Raja! Narud Jee having thus spoken, took leave of Krishnù, and, having made the usual parting salutation, returned to his own dwelling playing on the lute and singing. Shree Krishnù Chund Jee continued his pastimes at Dwarka.
CHAPTER LXXI.
Shree Shookdeo Jee, said,—O great king! on one occasion Shree Krishnù Chund was diverting himself with Rookmunee during the night, and she was sitting in a state of ecstatic delight, and feasting her partridge-like eyes by gazing on the moon-like countenance of her beloved, when in the mean while the night passed away, birds chirped, there was a red colour in the sky; the chukoor suffered from separation; ruddy geese were in pairs, the lotus bloomed and water lilies withered, the beauty of the moon was diminished, and the splendour of the sun increased; all people were awake and began to occupy themselves with their domestic affairs, at that time Rookmunee Jee, quitting Huri’s side, began to engage thoughtfully and modestly in household matters; and Shree Krishnù Jee, having performed his ablutions, washed his hands and face, bathed and finished his prayers, meditations, adoration and oblations of water, having given gifts of various kinds to brahmins, completed his daily work, received the daily offering presented to him early in the morning, and eaten it with cloves, cardamums, mace and nutmegs, arrayed himself in elegant clothes and ornaments; and putting on arms, went to the Raja Oogursen, and having afterwards come into the court of the descendants of Judoo, sat upon a jewelled throne.
O great king! at that time a brahmin went and said to the door-keepers, “Go and tell Shree Krishnù Chund Jee, that a brahmin is standing at the gate, who is desirous of seeing him; and with his permission, the brahmin will come in.” On hearing what the brahmin said, a door-keeper went and informed Bhugwan, “O great king! a brahmin is standing at the gate, desirous of seeing you; and, with your permission, he will come into your presence.” Huri replied, “Bring him immediately.” On Krishnù uttering these words the door-keepers ushered the brahmin quickly into his presence; and, on seeing him, Shree Krishnù Chund descended from his throne, and, having made an obeisance, and advancing and taking him by the hand, brought him into the palace, and having seated him by his side on the jewelled throne, thus addressed him, “Say, O divinity! whence and for what purpose hast thou come?” The brahmin replied, “O sea of compassion and brother of the poor! I have come from the Mugudh country, and bring a message from twenty thousand Rajas.” Krishnù enquired, “What message?” The brahmin replied, “O great king! the twenty thousand Rajas, whom Joorasindhoo has forcibly confined, putting handcuffs and leg-irons upon them, have, with the utmost submissiveness, sent this message by me to you. O lord of the poor! this is your custom that whenever demons vex your worshippers you descend upon the earth and afford them protection. O lord! in the same manner, that you released Purhlad from Hirunkusyp, and an elephant from the shark, be pleased, compassionately, to release us also now from this great affliction; we are in grievous trouble; and, with exception of you, no one has power to rescue and deliver us from this heavy calamity.”
O great king! on hearing these words, Krishnù being mercifully disposed towards them, said to the brahmin, “O divinity! do not suffer anxiety any more on their account, it shall now be my office to remove their afflictions.” The brahmin was gratified by this speech of Shree Krishnù Chund’s, and began to give him a blessing. In the mean while Narud Jee made his appearance there, and Shree Krishnù Chund, having made a salutation to him, enquired, “Narud Jee! you go and come every where, tell me how are Joodisthur and the other Pandoos, my five brothers, getting on now-a-days, and what are they about? It is long since I heard any thing about them; and for this reason my thoughts are occupied with them.” Narud Jee replied, “O great king! I am just come from them, they are quite well, but are much, and anxiously occupied in making preparations for a royal sacrifice, and are saying repeatedly, ‘Without Shree Krishnù Chund’s assistance, our sacrifice will not be complete.’ For this reason, O great king! be pleased to adopt my suggestion, and first make arrangements for their sacrifice, and afterwards proceed elsewhere.”
O great king! on hearing this speech of Narud Jee’s, Krishnù sent for Oodho Jee, and said to him, “Oodho! you are my friend, never absent from my mind or sight, there is an immense crowd at both places; to which will you go first O brave warrior? so many Rajas, suffering grievous misfortune, are expecting my approach and here the Pandoos have prepared a sacrifice.” Thus did Krishnù address Oodho.
CHAPTER LXXII.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—O great king! Shree Krishnù Chund Jee allowed the brahmin to take leave, who brought the message of the Rajas, having first said to him, “O divine being! go and say from me to all the Rajas not to be at all anxious, as I shall come soon and liberate them.” With these words, O great king! Shree Krishnù Chund dismissed the brahmin, and having taken Oodho Jee with him, went into the court of the Rajas Oogursen and Soorsen, and mentioned all the news he had heard in their presence. On hearing which they were silent; upon this Oodho Jee said, “O great king! do these two things; first, release the Rajas from the power of Joorasindhoo, and afterwards go and make arrangements for the sacrifice; because no one, except a Raja, can take part in a royal sacrifice; and there are twenty thousand Rajas collected at that place; if you will set them free, they will, without invitation, assist in the sacrifice, showing you the greatest respect for your favour to them. O great king! if any one else were to conquer the ten quarters of the world, he would not find so many Rajas collected together; it is therefore most advisable that you go to Hustinapoor; and, uniting and consulting with the Panduvùs, do what is necessary to be done.” O great king! Oodho Jee after this again said, “Raja Joorasindhoo is very liberal, and a great respecter and worshipper of the cow and brahmin; every one who asks him for any thing receives it; no beggar ever returns disappointed from his presence; he never speaks falsely, and fulfils every promise he makes, and he has the strength of ten thousand elephants; which strength is equal to that of Bheemsen. Lord! if you go there, take Bheemsen also with you, I have an idea, that he will perish by Bheemsen’s hand.”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,—Raja! when Oodho Jee had thus spoken Shree Krishnù Chund, having taken leave of Rajas Oogursen and Soorsen, said to the descendants of Judoo, “Get my army ready, as I shall go to Hustinapoor.” On hearing this, the descendants of Judoo arranged and brought the whole army, and Krishnù accompanied it with his eight queens.
O great king! when Shree Krishnù Chund, accompanied by his family and army, and sounding the great kettle-drum, proceeded from the city of Dwarka to Hustinapoor, the beauty of the scene exceeded all description; in front of all were the castles of the elephants; on the right and left was the protection of chariots and horses; in the centre was the seraglio; and in rear of all, accompanied by his army, and affording universal protection, came Shree Krishnù Chund Jee; wherever they encamped, a handsome, elegant city of many coss in extent was formed. The Rajas of different countries came in a state of alarm to pay visits, and offer presents; and Krishnù, seeing that they were terrified, consoled them in every way; at length, having proceeded with this great pomp and show, Huri arrived with them all in the neighbourhood of Hustinapoor. Upon this some one went, and said to the Raja Joodisthur, “O great king! some monarch with a very large army and a great retinue of followers, has advanced into your country, be pleased to take measures quickly for arresting his progress, otherwise he will be here immediately.”