Rāma then replied to all the Gopas stationed around him saying:—"You are our better friends than even the Yādavas (17). We had been reared by you and spent our boyhood in sporting here (18). We took our meals in your houses and tended the kine. You all are our firm friends" (19). When Halāyudha gave vent to these words in the midst of Gopas, marks of joy were visible on the faces of their women (20).
Thereupon repairing to the forest, the highly powerful Rāma, conversant with the knowledge of spirit, began to sport there with Gopa women (21). Then the milk-men, conversant with the knowledge of time and place, brought Vāruni wine to him. Rāma, of the hue of a pale cloud, drank that wine in the forest along with his friends. Thereafter the cow-herds brought to him diverse beautiful forest fruits, flowers, meat, sweet juice and full blown lotuses and lilies just collected. As the mount Mandara is adorned by the Kailāga hill so Rāma shone, with Kundalas hanging from his cars, with diadem placed a little askance, with locks and head and breast besmeared with sandal and decked with garlands of wild flowers. Clad in an apparel dark-blue like a cloud his white person appeared like the moon enshrouded by darkness. The plough-share, attached to his hands like the hood of a serpent and the burning mace fixed to his finger, increased his beauty the more. Thus with his eyes rolling in intoxication, Rāma, the foremost of the strong, began to enjoy there like the moon in an autumnal night (22-29).
Thereupon Rāma said to Yamunā:—"O great river, going to the ocean, I wish to marry you by bathing in your water; come to me therefore in your bodily form (30)." Out of her womanish habit and ignorance Yamunā disregarded his words as being the out-come of drunkenness and did not come to him (31). Thereat filled with anger and maddened with drunkenness the powerful Rāma took up his plough share and sat with his head looking down in order to drag her (32). The garland of flowers, that fell down on earth, began to pour, through the leaves, clear water (33). There upon bending down the head of his plough-share Rāma began to drag the bank of the great river like unto a wife following her inclination (34). At that time the currents of the river were upset and all the fishes and the acquatic animals grew bewildered. And Yamunā too followed the course of the plough-share (35). Dragged with force by Rāma the powerful river Yamunā, going to the ocean, like unto a drunk woman going astray in a high-road and over whelmed with fear, began to follow the way pointed out by the plough-share. She had the bank for her hip, dark-blue lotuses for her lips, the foams driven by the water for her girdle, the grave currents for her moving limbs, the bewildered fishes for her ornaments, the white geese for glances, the rising Kāsa flowers for her silken raiment, the trees grown on her back for the ends of her hairs, the current for her slippery gait, and the mark of the plough-share for the outer corner of her eye, and the Chakravakas for her breast. Although she goes by the lower ground she was made to go up and brought to the forest of Vrindavana (36-41). When the river Yamunā was brought to Vrindāvana the water-fowls, as if weeping, followed her (42). When she crossed the forest of Vrindāvana, Yamunā, assuming the form of a woman, said to Rāma (43):—"Be propitiated with me, O lord. I have been terrified at these thy unfavourable actions. Behold, this my watery form has been changed (44). O thou of large arms, O son of Rohini, thou hast dragged me away from my own path. Therefore I have become unchaste amongst the rivers (45). When I shall go to the ocean, other rivers, co-wives with me, proud of their course, will smile at me, with their foams and call me an unchaste river (46). Show me the favour, O hero, I beg thee, O elder brother, of Krishna. Be thou delighted at heart, O foremost of the celestials (47). I have been dragged here with thy weapon. Do thou assuage thy ire. O thou of large arms, O thou, the wielder of plough-share, I fall at thy feet. Do thou command me, by what path I shall go."
Beholding Yamunā, the wife of the ocean fallen at his feet the holder of plough-share, inebriate with wine, said (48–49):—"O beautiful Yamunā of fair eye-brows, O auspicious damsel seeking union with the ocean, I command thee to follow the way pointed out by my plough-share and water this province. Be thou at peace, O noble one, and do thou proceed at thy pleasure (50–51). As long as the world will exist my glory will flourish."
