When after some time, Oodho awoke, Nund, the chief, came and sat near him, and enquired after his son, Soorsen, and his great friend, Basoodeo and his family, and asked whether they still continued to love him. Nund added, “Give me news of my son, with whom you have abode constantly. Does he ever think of me, who am greatly grieved at his absence? He promised us all to return, but the time of his return has long elapsed. Jusodha constantly churns and makes butter for Krishnù, and places it apart for him. Does Krishnù ever think of her and the women of Bruj, who are deeply imbued with love and affection for him?”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O lord of the earth! in this manner enquiring the news and celebrating the former sports of Shree Krishnù Chund, Nund Rae Jee, being deeply impregnated with affection for Krishnù, and meditating upon him, became silent—“He has destroyed Kuns, and other powerful men; why should Krishnù now forget us?”
In the mean while the Ranee Jusodha, greatly agitated, and losing all sense and perception, came weeping bitterly to Oodho and enquiring after Bulram and Krishnù said, “Tell me, Oodho Jee! how has Huri passed his time so long without us, and what message has he sent us, and when will he return to us?”
On hearing these words Oodho Jee read the letter of Shree Krishnù and Bulram to Nund and Jusodha, and said, “Who can explain the greatness of those, in whose house Bhugwan has been born, and whom he has made happy by his sports? You are most fortunate, because how can the immortal Vishnù, the lord of Shivù and Bruhmù, who has neither mother, nor father, nor brother nor relations, whom you look upon as your own son, and constantly fix your thoughts and meditate upon, remain separated from you? Huri is constantly near those who love him; having assumed mortal shape for the sake of men, he has neither friends nor enemies, whether of high or low estate. Whoever offers adoration and worship to Huri, will be united to him, and become a follower of his. As the large black bee carries off another insect, and moulds it to its own form, and as it remains enclosed in the flower of the lotus, and does not leave it and fly away, although other bees buzz over it during the whole night: in like manner Huri fashions after his own model, and never abandons those who love him, and meditate upon him.” Oodho added, “Do not any longer regard Huri as your son, but reverence him as the deity. Krishnù, the lord, who knows the secrets of the heart, and befriends his worshippers, will appear and come to you, and accomplish all your desires: be not at all anxious in your minds.”
O great king! when in conversation of this kind the whole night, with exception of about an hour, was spent, Oodho Jee said to Nund Rae, “O great king! it is now time for churning: with your permission, I will go and bathe in the Jumna.” Nund, the chief, gave his assent; he remained seated where he was, engaged in thought and reflection, and Oodho Jee went in his ruth to the banks of the Jumna. Having taken off his clothes, and purified himself, he approached the water, and placing dust on his head, and joining his hands, singing the praises of the Jumna, sipping water in the palm of his hand, he went into the river; and having bathed, and performed his ablutions, and completed his meditations, adorations and libations, began to count his beads. At the same time, all the women of Bruj rose, and having swept and besmeared with mud and cow-dung, the inside of their houses, and having burnt perfumes and lighted lamps, began to churn. The sound of the churning was like thunder, and like the sound produced by anklets and ornaments for the toes. The beautiful women of Bruj, having churned took away the butter, and finished their household work, went all together for water.
O great king! the cowherdesses being distracted at separation from Krishnù, and deeply imbued with love for him, and celebrating his many excellent qualities with songs, began, as they went along the road, to meditate upon him, and sing of his sports. One said, “I have seen Krishnù;” another, “That he had run off and hid himself. He has laid hold of my arm from behind: Huri is now standing under the shade of a fig tree.” One remarked, “I saw him milking:” another, “I beheld him very early.” Some said, “He is tending herds; others, Listen! he is playing the flute. We will not go this road, as Krishnù will ask for presents. He will break our water pots, and untie the knots, on which we carry them; and will steal away our senses by his many glances. He is hid somewhere, and will come running towards us; and then where shall we escape.” The women of Bruj went along, conversing thus with each other; their minds being much agitated in consequence of their separation from Krishnù.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,—O lord of the earth! when Oodho Jee had finished counting his beads, he came forth from the river, and putting on his clothes and ornaments sat down in his ruth. As he came near Nund’s village on his way from the banks of the river, the cowherdesses, who had come for water, saw his ruth from afar coming along the road. On seeing it, they began to say to each other, “Whose ruth is this? that is coming towards us, let us see, and afterwards proceed on our journey?” One of them said, “Friend, I hope that deceitful creature, Akroor, has not come, who took off Shree Krishnù Chund to live at Muttra, and caused him to kill Kuns.” Another said, “Why has this treacherous wretch come again, he has already taken away the root of our lives, and what more will he take away?”
O great king! carrying on various conversations of this kind, the women of Bruj stood still, having taken the water-pots from their heads, and placed them on the ground. In the mean while as the ruth came near some of the cowherdesses having seen Oodho a short way off, said to each other, “Friend! why this is some one of a black colour with lotus-like eyes, and a crown on his head; wearing a garland that reaches to his feet, dressed in yellow silk, and with a scarf of the same colour. He is sitting on a ruth like that of Shree Krishnù, and is looking at and coming towards us.” One of them remarked, “This person has been at Nund’s house since yesterday; his name is Oodho, and Shree Krishnù Chund has sent some message by him.”
On hearing these words, the cowherdesses, observing a retired spot, and laying aside all propriety and reserve, rushed towards Oodho Jee—and regarding him as the friend of Krishnù, they made obeisance, and enquired after Krishnù, standing on all sides of the ruth, with joined hands. Seeing their affection Oodho Jee left his ruth; and the cowherdesses having seated him under the shade of a tree, sat themselves down on all sides of him, and began to say in a most affectionate manner: “You have done well, Oodho, in coming, and bringing us news of Krishnù. You associate constantly with him; please inform us what message he has sent. You have been sent here only for the sake of his father and mother; he thinks of no one else. We have sacrificed every thing for him; our souls are entangled in his feet. He is occupied with his own affairs exclusively; and has given pain to all by his departure. And as birds leave trees without fruit, Huri in like manner has abandoned us; and although we have given up every thing to him, he has not become ours.”