On hearing these words, Huri reflected for a short time; and Bulram having, in the mean while, come to him, said, “O great king, you have descended upon the earth to remove the miseries of your worshippers, be pleased now to assume a body of fire, and destroy the forest in the form of an evil spirit.” At these words Shree Krishnù Chund went with him to Oogursen, and said, “O great king! give us an order to fight, and do you, having taken all the descendants of Judoo with you, protect the fort.” After these words, when they came to their father and mother, all the inhabitants of the city came round them and being greatly agitated began to say, “O Krishnù! how shall we escape from the hands of these demons?” Huri, perceiving that his mother and father and all the other people were alarmed, explained to them and said, “Suffer not any anxiety; this army of demons, which you now see, shall in a moment be dispersed in every direction, in the same manner that bubbles disappear in the water.”
Having thus explained, and restored their confidence, he took leave; and as Krishnù advanced, the gods sent two ruths, filled with arms for him. The chariots stood before them, and the two brothers entered them.
The two chiefs of the family of Judoo went forth and reached Joorasindhoo’s army safely, they came to the place where Joorasindhoo was standing. On seeing them Joorasindhoo said with great haughtiness to Shree Krishnù Chund, “Fly from before me, why should I kill you, you are not my equal that I should attack you? I will see what Bulram is made of.”
Shree Krishnù Chund replied, “O proud fool! what silly talk is this of yours. The brave never make high sounding speeches to any one; but behave with moderation to all; when occasion requires they exhibit their power; can they be called brave, who extol their own greatness? There is a saying, that when it thunders, it does not rain; so, wherefore, do you talk boastingly?”
At these words, Joorasindhoo was enraged; and Shree Krishnù and Buldeo retired a short distance, and stood in a state of preparation. He pursued and attacked them with his whole army, and called out, “O wicked wretches! where will you fly from my presence? You have long escaped alive; I know not what may be your thoughts, but you shall live no longer, I will send you and all the descendants of Judoo to the same place, where Kuns and all his demons have gone.”
O great king! when that devil had made this wicked speech the two brothers retired some distance further, and stood. Shree Krishnù was armed with weapons of all kinds, and Bulram Jee with a plough and wooden pestle. As the army of demons approached them, the two heroes shouted and rushed upon them like lions on a herd of elephants, and encountered them sword in hand. Then the kettle-drums sounded like thunder, and the assembled army of the demons was spread in every direction like clouds; the din of arms was as continued rain; in the midst of which Krishnù and Bulram, whilst fighting, appeared as brilliant and beautiful, as lightning amidst thick clusters of clouds. All the gods were sitting in their chariots, and viewing the battle from the sky, they celebrated the praises of Krishnù, and earnestly wished that he might be victorious; and Oogursen and all the descendants of Judoo were extremely anxious, and regretted that they had allowed Shree Krishnù and Bulram to go forth to the army of demons.
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, having proceeded thus far in his narrative, said, O lord of the earth! when in the course of the battle a great portion of the army of demons had been destroyed, Buldeo Jee descended from his chariot, and bound Joorasindhoo. Upon this, Shree Krishnù Chund said to him, “Brother! let him live, do not kill him, because he will return and again bring more demons with him; whom we will destroy, and remove the burthens of the world, and if we do not spare his life, we shall lose the evil spirits, who have fled.” In consequence of this expostulation of Krishnù, Buldeo Jee released Joorasindhoo, who went off and joined those who had fled from the field. Looking around he said with regret, “My whole army has vanished, the greatest calamity has befallen me. Why should I live? I will abandon my home, and turn devotee.” A councillor said to him, expostulating, “Why should a wise man like you regret, sometimes there is defeat, and sometimes victory? No one should abandon his government and home. What matters it that you have been defeated in this battle, we will collect our forces again, and send Krishnù and Buldeo, and all the descendants of Judoo to heaven; banish all anxious thought.”
O great king! the councillor having thus expostulated, returned home with Joorasindhoo, and all the demons, who had fled from the battle; and there began to assemble another army. Shree Krishnù and Bulram saw blood flowing in a stream on the battle-field, in which chariots without their charioteers were carried along like boats; in different places the dead elephants appeared like hills, from whose wounds blood spouted forth like springs. There Muhadeo, accompanied by goblins and spirits, and wearing a necklace of human heads, was dancing and singing in the greatest glee; and female spirits and goblins, and the attendants of Devee were drinking blood out of skulls; vultures, jackalls and crows were devouring the bodies, and contending with each other for the flesh.
Having recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! the regent of the winds collected all the chariots, elephants, horses and demons together, and fire burnt them to ashes in a second. The five elements were re-united with each other, all saw them come but no one saw where they departed. Having thus put the demons to death, and removed the burthens of the earth, Shree Krishnù and Bulram, the benefactors of their worshippers, came to Oogursen, and, making a salutation, said with joined hands, “O great king! through your excellence and majesty, we have destroyed and routed the army of the demons, rule now without fear, and promote the happiness of your subjects.” The Raja Oogursen was very much pleased at these words, and made great rejoicings, and began to rule with justice.
After some time, Joorasindhoo came forth to attack with another army as large as the former one, which Shree Krishnù and Buldeo destroyed and dispersed as before. In this manner, Joorasindhoo attacked seventeen times with his twenty-three armies, which Krishnù drove back, after having inflicted great slaughter on them.