On hearing this message, Shree Krishnù Jee sent for ten of his relations; and, having received the nuptial presents, and given many gifts to the brahmin, allowed him to take leave; and went to his brother, Bulram, to make arrangements for the journey. Afterwards, the two brothers started thence, and went to the Raja Bheekmuk; and, having informed him of what had been proposed, took leave. Having come forth, they began to make all necessary arrangements, and collect all things necessary for the marriage procession; when, after some days, these arrangements were completed, and every thing was ready, Krishnù went in great pomp and splendour, with the marriage procession, from Dwarka to the city of Bhojkut. At that time, Shree Rookmunee Jee sat upon a glittering ruth with her son and grandson, and Shree Krishnù and Bulram were seated upon another ruth. At length after some days Krishnù arrived at Dwarka with them all.
O great king! on arrival of the marriage procession, Rookum, together with the Rajas of Kuling and other countries, went outside the city to meet it; and having invested all composing the procession in honorary dresses, and receiving them with the utmost respect and honour, escorted them to the appointed place of reception at the bride’s house; afterwards, having entertained them, he had them conducted to a hall erected for the occasion adorned with flowers, and he gave away the virgin in the manner prescribed by the Vedas; and he bestowed upon her so rich a marriage portion, that an account of it is impossible.
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! when the marriage ceremonies had been performed, Raja Bheekmuk went to the place of reception at the bride’s house, and, joining his hands and using much entreaty, whispered to Shree Krishnù Chund, and said, “O great king! the marriage has been completed, and every thing has gone on well; be pleased to make arrangements for a speedy departure, because his relations, the Rajas whom Rookum has invited, are all wicked and violent men. Do not let there be any quarrelling. I, therefore, have taken an opportunity of speaking to you, Moorari.” When he had thus spoken, and went away, Rookum came near Shree Rookmunee, and then Rookmunee exclaimed, “How shall we be able to return home? Your guests, the Rajas, are hostile, who are united with you; if you mean well, brother, arrange so that we may quickly reach home, otherwise you will see a pleasant state of affairs, succeeded by an unpleasant one.” Rookum replied, “Sister! be not at all anxious, I will first of all allow the different Rajas, who have come as my guests, to take leave, and will afterwards do as you wish.” With these words Rookum went thence to his royal guests; they all coming in a body, began to say, “Rookum! you have given so much wealth to Krishnù and Buldeo; and they through pride have not acted at all well, this is one subject of regret to us; and we are grieved on another account, which is, that Bulram brought dishonour upon you.”
O great king! Rookum was angry at this speech, when the Raja of Kuling, said, “I have something to say, which, with your permission, I will mention.” Rookum replied, “Mention it.” The Rajas said, “We have no concern with Shree Krishnù, but send for Bulram; and we will play at choupur with him, and win all his money: and great as his pride is, we will send him away hence empty-handed.” When Kuling had thus spoken, Rookum, after reflecting for a short time, went to Bulram Jee, and said, “O great king! all the Rajas send their compliments, and have invited you to play at choupur.” On hearing this, Bulbhuddrù went to accept the challenge; the Rajas rose, and bowed their heads on his coming. The Rajas then said with the greatest politeness to Raja Bulram, “You have had great practice at the game of choupur, we, therefore, wish to play with you.” With these words, they brought out and spread a cloth for playing at choupur; and Rookum and Bulram began playing; at first Rookum won ten times, and then said to Buldeo Jee, “You have lost all your money; what will you stake now?” The Raja of Kuling applauded this speech, and laughed. Observing this, Buldeo Jee bent his head, and became thoughtful; Rookum then staked ten crores of rupees at once, which when Bulram had won and taken up, they all began to wrangle and said, “Rookum’s dice has fallen, (that is, he has won,) why are you collecting the money?” Bulram returned the whole sum on hearing this, and staking a hundred millions took up the dice. Bulram won again, and Rookum lost; the Rajas, cheated a second time, and said, “That Rookum had won,” and thus exclaimed, “What do you know about gambling and dice, you mean villager! Rajas understand war and play, cowherds only understand about cows.”
On hearing this speech, the anger of Buldeo Jee was excited in the same manner, that the waves of the sea are swollen at the full moon. Bulram, however, reasoning within himself, contrived to stifle his wrath; and making another stake of seven millions, played again; again Buldeo won, and then again the Rajas falsely declared “That Rookum had gained the game.” When they had thus cheated, there was a voice from heaven, “Huldhur won and Rookum lost; O Rajas! why have you spoken falsely?”
O great king! when Rookum and the other Rajas having heard the voice from heaven, pretended not to hear it, Buldeo Jee was exceedingly angry, and said, “Although you have allied yourself with me by marriage, you have again quarrelled with me; O unjust and dishonest man! I will now put you to death, whatever opinion my brother’s wife may form of the deed. I will not now listen to any one on this subject, but will to-day deprive you of life, you deceitful wretch.”
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O king! after some delay, Bulram killed Rookum in the sight of all present: and having thrown Kuling down, knocked out all his teeth with blows, and said to him, “You also showed your teeth and laughed.” After this, having slain and put to flight all the Rajas, Bulram came to the place of reception at the bride’s house, and mentioned all that had occurred to Shree Krishnù Chund. On hearing the account, Huri departed thence with all his party, and had a safe and pleasant journey to Dwarka; joy was diffused throughout the city on his arrival, and there were festivities in every house. Shree Krishnù Jee and Buldeo Jee went into the presence of Raja Oogursen, and said, “O great king! through your excellence and glory, we have celebrated Unroodrù’s marriage, and have destroyed the very wicked Rookum.”
CHAPTER LXIII.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! if I could obtain the power of the lord of Dwarka, I would relate the whole history of the taking away of Ookha; listen with attention, and I will explain, how she saw Unroodrù in a dream at night, and lost her strength through sorrow; and how Chitrekha brought about a meeting between Unroodrù, and Ookha. In the generation of Bruhmù was first Kusyp, whose son Hirunkusyp was very mighty and renowned; and became immortal. His son Hurijun, a worshipper of Krishnù, was named Purladh, whose son was Raja Biroochun, and Biroochun’s son the Raja Bul, whose fame and excellence are still spread abroad on the earth. When Krishnù descended upon the earth in the form of a dwarf, he having practised a stratagem sent Raja Bul to the infernal regions. The eldest son of that Bul was Banasoor; a very potent and splendid monarch, he dwelt in Shronitpore, and went constantly to the mountain Kuelas to perform adoration to Shivù; he cherished the profession of brahmins, spoke the truth, and lived with his passions in complete subjection.
O great king! Banasoor having gone to the hill Kuelas, and performed adoration to Huri; and being absorbed in an intense feeling of affection, began in a state of ecstacy to play upon the hand-drum and dance and sing. Hearing him sing and play, Shree Muhadeo Bholanath was delighted, and began to dance with Parbutee, and play upon a hand-drum. After dancing for some time, Muhadeo was highly pleased; and having called Banasoor to him said, “Son! I have been highly gratified with your singing and dancing, ask a boon from me, and I will grant whatever you ask; you have played most agreeably, and my mind has been rejoiced at hearing you.”