Raja! Shree Krishnù Chund, after thus speaking to his brother, went on to the field of battle, and there saw, that the demons had, in every direction, committed great slaughter on the descendants of Judoo, who were carrying on the contest in very great confusion, whilst Huri was standing there, and reflecting thoughtfully on this state of affairs, Buldeo Jee also arrived; at that time Shree Krishnù said to Bulram, “Brother! go and protect the city and the inhabitants, I will come after I have destroyed these demons.” Having received Krishnù’s order, Buldeo Jee went into the city, and Huri to the field of battle, where Purdiyomun was contending with Salub. The shell was sounded on the arrival of the lord of the Judoos, when all knew that Shree Krishnù Chund had come.
O great king! when Krishnù went upon the field of battle, Salub flew off with his chariot to the sky, and began to pour down arrows of fire from thence like rain. Then Shree Krishnù Chund Jee counted sixteen arrows, and discharged them with such force, that Salub’s chariot and driver were utterly destroyed, and he fell reeling down; recovering himself after his fall, Salub’s struck Huri on the left arm with an arrow, and called out, “Ho Krishnù! I wish to make trial of your strength, and fight with you; you have by fraud or force killed Sunkhasoor, Bhomasoor, Sissoopal and other very powerful men: but it will be a difficult matter for you to escape now from my hands; you have now to deal with me, lay aside deceit and begin the contest; the powerful Banasoor and Bhomasoor are expecting you, Huri, I will send you where you will not be able to come back from; if you run away, you will not gain greatness.” When Krishnù, in reply to this speech, had said, “O stupid, proud, cowardly fool! Chutrees and firm, resolute, brave men do not begin with talking in a high sounding strain to any one;” the demon rushed upon Huri, and aimed a very furious blow with a club at him, which Krishnù easily warded off; then Shree Krishnù Chund Jee struck him with a club; and on receiving the blow, he remained senseless for two hours under the protection of his delusive power; he afterwards assumed a disguise, and coming into the presence of Krishnù said, “Your mother, Dewukee, who is in a state of great agitation, has sent me here: your enemy Salub has seized and carried off Basoodeo.”
O great king! the demon having thus spoken, went thence; and having made an illusory Basoodeo, brought it bound into the presence of Shree Krishnù and said, “Behold! Krishnù, I have brought your father bound, and I will now cut off his head, and destroy all the descendants of Judoo, and fill the sea with them, afterwards I will kill you and hold universal dominion.”
O great king! when he had thus spoken, he abased the head of the imaginary Basoodeo and cut it off in sight of Shree Krishnù Jee, and having placed it upon the point of a spear, showed it publicly. On beholding this act of the delusive power, Krishnù at first became faint; but afterwards recovering, began to say to himself, “How has it happened that he has seized and brought Basoodeo Jee from Dwarka, whilst Bulram was there, what! is he more powerful than Bulram, that he should have carried off Basoodeo from before him and brought him here?”
O great king! many thoughts of this kind passed for a long time through the mind of Krishnù, whilst he was under the influence of the demon’s delusive power, and he was absorbed in reflection; at length whilst Huri was considering and looking at the demon’s illusory apparition, he found out the secret of the contrivance, and called out to Salub. On hearing Krishnù’s challenge, he mounted into the air, and began to discharge weapons thence upon Krishnù; in the mean while Shree Krishnù Chund Jee struck him with several arrows with such force, that the demon fell with his ruth into the sea; recovering from the fall, he rushed upon Huri with a club; upon which Krishnù was greatly enraged and killed and brought him to the ground with the quoit, Soodursun; just as the lord of the gods killed and brought down Britasoor.
O great king! on the fall of the demon, the jewel of his head fell out upon the ground, and the splendour of it was concentrated in the mouth of Shree Krishnù Chund.
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,—Raja! I will now narrate how Sissoopal’s brothers, Bukrudunt and Bidooruth, were slain; from the time Sissoopal was killed, the two brothers constantly thought, how they might revenge themselves on Shree Krishnù Chund for their brother’s death. At length, on the death of Salub and Doobid, they advanced against the city of Dwarka with all their army; and having encompassed it on all sides, began to discharge all kinds of engines and weapons of war against it. There was great commotion in the city; on hearing the clamour Moorari ascended his chariot. Shree Krishnù Chund Jee went, after this, outside the city, and stood where the two demons in great wrath, and with arms in their hands, were prepared for battle. On seeing Krishnù, Bukrudunt said, with great haughtiness, “Ho Krishnù! first bring into play all thy warlike weapons, and afterwards I will slay thee, my reason for telling thee this is, that at the time of death thou mayest not have to regret not having attacked Bukrudunt; thou hast destroyed very mighty men, but shall not now escape alive from me.”
O great king! having made many such wicked speeches, Bukrudunt threw a club at Krishnù, which Huri easily cut off and brought to the ground; then, taking another club, he engaged in a severe contest with Huri, when Bhugwan killed and brought him to the ground, and his life issuing forth went into the mouth of Krishnù. When Bidooruth beheld the death of Bukrudunt, he advanced to the attack, and Shree Krishnù Jee sent forth the quoit, Soodursun, who cut off his head, and brought it to the ground, with the crown and ear-rings; he afterwards slew and put to flight the whole army of the demons: at that time, the delighted gods rained down flowers; celestial choristers and bards celebrated with songs the renown of Huri; all the demi-gods, holy men and celestial dancers, ascending chariots, raised cries of exultation and victory. They then all said to Krishnù, “Your pastimes are infinite; no one can understand the secret of them. First, Hirunkusyp and Hirnakoos were born; afterwards Rawun and Koombhkurun, and now Duntbukrù and Sissoopal; you have killed them three times, and granted them the highest release, for this reason your state and nature are not understood by any one.”
O great king! having thus spoken, the gods made an obeisance to Krishnù, and departed; and Huri began to say to Bulram Jee, “Brother! the Kouruvùs and Panduvùs have fought; what shall we do?” Buldeo Jee replied, “O abode of kindness! please do me the favour to go to Hustinapoor, and I will come there by and bye, after having gone on pilgrimage to holy places.”