On hearing these words, Huri rose and started off; and going along came to the place were all the children were trying to pull the lizard out. On seeing Krishnù the children said, “Father! see what a large lizard this is; we have for a long time been trying to pull it out, but it will not come.”
O great king! having heard this speech, when Shree Krishnù Chund Jee descended into the well, and placed his foot on the lizard’s body, he relinquished his form, and became a very handsome man. In the form of a Raja, he continued to lay hold of Krishnù’s feet, joining his hands, and bowing his head, he solicited him, “O sea of compassion! you have shown me great favour in having taken thought of me in the midst of this great calamity.”
Shookdeo Jee said,—Raja! when in the form of a man, he began to address Huri thus, the Judoos’ children, and the sons and grandsons of Huri being astonished, enquired from Shree Krishnù Chund, “O great king! who is this, and for what crime, being transformed into a lizard, has he remained here, kindly tell us, in order that the perplexities of our minds may be removed.” Then Krishnù, without making any reply himself, said to the Raja, “Explain your history, so that all may hear it with attention. Who are you; whence have you come, and for what sin have you obtained this body?” The Raja replied, joining his hands, “You know it all, O lord of the Judoos! But as you ask me to relate my history, I will do so? My name is Raja Nurug, I gave numberless cows to brahmins for your sake; it so happened that one day I gave a great many cows in alms to brahmins, on another day one of those cows came back to me; which, without being aware of this circumstance, I gave away with other cows to another brahmin; as he took the cow away with him, the first brahmin recognizing it as his, said to him, ‘This cow is mine, I yesterday received it at the Raja’s, why are you taking it away?’ He replied, ‘I have just received it at the Raja’s, and am bringing it thence, how is it yours?’ O great king! those two brahmins came to me, disputing on this matter; I explained to them and said, ‘One of you receive from me a lakh of rupees in compensation for the cow, and one of you give up your claim to the cow.’ O great king! they both obstinately refused to listen to what I said; at length they both went away angry, leaving the cow with me; I continued to regret, and to be distressed at the circumstance. At the time of my decease, the messenger of Jum took me to Dhurumraj, who said to me, ‘Raja! your virtues are many, and your sins few; say, will you first receive the reward of your virtues, or suffer for your crimes?’ I replied, ‘I will suffer first for my sins.’ On hearing this, O great king! Dhurumraj said, ‘Raja! thou hast bestowed upon a brahmin a cow, which thou hadst already given away; for this fault be transformed into a lizard, and go upon the earth, and remain in a dry well in a forest, on the banks of the Goomtee; when, at the end of the Dwarpur age, Shree Krishnù Chund having descended upon the earth, shall go to you, you will then be released.’ O great king! from that time I have been lying in this blind well, in the form of a lizard, and have meditated upon your lotus feet; you have now come and delivered me from a great affliction, and carried me across the ocean of existence.”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—O great king! the Raja Nurug having thus spoken, took leave; and, sitting in a chariot went to Vishnù’s paradise; and Shree Krishnù Chund Jee explained to all the cowherds’ children, and began to say, “Do not any of you commit a crime against a brahmin, nor seize on a brahmin’s portion; whatever you may have vowed in your minds to offer, keep back no portion of it; speak the truth to brahmins. Jum has inflicted this punishment on one, who received back, what had been given to a brahmin; continue to be the servants of brahmins, submit to all the transgressions of brahmins; whoever respects a brahmin respects me, let not any one think a brahmin and me separate from each other, he, who shall suppose that there is a difference between me and a brahmin, shall fall into hell; and he who shall treat with consideration and honour a brahmin, shall obtain my favour; and shall, without doubt, go to heaven.”
O great king! having thus spoken, Shree Krishnù Jee took them all thence, and returned to the city of Dwarka.
CHAPTER LXVI.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! on one occasion, Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, and Bulram, the abode of happiness, were sitting in a jewelled house, when Buldeo Jee said to Krishnù, “Brother! when Kuns sent to invite us from Brindabun, and we went off to Muttra, then you and I promised the cowherdesses, and Nund and Jusodha, that we would return quickly, we have not gone there, but taken up our abode at Dwarka; they will be thinking of us. With your permission I will go and see the place of our birth, and will offer them consolation.” Krishnù gave his consent; and upon this, Bulram took leave of them all, carrying a ploughshare and pestle; and mounting his chariot, started off.
O great king! the Rajas of all the cities, towns and villages, Bulram Jee passed through, came out to welcome him, and escorted him with the greatest politeness; and he offered consolation to each of them. After some days’ journey, Bulram Jee arrived at the city of Awuntika; he paid his respects to the spiritual preceptor, who had instructed him in knowledge, and stayed about ten days with him. On taking leave of his preceptor, Buldeo Jee went on to Gokool, and beheld the cows every where in the jungle with their mouths open, not having eaten any grass, thinking of Shree Krishnù Chund, their minds wrapt up in the tones of his lute, wandering about lowing and panting; and behind them the cowherds’ children singing Huri’s praises, and imbued with affection for him, were going along; and on all sides the inhabitants of the city were commending Krishnù’s exploits and sports. Seeing this condition of the inhabitants and of the cows, on arrival at his birth-place, Bulram took compassion upon them, and his eyes filled with tears; all the cowherds’ children came running out, when they saw the flag and banner on the chariot, supposing that Shree Krishnù Chund and Bulram had come. Bulram descended from his ruth at their approach, and embraced and began to make the kindest enquiries from each of them; in the mean while, some one told Nund and Jusodha, “That Buldeo had arrived.” On hearing the news, Nund and Jusodha, and the cowherds rose and rushed out. Bulram, when he saw them from a distance coming towards him, ran and threw himself at the feet of Nund Rae; then Nund Jee shedding tears of joy, raised Bulram, and embraced him with the utmost affection, and forgot all the pains of separation; Bulram then went and laid hold of Jusodha’s feet, who fondly clasped him to her bosom, she embraced and clung to his neck, tears streaming from her eyes.
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja,—O great king! after this interview, Nund Rae Jee took Bulram into the house, and began to make kind enquiries, asking “If Oogursen and Basoodeo, and the Judoos, and Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, were all well. Do they ever think of us?” Bulram said, “Through your favour, they are all well and happy, and constantly sing of your good qualities.” Nund Rae was silent when he heard this; then the Ranee Jusodha, tears filling her eyes as she thought of Krishnù, said with great emotion, “Buldeo Jee! is Shree Krishnù, the star of my eyes, well?” Bulram replied, “That he was quite well.” Jusodha then began to say, “Buldeo! since Huri went hence, there has been a darkness before my eyes; and I think of him constantly, day and night, (during the eight puhurs)—and he has entirely forgotten me, and gone and taken up his abode at Dwarka; and behold, my sisters, Dewukee and Rohnee, have also relinquished all affection for me, consider Gokool as near Muttra; you have thought hitherto that we lived at a distance, Huri would come to see us and pay us visit; but they, (that is, Rohnee and Dewukee) have arranged that he shall not have another interview with us.”
O great king! when having thus spoken, Jusodha was in a state of the greatest agitation, and began to weep, Bulram Jee entered into explanations with her, and made her understand how matters really stood; and inspired her with confidence; afterwards when he had taken refreshment, and eaten pawn, and came out of the house, he saw that all the women of Bruj were emaciated and desponding with dishevelled hair, a dirty appearance, depressed in spirits, neglecting their domestic affairs, deeply in love, in the highest excitement of youthful desire, singing the good qualities of Huri, restless at his absence, and going about in every direction like drunken persons.