O great king! when Shree Krishnù Chund had thus spoken, Suttrajeet took the jewel, and was ashamed, and Shree Krishnù Jee returned home in musical procession with Sutbhama, and lived happily with her in the royal palace. The Raja Pureechit interrupted Shree Shookdeo Jee in this part of the story, and enquired, “O abode of compassion! kindly explain, why the suspicion and calumny of the theft were fastened upon Shree Krishnù Jee?” Shookdeo Jee replied, Raja! Mohun had seen the moon, when it was four days old in the month of Bhadon; and hear me, whoever, having heard this history, shall see the moon when four days old in the month of Bhadon, shall escape unblemished.
CHAPTER LVIII.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! I will now describe how Sutdhunwa killed Suttrajeet, and, taking away the jewel, and giving it to Akroor, fled from Dwarka, listen with attention. The son of the blind Dritrasht (Doorjodhun) invited the Pandoos, and gave them beds in his house; at midnight, he surrounded the house with flames.
On hearing of this circumstance, the two brothers were greatly grieved and perplexed; and ordered the charioteer, Daruk, to bring their chariot, mounting which, they went to Hustinapoor, and descending entered the court of the Roroos, and there beheld them all sitting, emaciated and low-spirited; Doorjodhun was thoughtful; Bheekmuk was shedding tears; Dritrasht was in great affliction, and tears were even falling from the eyes of Dronacharuj; Bidooruth Jee was greatly dispirited, and Gundharee was sitting near him. And the other wives of the Roroos, thinking of the Pandoos, continued to weep and the whole court was sad.
O great king! seeing this state of affairs, Shree Krishnù and Bulram Jee went and sat near them, and made enquiries regarding the Pandoos: but all remained silent, and would not divulge any thing.
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O great king! Shree Krishnù and Bulram Jee, having heard of the burning of the Pandoos went to Hustinapoor; and there was in Dwarka a member of the family of Judoo, named Sutdhunwa, to whom Sutbhama had been first betrothed. Akroor and Krutbruma went together to him and both said to him, “Shree Krishnù and Bulram have gone to Hustinapoor; now is your opportunity, take your revenge upon Suttrajeet; because he has acted very wrongly towards you, in having given a girl, who was betrothed to you, to Shree Krishnù; and, in having abused you; there is no one here now to assist him.”
On hearing these words, Sutdhunwa rose in great wrath; and, having gone in the night to the house of Suttrajeet, called out; and at length, having by stratagem and force, put him to death, carried away the jewel. After this Sutdhunwa, sitting alone in his house, began to reflect, and to say to himself with regret, “By listening to Akroor’s counsel, I have made an enemy of Krishnù; Krutbruma and Akroor both came here, and advised me. If a good man speaks deceitfully, what control can any one have over him?”
O great king! whilst Sutdhunwa, thus regretting, repeatedly exclaimed, “No one has power over the future; the events of fate are not known by any one;” the wife of Suttrajeet, on beholding her husband lying dead, embraced his corpse, and wept and poured forth lamentations.
On hearing her cries, all her relations, male and female, speaking in a very confused, disjointed manner, began to shed tears and strike their bodies; and there was mourning in the whole house. Having heard of the death of her father Sutbhama came to where her father was lying; and having offered them all advice and consolation, and washed her father’s corpse in oil, sent for her chariot, and ascending it, went off to Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, and arrived after a journey of a day and night. Huri rose on seeing her, and enquired, whether all was well at home. Sutbhama replied, joining her hands, “How can things go on well without you, O lord of the Judoos! Sutdhunwa has brought calamity on me, by killing my father, and carrying off the jewel; your father-in-law’s corpse is preserved in oil. Remove all my griefs.”
Having thus spoken, Sutbhama Jee stood before Shree Krishnù and Buldeo Jee, and exclaiming “Alas, father! alas, father!” began to weep, and groan bitterly. On hearing her cries, Shree Krishnù and Bulram were at first very sad; and began, after the manner of the world, to shed tears. Afterwards, having consoled and comforted Sutbhama, they brought her thence with them to Dwarka.