On hearing this, Sunbur seized his weapons, the passions of his mind being greatly inflamed with rage, like a person, who has trodden on a snake’s tail in the dark. Sunbur sent for all his army, and taking Purdiyomun outside, he, in great fury, raised a club, and said in a voice of thunder, “Let us see, who will now save you from death.” When he rushed towards him, and brandished the club, Purdiyomun Jee easily evaded and parried his attacks. Being furious with rage he then discharged arrows of fire, which he quenched with arrows of water. Sunbur in great wrath then expended all the weapons he had and Purdiyomun warded them off. When he had not a single weapon left, he rushed forward furiously and grappled with Purdiyomun Jee, and they both began to wrestle. After some time, Purdiyomun flew off with him to the sky, and there cut off his head with a sword; and on his return, slew the army of demons. Sunbur being slain, Ruti was made happy. And at that time, a chariot descended from the sky, on which Ruti and her husband ascended, and went to Dwarka with the same celerity, as a beautiful cloud with lightning flies; and on arriving there, they observed houses of gold, glittering like lofty hills. On descending from the chariot, they both retired at once to the female apartments. All the women were startled at seeing them; and were ashamed, thinking that Shree Krishnù had brought a beautiful woman with him. But no one knew, that it was Purdiyomun; all of them called him Krishnù. When Purdiyomun asked where his father and mother were, Rookmunee Jee began to say to her companions, “Friends! who is this in the likeness of Huri?” They replied, “We think, that this must be a son of Shree Krishnù’s.”
On hearing these words, a stream of milk came forth from the breast of Rookmunee Jee, and her left arm began to shake; and her mind was in a state of fear and agitation for the meeting; but without her husband’s permission, she could not meet him. At that time, Narud Jee came there, and related all the preceding history, and tranquillized the minds of them all; then Rookmunee Jee ran forward, and kissing her son’s head, clasped him to her bosom; and having his marriage celebrated with all due forms and ceremonies, received her son and daughter-in-law into her house. At that time, all the descendants of Judoo, men and women, came and joined in festive rejoicings, and were highly delighted. Songs of congratulation resounded in every house, and happiness was diffused throughout the city of Dwarka.
Having recited thus much of the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O great king! Purdiyomun having thus been born, having spent his childhood in another place, killed his enemy, and came with Ruti to the city of Dwarka, there was joy and festivity in every house.
CHAPTER LVII.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! Suttrajeet charged Shree Krishnù Chund first with the theft of a jewel; and afterwards, finding his accusation to be false, he was ashamed, and gave his daughter Sutbhama in marriage to Huri. Raja Pureechit enquired from Shree Shookdeo Jee, “O abode of compassion! who was Suttrajeet, where did he obtain the jewel, and how did he accuse Huri of theft, and afterwards finding the charge false, in what manner did he give his daughter in marriage; explain these circumstances to me?” Shree Shookdeo Jee replied,—O great king! be pleased to listen, and I will explain all the circumstances. Suttrajeet belonged to the family of Judoo, who for a long time was engaged in an act of very difficult religious penance in honour of the sun. The sun-god was highly gratified, called him and having given him a jewel, said, “This jewel’s name is Soomuntka, it contains an unbounded power of conferring happiness and wealth; worship it continually, and look upon it as equal to me in power and splendour; if you meditate upon it, having offered up prayers, and performed acts of penance, abstinence and fasting, you shall obtain whatever you ask for; into whatever country, city and house this jewel shall enter, there misery, poverty and death shall not have access. There shall be constant plenty and increase, and prosperity.”
O great king! having thus spoken the sun-god allowed Suttrajeet to take leave; who went home with the jewel. After this, rising, early and performing his morning ablutions, and finishing his religious meditations and libations, he was in the habit of offering adoration to the jewel, with unbroken rice, flowers, sandal, perfumes, lamps and consecrated food; and taking away the eight loads of gold, which came from the jewel, he was delighted.
One day whilst engaged in worship, beholding the beauty and brilliancy of the jewel, he thought to himself,—“It will be a good act to take this jewel and show it to Shree Krishnù Chund.” Having come to this resolution, and fastening the jewel on his arm, Suttrajeet went to the court of the descendants of Judoo. On seeing the brilliancy of the jewel from a distance, the descendants of Judoo stood still with admiration, and began to say to Shree Krishnù Jee, “O great king! the sun is coming here from a longing desire to see you. Bruhmù, Roodrù, Indrù and all the gods worship you; and meditating upon you during the eight puhurs, sing of your celebrity. You are the immortal first male, Vishnù, Luchmee has become your servant, and constantly waits upon you. You are the god of all the gods. No one knows your nature. Your attributes and qualities of mind are limitless; now, O lord! will you be concealed, having come into the world?”
O great king! when the descendants of Judoo began to discourse thus, on seeing Suttrajeet approach, Huri said, “This is not the sun; it is Suttrajeet, one of the family of Judoo, who has obtained a jewel for having performed an act of penance in honour of the sun. Its splendour is equal to that of the sun. He is coming with that jewel, fastened on his arm.”
O great king! whilst Shree Krishnù Jee was thus speaking, Suttrajeet came and sat down in the court, where the descendants of Judoo were playing at “choupur” and dice. The minds of all were fascinated by beholding the brilliant lustre of the jewels, and Shree Krishnù Chund remained also looking at it. Suttrajeet, then, upon something occurring to his mind, took leave, and returned home; and afterwards used constantly to come to the court with the jewel fastened about his neck. One day, the descendants of Judoo said to Huri, “O great king! take the jewel from Suttrajeet, and give it to Raja Oogursen and obtain celebrity in the world. This jewel does not suit him, but is fit for a Raja.”
On hearing this, Shree Krishnù Jee smilingly said to Suttrajeet, “Give this jewel to the Raja, and acquire for yourself a great name and reputation in the world.” On hearing this proposal to give the jewel away, he made an obeisance, and rose up; and, engaged in thought, went to his brother, and said, “Shree Krishnù Jee asked me for the jewel to-day, and I did not give it him.” When Suttrajeet had thus spoken, his brother, Pursen, was angry, and took the jewel, and threw it on his own neck; and arming himself, and mounting a horse, went out hunting. Having gone into an extensive forest, he began to kill various kinds of deer and antelopes with his bow and arrows. A deer having rushed out before him, he was enraged, and pursued it on horseback; and in the course of the pursuit came alone to a large deep cave, which had existed for ages. On hearing the sound of the deer and horse’s feet, a lion came forth from the cave; and killing all three, and carrying off the jewel, went into his cave again. The light was so great in consequence of the jewel coming into the cave, that its rays extended to the infernal regions. A bear, named Jamwunt, that had been with Shree Ramchund in the descent of Ram upon the earth, and had since the Treta age dwelt in the regions below with all his family, seeing that shining light in the cave, rose up; and pursuing his journey came to the lion. Having killed the lion, he carried off the jewel, and went with it to his wife who fastened it in her daughter’s cradle. The child constantly played and amused herself with the jewel, which filled their abode with a perpetual stream of light.