Having thus spoken, Unroodrù Jee read incantations from the Vedas, and sent for a stone a hundred and eight hands long, and taking it in his hand, coming forth and joining the army, challenged Banasoor. On his coming out to give the challenge, Banasoor bent his bow and rushed upon Unroodrù Jee with his whole forces, just as a swarm of honey bees would rush upon any one. When the demons began to discharge all sorts of weapons, Unroodrù Jee was enraged, and began to deal about several such forcible blows with the stone, that the whole army of demons became broken and dispersed like the scum upon stagnant pools: some were killed, others wounded, and all who escaped whole, fled from the field. Banasoor afterwards rallied them, and renewed the fight.
O great king! all the weapons the demons discharged, fell in every direction, but not one touched Unroodrù; the weapons, which would have fallen upon Unroodrù, the edge of the stone cut them off half way. The strokes of the stone could not be endured, inflicting wounds like those inflicted by Indrù, the lord of the gods, with a thunderbolt; heads were split in two by a blow of it, thighs were broken and arms and bodies cut through. When the battle had lasted some time, and Banasoor was left alone, the rest of the army having been cut in pieces, he was astonished, and laid hold of and fastened Unroodrù with a running noose, saying to himself, “Now shall I conquer this invincible man?”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O great king! when Banasoor fastened Unroodrù in a running noose, and took him to his court, Unroodrù thought to himself, “Whatever troubles may befal me, it is not right to falsify what Bruhmù has said; for if I were to escape by force from the running noose, he would be dishonoured; I ought, therefore, to remain bound.” And Banasoor kept constantly saying, “Youth! I will put thee to death presently; if thou hast any one to assist thee, send for him.” Mean while, Ookha having heard of her husband’s condition, said to Chitrekha, “Friend! a curse will fall upon me, if I eat, drink and sleep at my ease, whilst my husband remains in affliction.” Chitrekha replied, “Friend! be not at all anxious, no one will be able to do any harm to your husband; banish all care, for Shree Krishnù Chund and Bulram Jee will soon come to the attack, accompanied by all the descendants of Judoo; and, having exterminated the army of demons, will release and take away with them you and Unroodrù; it is their custom to carry off by force and stratagem, in any way they can, all the pretty daughters of Rajas they hear of; this is the grandson of him, who carried off Rookmunee, the daughter of Raja Bheekmuk, after having fought with the very powerful and renowned Rajas Sissoopal and Joorasindhoo, in like manner, they will take you off also; be not, therefore, at all apprehensive.” Ookha said, “I cannot endure this affliction. They have bound my husband in a running noose and carried him off; a poisonous flame, in consequence thereof, burns up my body. How shall I be able to enjoy peaceful repose, and how can my eyes behold the grief of my beloved? Why should I live, since he, who is dearest to me, has been plunged in calamity. I will neither eat nor drink—now Banasoor destroy my husband! O grant me, Banasoor, an asylum for my husband; (that is, spare his life,) whatever is to be, will happen, what can any one say to prevent it? I will not respect the world nor the Vedas, but will consider my husband’s grief and happiness as my own.”
O great king! when Ookha had thus spoken to Chitrekha, she went to her husband, and sat down near him, without fear or alarm. Some one then went and said to Banasoor, “O great king! your daughter has left the house, and gone to that man.” When Banasoor heard this, he sent for his son, Uskundh, saying to him, “Son! bring away your sister from the court, and take her into the house, and confine her there, and do not allow her to go out.” On receiving his father’s order, Uskundh went to his sister, and spoke very angrily to her, “What is this you have done, you wicked creature, throwing aside all respect for the world, and consideration for your own modesty, you low thing? Why should I kill you (or what death shall I make you die?) It will be a crime, and I fear for my own disgrace.” Ookha replied, “Brother! say and do what you please, I have obtained the husband whom Parbutee Jee gave me, whom else shall I run after, leaving him, and thereby bring disgraceful abuse upon myself? Women of low degree abandon their husbands: this is the common custom of the world, and always has been so. If a woman is disgraced by living with him to whom the deity has united her, she must submit.”
