SECTION XXIV.
Thus praised by the wise Muchukunda, the sovereign of all things, the eternal lord, Hari, said to him, "Go to whatever celestial regions you wish, lord of men, possessed of might irresistible, honoured by my favour. When you have fully enjoyed all heavenly pleasures, you shall be born in a distinguished family, retaining the recollection of your former births; and you shall finally obtain emancipation". Having heard this promise, and prostrated himself before Achyuta, the lord of the world, Muchukunda, went forth from the cave and beholding men of diminutive stature, now first knew that the Kali age had arrived. The king therefore departed to Gandhamāddana, the shrine of Naranārāyana, to perform penance.
Krishna having by this stratagem destroyed his enemy returned to Mathura and took captive his army, rich in horses, elephants and cars, which he conducted to Dwārakā, and delivered to Ugrasena, and the Yadu race was relieved from all fear of invasion. Baladeva, when hostilities had entirely ceased, being desirous of seeing his kinsmen, went to Nanda's cow-pens, and there again conversed with the herdsmen and their females, with affection and respect. By some, the elders, he was embraced; others, the juniors, he embraced; and with those of his own age, male or female, he talked and laughed. The cowherds made many kind speeches to Halayudha; but some of the Gopis spoke to him with the affectation of anger, or with feelings of jealousy, as they inquired after the loves of Krishna with the women of Mathura. "Is all well with the fickle and inconstant Krishna?" said they; "Does the volatile swain, the friend of an instant amuse the women of the city by laughing at our rustic efforts (to please him)? Does he ever think of us, singing in chorus to his sons? Will come here once again to see his mother? But But why talk of these things? It is a different tale to tell for him without us, and for us without him. Father, mother, brother, husband, kin, what have we not abandoned for him; but he is a monument of ingratitude. Yet tell us, does not Krishna talk of coming here? Falsehood is never, O Krishna, to be uttered by thee. Verily this is Dāmodara, this is Govinda, who has given up his heart to the damsels of the city, who has no longer any regard for us, but looks upon us with disdain". So saying, the Gopis, whose minds were fixed on Krishna, addressed Rāma in his place, calling him Dāmodara and Govinda, and laughed and were merry; and Rāma consoled them by communicating to them agreeable, modest, affectionate, and gentle messages from Krishna. With the cow-herds he talked mirthfully, as he had been wont to do, and rambled along with them over the lands of Vraja.
SECTION XXV.
Whilst the mighty Sesha, the upholder of the globe, was thus engaged in wandering amidst the forests with the herdsmen, in the disguise of a mortal—having rendered great services to earth, and still considering what more was to be achieved—Varuna, in order to provide for his recreation, said his wife Vāruni (the goddess of wine), "Thou, Madirā, art ever acceptable to the powerful Ananta; go therefore, auspicious and kind goddess, and promote his enjoyments". Obeying these commands, Vāruni went and established herself in the hollow of a Kadamba bee in the woods of Vrindāvana. Baladeva, roaming about, came there, and smelling the pleasant fragrance of liquor, resumed his ancient passion for strong drink. The holder of the ploughshare observing the vinous drops distilling from the Kadamba tree, was much delighted, and gathered and quaffed them along with the herdsmen and the Gopis, whilst those who were skilful with voice and lute celebrated him in their songs. Being inebriated with the wine, and the drops of perspiration standing like pearls upon his limbs, he called out, not knowing what he said, "Come hither, Yamunā river, I want to bathe". The river, disregarding the words of a drunken man came not at his bidding: on which Rāma in a rage took up his ploughshare, which he plunged into her bank, and dragged her to him, calling out, "Will you not come, you jade, will you not come? Now go where you please (if you can)". Thus saying, he compelled the dark river to quit its ordinary course, and follow him whithersoever he wandered through the wood. Assuming a mortal figure, the Yamunā, with distracted looks, approached Balabhadra, and entreated him to pardon her, and let her go: but he replied, "I will drag you with my ploughshare in a thousand directions, since you condemn my prowess and strength". At last, however, appeased by her reiterated prayers, he let her go, after she had watered all the country. When he had bathed, the goddess of beauty, Lakshmi, came and gave him a beautiful lotus to place in one ear, and an ear-ring for the other; a fresh necklace of lotus flowers, sent by Varuna; and garments of a dark blue colour, as costly as the wealth of the ocean: and thus decorated with a lotus in one ear, a ring in the other, dressed in blue garments, and wearing a garland, Balarāma appeared united with loveliness. Thus decorated, Rāma sported two months in Vraja, and then returned to Dwārakā, where he married Revati, the daughter of king Raivata, by whom he had two sons, Nishātha and Ulmuka.
SECTION XXVI.
Bhishmaka was king of Vidarbha, residing at Kundina. He had a son named Rukmin, and a beautiful daughter termed Rukmini. Krishna fell in love with the latter, and solicited her in marriage: but her brother who hated Krishna, would not assent to the espousals. At the suggestion of Jarāsandha, and with the concurrence of his son, the powerful sovereign Bhishmaka affianced Rukmini to Sisupāla. In order to celebrate the nuptials, Jarāsandha and other princes, the friends of Sisupāla, assembled in the capital of Vidharba; and Krishna, attended by Balabhadra and many other Yādavas, also went to Kundina to witness the wedding. When there, Hari contrived on the eve of the nuptials, to carry off the princess, leaving Rāma and his kinsmen to sustain the weight of his enemies. Paundraka, the illustrious Dantavakra, Viduratha, Sisupāla, Jarāsandha, Salya, and other kings, indignant at the insult, exerted themselves to kill Krishna, but were repelled by Balarāma and the Yādavas. Rukmin, vowing that he would never enter Kundina again until he had slain Kesava in fight, pursued and overtook him. In the combat that ensued, Krishna destroyed with his discus, as if in sport the host of Rukmin, with all its horses, and elephants, and foot, and chariots, and overthrew him, and hurled him on the ground; and would have put him to death, but was withheld by the entreaties of Rukmini. "He is my only brother," she exclaimed, "and must not be slain by thee; restrain your wrath, O divine Lord, and give me my brother in charity".
Thus addressed by her, Krishna, whom no acts affect, spared Rukmin; and he (in pursuance of his vow) founded the city Bhojakata, and ever afterwards dwelt therein. After the defeat of Rukmin, Krishna married Rukmini in due form, having first made her his own by the Rākshasa ritual. She bore him the gallant Pradyumna, a portion of the deity of love. The demon Sambara carried him off, but he slew the demon.
SECTION XXVII.
Maitreya saidr—How, Muni, happened it that the hero Pradyumna was carried away by Sambara? And in what manner was the mighty Sambara killed by Pradyumna?