired, “Who art thou, and explain for what crime thou wast transformed into a snake?” He, bowing his head, said in a supplicating voice, “O thou who knowest the secrets of the heart! all the circumstances of my origin are known to thee. I am a celestial dancer, named Soodursun, and dwelt in the region of the gods; and through pride thought myself superior to all others in beauty and excellence of mind; I went forth one day, seated in my chariot, to the place where Angira, the saint, was sitting, engaged in religious devotion. And I went backwards and forwards a hundred times over him. Once on seeing the shadow of my chariot, he looked up, and being angry pronounced a curse upon me, saying, ‘O presumptuous: be thou changed into a boâ.’ As he uttered these words, I fell to the earth, in the form of a boâ.
“The saint told me at the time that my release would be accomplished by Shree Krishnù Chund. For this reason, I came and seized the foot of Nund Rae Jee, in order that you might come and grant me release. O lord of compassion! you have come, and mercifully released me.” Thus having spoken, the celestial dancer circled to the right by way of adoration; and having obtained Krishnù’s permission to depart, ascended his chariot, and went to the region of the gods.