O great king! on hearing these words, Uskundh was enraged, and seizing her by the hand, carried off Ookha thence to the house, and did not allow her to leave it; he afterwards took Unroodrù Jee also thence to some other place and confined him. At that time Unroodrù was in great affliction at being separated from his wife, and the Raja’s daughter denied herself all food and drink in the absence of her husband, and began to perform a very severe penance. Some days after this, one day Narud Jee, the sage, went first to Unroodrù and explained to him “Not to be at all anxious, as Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, and Bulram, the abode of happiness, would soon release and take him away thence, after having fought with the evil spirits.” He afterwards went to Banasoor and said, “Raja! he, whom you have fastened in the running noose, is the grandson of Shree Krishnù, and the son of Purdiyomun, and his name is Unroodrù. You know the descendants of Judoo well, act according to this knowledge, I have come to put you upon your guard in this matter and have done so.” On hearing this, Banasoor allowed Narud Jee to take leave, saying to him, “Narud Jee! I know all about it.”
CHAPTER LXIV.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! when Unroodrù had been four months bound, Narud Jee went to the city of Dwarka, and there beheld all the Judoos very sad, disconsolate and emaciated with grief. Shree Krishnù and Bulram were sitting amongst them, very thoughtful and anxious, and saying, “Who has carried off the child hence?” They were talking in this strain, and there was such weeping and lamentation in the female apartments, that no one could hear another speaking. On the arrival of Narud Jee, all persons present, both male and female, rose up to meet him, and came and stood in his presence greatly agitated and emaciated with grief, sad and shedding tears and lamenting. They afterwards joined their hands, and bowed their heads with great submissiveness, and expressing the deepest emotion, began to enquire from Narud Jee, “Say, truly, O sage! in order that we may preserve our sinking lives, where shall we receive intelligence of Unroodrù? Say, O holy man! so that we may rely on your words.” Shree Narud Jee replied, “Suffer not any anxiety of mind, and banish all sorrow, Unroodrù Jee is alive and well at Shronitpore. He has gone there, and enjoyed amorous pleasure with the daughter of Banasoor; for which reason, he has laid hold of and bound him with a running noose; he will not, on any account, release Unroodrù without fighting. I have mentioned this secret to you; form your future plans accordingly.”
O great king! Narud Jee departed, when he had given them this intelligence; afterwards all the descendants of Judoo went to the Raja Oogursen, and said, “O great king! we have received exact intelligence that Unroodrù Jee is at Shronitpore, at the house of Banasoor; he has enjoyed the Raja’s daughter, and the Raja has, in consequence thereof, kept him bound with a running noose. What are your orders now to us?” On hearing this account, Raja Oogursen said, “Take all my army with you, and use your utmost endeavours to release and bring Unroodrù here.”
When Oogursen had thus spoken, all the Judoos, O great king! took the Raja’s army with them, and accompanied Bulram, and Shree Krishnù Chund, and Purdiyomun Jee, mounting on the sovereign of the feathered race, arrived before them all at Shronitpore.
Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! when Bulram Jee, taking all the army of Oogursen and sounding the large kettle-drum, went from the city of Dwarka to Shronitpore, it is impossible to describe the splendid appearance of his cavalcade. In front of all were “must” elephants in rows, with huge tusks; on which the large kettle-drum was sounded, and flags and banners were waving. Behind these, was another row of elephants with howdahs, on which the bravest, most heroical and the mightiest of the Judoos were seated, wearing coats of mail and helmets, and completely armed; immediately following, were successive lines of chariots, after them troops of horsemen were moving along on horses of all colours with collars, harness, tasselled ornaments and iron armour, making them pace as in the manege, and move in an artificial manner, and dance about and jump and plunge. In the midst of them, panegyrists were singing songs of praise, and bards were singing war songs. Behind them came the foot soldiers, thick as a host of locusts, armed with shields, swords, knives, daggers, spears, javelins, bows, arrows, clubs, quoits and every description of warlike weapon. The sound of the drums and other musical instruments in the midst of this procession, contributed greatly to the fine effect and beauty of the scene. The dust flew up, and spread to the sky, the sun was hid and became like night; the ruddy goose and its mate were separated; wives enjoyed themselves with their lords, the lotus bloomed, and the white esculent lotus withered, noctural animals prowled about, supposing that it was night.