On beholding this wonderful act, all the inhabitants of Bruj were astonished. In the morning, having gone to see Dewee, they all returned together to Brindabun.
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,—O lord of the earth! Huldhur and Gobind one moonlight night were singing in the forest with the cowherdesses, and enjoying themselves, when a demi-god, attendant of Kooverù, named Sunkhchoor, who had a jewel on his head, and was very powerful, came forth amongst them. He saw the cowherdesses engaged in sports on one side, and in another direction Shree Krishnù and Buldeo intoxicated, and singing in a state of great delight. A thought having occurred to him, he collected all the women of Bruj together, and drove them before him. The women were frightened, and called out to Krishnù and Bulram to protect them. The brothers having heard the cries of the women, uprooted a tree, and seizing it in their hands, rushed forth as drunken elephants rush upon lions, and told the cowherdesses not to be at all alarmed, as they had arrived. The demi-god, looking upon them as the agents of his destruction, was filled with fear; and ran off for his life, leaving the cowherdesses. Nund Lal left Buldeo with them, and went after Sunkhchoor himself, and seizing him by the hair behind, brought him to the ground. After this, lowering his hand, he cut off his head, and taking possession of his jewel, gave it to Bulram.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,—Raja! whilst Huri remained in the jungle pasturing the cows, all the women of Bruj went and sat near Nund’s wife, and sung the praises of their lord, and related the sports in which Shree Krishnù had engaged in the forest.
“Friend! when he plays on the flute, animals and birds derive pleasure. Dewee, seated with her husband in a chariot, is fascinated; hearing the notes with the greatest delight. The bracelets and rings on his hand steal away all sensation from the agitated mind and body.” Then one of the women of Bruj said, “The clouds were so overcome, that they ceased to thunder. Huri sings joyfully standing in one position, and makes his eye-brow, feet and cheek keep time. The doe and deer are fascinated with the notes. The Jumna is turned from its course; and the cows gather together. The charmed clouds cast a shadow, and form a canopy over Krishnù’s head. At one time Krishnù retired to arbours with thick foliage; at another, all sat with him under a fig tree. The cows roamed about behind him; and when they were collected, he took them to water. In the evening Huri returned, and the cows lowed on hearing the sound of the flute.”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O great king! in this manner the cowherdesses constantly celebrated the great fame of Krishnù during the whole day: and going forth in the evening to meet Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, derived the greatest enjoyment from his society. And at the same time the Ranee Jusodha, having wiped the dust-covered face of her son in a most affectionate manner, was delighted to embrace him.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! one day Shree Krishnù and Bulram, having given pasture to the cows, were returning home in the evening from the jungle, when a demon, in the form of a huge bull, came amongst the cows. His body reached to the sky; his hard back was like a stone, his two sharp horns were standing erect: and blood-red eyes filled with rage. Raising his tail, he wandered about bellowing, sometimes he stopt, and then roamed about again, letting fall dung. He made his shoulders writhe, and ears shake. All the gods left their chariots, and ran off. With his hoof he dug up the bank of the river, and upset a hill with his back, and cast it on the ground. All were in consternation at that time; the supporters of the world, and the guardian deities of the ten quarters trembled. The earth quaked: the king of the serpent race, on whose head the world is supported, trembled. Cows dropped their calves, and women miscarried. On seeing the bull, the cows dispersed in every direction; and the inhabitants of Bruj ran off to where Krishnù and Bulram were coming up behind them. Making obeisance they said, “O great king! a little distance in front, there is an immense bull, standing in the road: save us from it.”
On hearing this, Shree Krishnù Chund, acquainted with the secrets of the heart, said, “Do not be afraid of it. It has come upon the earth in the form of a bull, because it desires its destruction from me.” On saying these words, he went forward, and on seeing the bull, Krishnù exclaimed, “Come to me; you, who have assumed a treacherous form? Why do you frighten any one else, why not come near me? The so-called lion’s enemy runs not after deer. Behold! I am Gobind, in the form of death, and have utterly destroyed many like you.”
He again called out, striking the upper parts of his arms in preparation for battle, “Come and fight with me.” On hearing these words, the enraged demon rushed forth with such impetuous violence, that it seemed as if a thunderbolt of Indrù’s were hurled upon the earth. As often as Krishnù drove him back, he recovered himself, and rushed on again. At one time, when Krishnù had dashed him upon the earth, he rose up in great fury, and pinned Huri between his two horns. Then Shree Krishnù Jee, escaping with activity, and placing his foot on one of the legs of the bull, laid hold of his horn, and twisted it in the same way, that a person would wring wet clothes. At length, the bull fell down, and its life ebbed out.