Beholding the dragging of the ocean all the inhabitants of Vraja said to Rāma, exclaiming "Well done! Well done!" and bowed unto him. Leaving aside the noble Yamunā, thinking for a moment and taking leave of all the inhabitants of Vraja, Rāma, the foremost of strikers, again repaired to the auspicious city of Mathurā (52-54). Repairing to Mathurā Rāma saw the slayer of Madhu, the eternal essence of the universe, stationed in his own house (55). In his wild attire and with his breast covered with garlands of fresh wild flowers he embraced him (56). Beholding the holder of plough-share Rāma arrived there Govinda too rose up soon and offered him the seat (57). After Rāma had taken his seat, Jarāsandha, in sweet words, enquired of him about the well-being of his Vraja friends and cows (58). Rāma then replied to his brother of sweet words, saying:—"O Krishna, they, of whose well-being you enquire, are all well?" (59) Thereupon Rāma and Keshava held conversations on various ancient and profitable subjects in the very presence of Vasudeva (60).
CHAPTER CIII. RUKSHMINI'S SWAYAMVARA
Vaishampayana said:—At this time the spies assembled at the house of Baladeva resembling that of a patriarch (1). when those spies arrived there for cropping up the topic of future dissension all the leading Yādavas were present in the assembly at Krishna’s mandate (2). When all the leading Yādavas assembled at the meeting, the emissaries announced the future destruction of the kings, saying (3): "O Janarddana, at the invitation of Bhoja's son a great meeting of the kings will take place at the city of Kundina. There the kings of various provinces are repairing in haste (4-5). People there, as we have heard, are announcing that Rukshmini, the first sister of Rukshmi, will hold her Swayamvara (6). For this, O Janārddana, all the kings, with their army and followers, are repairing there (7). O Yādava, on the third day hereof, the Swayamvara, of Rushmini adorned with golden ornaments, the fairest in the three worlds, will take place (8). Proceeding on elephants, horses and cars, all the kings, elated with pride like unto lions and tigers, bent upon injuring one another, gifted with the gait of infuriated elephants, fond of battle and highly powerful, will assemble there. We shall behold those hundreds of encampments of the high-souled ones (9–10). O descendant of Yadu, while all the kings of earth have assembled why should we remain depressed alone? Let us all, encircled by our armies, set out for victory (11)."
Hearing those words like unto a dart stuck to the heart, Keshava, the foremost of Yadus, set out immediately with his army (12), The Yādavas too, of fierce prowess, got upon their cars, with a view to engage in a battle and followed him like gods filled with pride (13). With that powerful army ready for action Krishna, with uplifted discus and mace in his hand, and liked by Ishāna, shone there (14). The other Yadavas, following Vasudeva, increased his beauty with the collection of cars effulgent like the sun and echoing with the tinkling of bells (15).
Govinda, of sure fore-sight, said to Ugrasena, at the time of his departure, "O sinless one, O foremost of kings, do thou wait here with my brother (16). For when this city will be empty on our departure, those Khatriyas, of deceitful conduct and well-versed in laws, who, although afraid of us, are enjoying in the city of Kundina, like immortals in the land of celestials, may attack it at Jarāsandha's desire (17-18)".
Vaishampayana said:—Hearing the words of Krishna, the highly illustrious king of Bhoja replied in nectarine words impressed with affection (19.) "O Krishna, O thou of large arms, O thou the enhancer of the delight of the Yadus, O slayer of enemies, listen now to what I say (20). If dost thou go leaving us behind, we shall not be able to live here happily or elsewhere like a woman without her husband (21). O my child, O conferrer of honors, on thy being our leader, we do not, under the shelter of thy arms, fear even Indra and other gods what to speak of kings (22). O foremost of Yadus, we shall follow thee wherever thou shalt go for achieving victory (23)."