Having narrated so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Kuns continued to rule tyrannically
in Muttra, and Oogursen to be afflicted with many griefs--When
Dewukee, the daughter of Dewuk, Kuns’ uncle, was fit for marriage,
Dewuk went to Kuns, and asked him to whom she should be given in
marriage; he replied, give her to Basoodeo, the son of Soorsen. On
hearing this, Dewuk having sent for a Brahmin, and having fixed upon a
fortunate time, sent the nuptial gifts to Soorsen’s house; and Soorsen
also having formed a marriage procession with great splendour, and
taking with him Rajas of all countries, came to Basoodeo’s marriage.
Having heard of the arrival of the marriage procession near the city,
Oogursen, Dewuk and Kuns, taking their armies with them, and advancing
to meet it brought the procession with them into the city. Having
advanced to meet the bridegroom with the greatest respect, they
appointed a place in the bride’s house for the reception of him and
his attendants; having entertained all who composed the marriage
procession, they seated them in a hall, erected for the occasion, and
adorned with flowers; and Kuns gave away Dewukee to Basoodeo in the
manner prescribed by the Vedas, and bestowed a dowry of fifteen
thousand horses, four thousand elephants, eighteen hundred ruths or
cars, numerous male and female servants, and golden dishes, or trays
filled with dresses ornamented with jewels without number; and Kuns
gave jewelled dresses also to all who composed the marriage
procession. After this, all assembled to escort the procession to
Basoodeo’s house, upon which there was a voice from heaven, saying, “O
Kuns, the eighth son of her whom you are escorting shall be your
destruction, you shall die by his hand.”
On hearing this, Kuns trembled with fear, and being enraged, seizing
Dewukee by the hair, he dragged her from her ruth: snatching a sword,
he began to say, gnashing his teeth, “The tree which is plucked up by
the roots will not produce blossoms and fruits; I will now put her to
death, and reign without fear.”
On hearing and seeing what had happened, Basoodeo began to say to
himself, “This fool has given pain, he does not distinguish between
good and evil; if I should show rage now, the business in hand would
be ruined; wherefore, it is better in the present instance to forgive;
it is said, that, ‘when an enemy draws a sword, a virtuous man will
strive to soothe him; the fool on coming to his senses will regret his
conduct, just as fire is put out by water.’”
Reflecting thus, Basoodeo went into the presence of Kuns, and joining
his hands in a supplicating manner, and speaking submissively began to
say, “O lord of the earth! there is no one in the world so powerful as
you, and all men live under your shadow; being so great a hero, it is
very improper that you should raise your sword against a woman, and it
is a great crime to kill a sister--men will be guilty of injustice, if
they know that they will never die: this is the custom of the world,
we are born in one place, and die in another: a man may cherish his
body by doing good or evil in ten million different ways, but his body
will never be at his own disposal: wealth, poverty, royal power will
be of no use; for this reason, be pleased to listen to what I say, and
release your poor, weak sister.”
On hearing this, Kuns, looking upon his sister as the instrument of
his death, was alarmed, and became more enraged. Upon this Basoodeo
thought within himself, “This sinner, with the mind of a devil, is
obstinately determined to follow out his own plans; we must take
measures, by which Dewukee may be rescued from his hands.” Reflecting
thus, he began to say to himself, “I will save Dewukee by saying to
Kuns, that I will give him every son of her’s, that is born; who has
seen the future, there may not be a child, or this devil may die? The
present crisis is before us, we can take measures for the future
hereafter.”
Having resolved upon this, Basoodeo said to Kuns, “O great king! your
death shall not be caused by the hand of any son of her’s, because I
have determined that I will bring and deliver over to you all the sons
she, Dewukee, may have: this I promise you.” When Basoodeo had thus
spoken, Kuns consented to what he had proposed, and releasing Dewukee,
began to say, “O Basoodeo! you have thought well in saving me from the
commission of so great a crime;” saying this, Kuns dismissed him, and
himself returned home.
After dwelling some days in Muttra, when Dewukee had her first son,
Basoodeo took it, and weeping placed it before Kuns; on seeing the
infant, Kuns exclaimed, “Basoodeo! you are very true to your word; I
have had reason to know this to-day, because you have not deceived me;
sacrificing all your affections, you have brought and given your child
to me, I have no fear from it; I therefore give the child back to
you.” Hearing this, Basoodeo took the child, and making a salutation
to Kuns, returned home.
And at that time Narud Jee, the sage, went to Kuns and said, “Raja!
why have you given the infant back? Do you not know that all the gods
have been born, and come to Bruj to serve Basoodeo; and in the eighth
pregnancy of Dewukee, Shree Krishnù being born, and having put all
devils to death, will remove all the burthens of the world?”
Saying this, Narud Jee drew eight lines, and counted them: when in
eight countings, each in turn was the eighth, Kuns being alarmed sent
for Basoodeo and the child. Narud, the sage, departed, after having
thus informed Kuns, who took the infant from Basoodeo, and put it to
death.--In this manner, whenever a son was born, Basoodeo brought it
to Kuns, and he destroyed it. Six infants were thus killed, when Shree
Bhugwan, in the form of the great serpent, Shesh, took up his abode in
the seventh pregnancy.
On hearing this, the Raja Pureechit said to Shookdeo the sage, “O
great king! give me some account of Narud, the sage, who was the cause
of so many crimes being committed, in order that the doubts of my mind
may disappear.” Shree Shookdeo replied, “Raja! Narud Jee thought
rightly, that Kuns would commit very many crimes, in consequence of
which Shree Bhugwan would speedily appear upon the earth.”