Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,—O great king! hear the progress of the history. When Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, came to Dwarka, after having slain Kaljumun, released Moochkoond, deceived Joorasindhoo, accompanied by Buldeo Jee, life was revived in all the descendants of Judoo; and joy was diffused over the whole city: the inhabitants began to enjoy ease and happiness.
Sometime after this, several of the descendants of Judoo went one day to the Raja Oogursen and said, “O great king! it is now necessary to make some arrangements for Bulram Jee’s marriage, because he is of a marriageable age.”
On hearing these words, the Raja Oogursen sent for a brahmin, and entering into many explanations, and giving very particular instructions, said, “Go and betroth Bulram in some good family.”
Having thus spoken, and ordered the mixture rolee, rice, a rupee and a cocoanut to be brought, Oogursen marked the brahmin’s forehead; and presenting him with the rupee and cocoanut allowed him to depart. He pursued his journey, and arrived at the abode of the Raja Rewut in the Anurta country. Having betrothed Bulram Jee to his daughter Rewutee, and fixed upon a favourable moment, he brought the marks for the forehead by the hands of the Raja’s brahmin, and presented them to Oogursen at Dwarka; and informed him of all that had occurred, while he was in the Raja’s country. The Raja Oogursen was very much pleased with the account; and, giving a festive entertainment, he sent for the brahmin, who had brought the marks, and received them from him; and dismissed him with a large present of money, and afterwards went himself in great splendour and state, accompanied by all the descendants of Judoo, to the country of Anurta, and celebrated Bulram Jee’s marriage.
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said to the Raja,—O lord of the earth! in this manner the descendants of Judoo celebrated Bulram’s marriage. And Shree Krishnù Chund Jee, accompanied by his brother, went to Koondulpore; and having fought with evil spirits, carried off Rookmunee, the daughter of the Raja Bheekmuk, who had been betrothed to Sissoopal; and married her at his own home.
Having heard this, the Raja Pureechit enquired from Shree Shookdeo Jee, “O sea of compassion! how did Shree Krishnù Chund go to Koondulpore, and slay the evil spirits, and carry off Bheekmuk’s daughter, Rookmunee? Please explain these circumstances to me.” Shree Shookdeo Jee replied, O great king! listen with attention, and I will give you a full account of all the circumstances.
In the Bidurbh country there was a city, named Koondulpore, the Raja of which, Bheekmuk, was renowned, and known to fame in all parts of the world. Shree Seeta Jee descended upon the earth in his house. At the birth of his daughter, the Raja sent for astrologers, who came, and having determined upon a fortunate moment, named the child Rookmunee, and said, “O great king! we are of opinion, that this girl will possess an excellent disposition, be a receptacle of beauty, and equal Luchmee in excellent qualities, and be married to the first male, Vishnù.”
When the astrologers had thus spoken, Raja Bheekmuk was highly pleased, and indulged in great rejoicings and made many presents to brahmins. After this, the girl increased daily in stature, like a digit of the moon; and delighted her parents by her childish play. When she was a little older, she engaged in all kinds of rare games with her female companions. One day this young creature, with eyes like a deer, a voice like the kokila, complexion like the flower chumpa, and a countenance like the moon, went with her companions to play at blind man’s buff. Whilst engaged in the diversion, her companions said to her, “Rookmunee! you have come to spoil our sport; because wherever you hide with us in the dark, there is a flood of light from the brilliancy of your moon-like countenance, which prevents our being concealed.” On hearing this speech, she smiled and was silent.
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! she constantly played in this manner with her companions, and her beauty greatly increased every day. In the mean while Narud Jee came one day to Koondulpore; and, having seen Rookmunee, went to Shree Krishnù at Dwarka, and said, “O great king! a young virgin has been born in the house of the Raja Bheekmuk, who is a mine of beauty and virtue and excellent qualities, equal to Luchmee, and worthy of being wedded to you.” From the time he heard this account from Narud Jee, Huri thought of her night and day. In this manner, O great king! Shree Krishnù Chund heard of the name and excellent qualities of Rookmunee; and I will now explain how she heard of the fame and celebrity of Krishnù. On one occasion several beggars from different countries went to Koondulpore, and sung the celebrated exploits of Krishnù, his birth at Muttra, his joining with the cowherds’ children in childish games at Gokool and Brindabun; and how he had made the descendants of Judoo happy by destroying evil spirits, and removing the burthens of the earth. All these circumstances they mentioned. On hearing the recital of Huri’s wonderful actions, the inhabitants of the city were greatly astonished, and said to each other, “When shall we see him, of whose exploits we have heard.” By some means, the beggars contrived to enter the court of the Raja Bheekmuk, and began to sing of the famous deeds, and the attributes of Krishnù. At that time the beautiful Rookmunee had gone up to a balcony; and the voices of the beggars, reciting Krishnù’s exploits, reached her ears. She wondered and was absent in mind; and turning round and peeping, wanted to see the beggars. The Raja’s daughter, having heard Krishnù’s history, remained absorbed in thought of him; the creeper of love sprung up in her breast; she was delighted and agitated by turns. Huri stole away her senses, memory and mind. Shree Shookdeo Jee continued,—O lord of the earth! in this manner Shree Rookmunee Jee heard of the fame and celebrity of Krishnù, and from that day she continued to think of him day and night, during the eight puhurs, and sixty four ghurees; whether asleep or awake, sitting, standing, walking, eating, drinking or engaged in amusement; and celebrated his good qualities with songs. She was in the habit of rising very early, and having bathed, and made a mud image of the goddess Parbuttee, she put upon it the mixture roolee, rice and flowers; and preparing perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, propitiated the goddess with joined hands, and downcast looks, and pronounced these words in presence of the image, “Take pity on me, O Parbuttee! give me the lord of the Judoos as a husband, and remove all my troubles.” In this manner Rookmunee passed her life. One day she was amusing herself with her companions, when the Raja Bheekmuk, beholding her, began to think and say to himself, “She is now of an age to be married; if we do not marry her to some one quickly, people will laugh. There is a saying, that it is useless for a man, in whose house there is a grown-up unmarried daughter, to offer gifts, or perform good acts, or be engaged in prayers, or religious penance; because he obtains no benefit from the performance of such acts, until he shall have discharged the debt due to his daughter.”
Having thus reflected, the Raja Bheekmuk came into his court; and, having summoned all his ministers and relations said, “Brothers! my daughter is marriageable, it is necessary to look out for a bridegroom for her, of good family, a mine of good qualities, an abode of beauty and of a good disposition.”