O great king! whilst these two were thus engaged in discourse, the brahmin arrived; and having pronounced a blessing said, “Shree Krishnù Chund Jee has arrived, and is encamped in one of the royal enclosures; and Buldeo Jee is following with all the army.”
On seeing the brahmin, and hearing what he had said, Rookmunee Jee’s spirits were revived; and then she was as happy as a devotee, who has obtained the fruit of his penance. After a short time, Shree Rookmunee Jee, with joined hands, and bowing her head, began to say in presence of the brahmin, “By coming to-day, and mentioning the arrival of Huri, you have restored me to life; what return shall I make you for this? If I were to give the wealth of the universe, I should still be in your debt.”
Having thus spoken, she remained fearful, and abashed. The brahmin being highly gratified, and pronouncing a benediction, rose and went thence to the Raja Bheekmuk, and explained all the circumstances of Shree Krishnù’s arrival. On hearing this authentic account, the Raja Bheekmuk rose up and proceeded to the enclosure where Shree Krishnù and Bulram, the abodes of pleasure, were living; prostrating himself on his arrival so as to touch the ground with the eight principal parts of his body, he appeared before them, and with joined hands said, “You are the root of my mind, Huri; how shall I explain to you what our wicked enemies have done? My desires have been accomplished by your coming here.”
Having thus spoken, and having had Krishnù comfortably housed, Raja Bheekmuk returned to his own palace, and reflecting began to say, “Every one knows the exploits of Huri; who can say, how his arrival here has been brought about?” And all the inhabitants of the city, male and female, came to where Shree Krishnù and Buldeo were, and sung of their renowned actions, and celebrated their praises, saying to each other, “Rookmunee is a fit bride for Shree Krishnù. Bruhmù grant that this match may take place, and last long.” In the mean while, upon a sudden thought the two brothers went to look at the city; crowds of men and women were collected at every market, road and cross-road, to which the two brothers went; who sprinkling perfumes and sandal, and rose-water, and raining down flowers on them stretched out their hands, and pointed out the two brothers to each other: “Bulram is dressed in blue, and Krishnù in yellow silk, they have crowns on their heads, and tremulous ear-rings; their lotus eyes, wish to steal away our hearts.” The two brothers went on viewing the city; at length, having seen all the city and the forces of Raja Sissoopal, they returned to their own army.
On hearing of their arrival, Raja Bheekmuk’s eldest son was exceedingly wroth, and going to his father began to say, “Say, truly, at whose invitation has Shree Krishnù come here? I cannot understand how he can have come, without being invited. A marriage is an occasion and affair of pleasure, what business has he here? Wherever these two deceitful, perverse creatures go, they occasion injury. If you value your own welfare, tell me, truly, by whom were they invited?”
O great king! Rookum having thus endeavoured to terrify his father, rose and went thence, uneasy and disturbed in mind, to the court of Sissoopal and Joorasindhoo, and said to them, “Bulram and Krishnù have come here; inform all your people of this, that they may be on their guard.”
On hearing the names of the two brothers, Raja Sissoopal looking back upon the exploits and history of Huri became low-spirited, and began to be very thoughtful, and Joorasindhoo said, “Wherever these two come they commit some violence or other, they are very powerful, and treacherous. In Bruj they have slain with ease Kuns and other mighty demons; do not look upon them as children, they have never been defeated in any encounter. Shree Krishnù destroyed my army seventeen times; when I attacked the eighteenth time, he ran away, and climbed up a mountain, which I set on fire, and he, by some trick, escaped to Dwarka. No one understands Krishnù’s nature, he has come here to commit violence. He is very deceitful, and will practise great deceit, and no one will be able to understand him. Arrange, therefore, your plans, so that our characters may be preserved.” When Joorasindhoo had thus spoken Rookum replied, “What things are they, that you are so apprehensive about them? I know them well; they wander about the jungles, singing and dancing, and playing the flute, and tending herds. What do those village children know of the science of war? Banish all anxiety from your mind, I will in a second repel and slay Shree Krishnù and Bulram, and all the descendants of Judoo.”
Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! Rookum returned home that day after having entered into explanations with Joorasindhoo and Sissoopal, and inspired them with confidence, and they spent the night in uneasiness.
In the morning Rajas Sissoopal and Joorasindhoo, considering it the marriage-day, were engaged in all the bustle and preparation of bringing forth the marriage procession: and there were festive rejoicings also at the palace of the Raja Bheekmuk. In the mean while Rookmunee Jee sent a message to Shree Krishnù Chund by a brahmin, saying, “O abode of kindness! this is the marriage-day; when two ghurees of the day are left, I will go to perform poojah at a temple of Dewee, eastward of the city. My modesty and good name have been entrusted to you; act, so that they may be preserved.”
Afterwards, when the day was somewhat advanced, her female friends and companions, and relatives arrived; on coming there, having first filled up a square place in the court-yard with large pearls, and arranging upon it a golden chair, studded with ornaments, they seated Rookmunee upon it, and had her rubbed with oil by the hands of seven married women. Afterwards, having applied perfumes and scented paste, and bathed and washed her, they decked her out completely with jewels and ornaments; and arraying her in a red boddice, they placed her in her full bridal dress on the chair. When about four ghurees of the day remained, the youthful Rookmunee, accompanied by her female friends and companions, went forth in musical procession to perform poojah to Dewee; and Raja Bheekmuk sent some of his people to protect her. On hearing that the Raja’s daughter had gone outside the city to worship Dewee, Raja Sissoopal, through dread of Shree Krishnù Chund, summoned some of his mighty heroes, and powerful warlike attendants; and, having given them most minute instructions, sent them to guard Rookmunee Jee. They came, bringing with them their arms and weapons of all kinds, and accompanied the Raja’s daughter. At that time Rookmunee, accompanied by crowds of her female companions, proceeding veiled under the guard and protection of black demons, appeared as beautiful as the moon surrounded by stars, in the midst of a black cloud. At length, after proceeding some distance, she reached the temple of Dewee. Having gone to the temple, she washed her feet and hands, and sipping water from the palm of her hand, became purified. The Raja’s daughter having made an offering of sandal, rice, flowers, perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, went through the ceremony of worshipping Dewee with great faith, and according to the injunctions of the Vedas. Having afterwards prepared food agreeable to female brahmins, she arrayed them in elegant dresses, and making sectarial marks on their foreheads, and fastening thereon the unbroken rice used in the oblation, made them presents, and received their blessing. Having afterwards offered adoration to Dewee by going round to the right, that lovely creature, with a face like the moon, of the colour of the flower chumpa, with deer-like eyes, a voice like the kokila, and the gait of an elephant, taking her companions with her, was occupied with the thought of meeting Huri. And as she was on the point of returning, after having finished all the necessary rites and ceremonies, Shree Krishnù Chund, seated on his ruth, arrived alone at the spot where the warlike attendants of Rookmunee were standing fully armed.