O lord of the earth! when Shree Krishnù Jee had thus given expression to his mental grief, Basoodeo and Dewukee embraced the two brothers with the greatest affection, and forgot all their former affliction in their present joy. Having thus made their parents happy, the two brothers went thence to Oogursen, and joining their hands said, “Grandfather! be pleased to assume the regal power: this is a favourable constellation and a propitious day for doing so.”
When the Raja Oogursen had heard these words of Huri, he rose up, and having come and thrown himself at the feet of Shree Krishnù Chund, began to say, “O lord of compassion! be pleased to listen to my humble petition; that, as you have destroyed the great sinner, Kuns, and all evil spirits, and thereby conferred happiness on your worshippers, you should yourself ascend the throne and rule over Muttra, and grant protection to your subjects.”
Krishnù replied,—“O great king! the members of the family of Judoo have not any right of inheritance to the kingly power, a circumstance which is universally known. When the Raja Jujat was in his old age, he called his son Judoo, and said to him, ‘Give me your youth, and take my old age.’ On hearing this, Judoo thought to himself, ‘If I give my father my present youth, he, being young again, will have sexual connexion, the sin of which will fall on me: wherefore, it is better I should not do so.’ Having thus reflected and considered, he said to his father, ‘I cannot comply with your request.’ On hearing these words, the Raja Jujat was angry and pronounced a curse upon Judoo, saying, ‘Begone! none of your descendants shall ever have regal power.’ In the mean while, his younger son, named Poor, presented himself, and joining his hands said, ‘Father! give me your old age, and accept my youth; this body is useless to me: if any advantage can accrue to you from it, what can be better?’ When Poor had thus spoken, the Raja Jujat was highly pleased, and exchanged with him his old age for Poor’s youth, and said, ‘The succession to the throne shall continue in your family.’ For this reason, grandfather! as I am a descendant of Judoo, it is not right for me to exercise sovereign power. Do you ascend the throne, and assume royal authority and banish all solicitude. We will accomplish whatever you may order us to perform. We will inflict severe punishment on all, who do not obey your commands. And be not troubled with care and anxiety, but carry on a just and equitable government, and promote the welfare of your subjects. Cause search to be made for all members of the family of Judoo, who, from dread of Kuns, have abandoned their own cities to dwell under the authority of strangers, and grant them a happy settlement in Muttra. Worship brahmins, cows and the gods, and constantly give your attention to their protection and support.”
Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said, O incarnation of justice! Shree Krishnù Chund, the king of kings and the benefactor of his worshippers, knowing Oogursen to be one who offered devotion to him, having thus advised and seated him on the throne, made the marks of sovereignty on his forehead; and having raised the royal canopy over his head, both the brothers began to fan him.
All the inhabitants of the city were highly delighted, and began to shout forth exclamations of joyful praise, and the gods to rain flowers. O great king! having thus seated Oogursen upon the throne, the brothers brought away with them many rich dresses and jewels, and went thence to Nund Rae Jee, in whose presence they stood with joined hands, and said with the greatest humility, “How shall we speak in fitting terms of your greatness? If we had a thousand tongues, we could not explain your many excellent qualities. You have brought us up with the greatest affection as your own sons, and shown us the most tender kindness; and our mother, Jusodha, loves us greatly, fixes her kindest regards upon us, and always treats us as her own children; she never allows her mind to be estranged from us.” Shree Krishnù added, “Father! you must not be offended at my words, I will speak to you with sincerity, and will call you both my parents; but shall now remain for some days at Muttra, and having visited my brethren of the same caste, hear the history of the family of Judoo, and will gladden my mother and father with a meeting, for they have suffered great griefs on our account, if they had not had us conveyed to your house, they would not have endured any troubles.” With these words Krishnù placed the dresses and jewels before Nund, and, abandoning all affection, said, “Offer my respects to my mother by kissing her feet, and continue to love me with affection.”
On these words coming from Shree Krishnù’s mouth, Nund Rae was very sad, and began to heave deep sighs; and the cowherds’ children said to themselves, reflecting on what Krishnù had said, “This is a very strange speech he has made, we are inclined to infer from it, that he is about to deceive us, and go away, otherwise he would not have spoken so unkindly.”
O great king! after a short time, one of their companions, named Soodamù, said, “Brother Krishnù! what business have you now at Muttra, that you thus unfeelingly abandon your father? You have done well in destroying Kuns, and completing the work you came to accomplish. Unite now with Nund, and come and rule over Brindabun; be not eagerly desirous to reign here, you will not be so happy as at Brindabun. Fools, on obtaining sovereign power, forget themselves, and are delighted at beholding elephants and horses. Do not quit Brindabun to dwell elsewhere. Spring is perpetual there; the beauty of the thick woods and of the Jumna is never effaced from the mind. Brother! if you are determined on taking up your abode at Muttra, resigning the pleasures of Brindabun, not attending to my suggestion, and abandoning all affection for your parents, what accession to your greatness will you acquire by doing so. You will attend upon Oogursen, and suffer anxiety night and day. You must be subservient to him, on whom you have conferred the government. How will you submit to this disgrace? It is, therefore, most advisable that you should not cause grief to Nund Rae, but continue to remain with him. Think of the forests, the rivers and sports of Bruj. Forget not the herds! We will not let you go alone, O lord of Bruj! but will all accompany you.”
Having proceeded thus far in his recitation, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said to the Raja Pureechit,—O great king! when they had made many speeches to the above effect, ten or twenty of their companions remained with Shree Krishnù and Bulram; and they suggested to Nund Rae to go on, without any anxiety, with all others, and that they would come afterwards with Krishnù and Bulram. On hearing these words, the cowherds were in great agitation, as though they had been bitten by snakes; gazing on the face of Krishnù, and losing all resolution, they stood like pictures.
Buldeo Jee, perceiving that Nund Rae was deeply grieved, said to him, “Father! why are you so sad? We will return in a few days, after having accomplished what we have to do here. We send you on in advance of us, because our mother must be much disquieted by being left alone; she will, in a measure, be restored to confidence by your going.” Nund Jee replied, “Son! come once with us, and return after the interview.”
Having thus spoken, Nund was greatly disquieted and continued embracing his feet. The splendour of his understanding abated and became dull; he could not shed tears. O great king! when Shree Krishnù Chund Jee saw, that Nund and the cowherds’ children were greatly troubled in mind, without being under the power of delusion, he thought to himself, that they would not live, if separated from him. He then sent forth that particular delusive power belonging to him, which has deluded the whole world. This power deprived Nund and the cowherds of all understanding. Krishnù then said, “Father! why do you indulge in such regrets? Consider what a short distance there is between Muttra and Brindabun. We are not going far from you, that you should be so sad. The people of Brindabun must be in grief, and, therefore, we send you before us.”