Shree Shookdeo said,--O great king! Shree Krishnù went one day
early to the jungle to feed the calves; and all the cowherds’
children, taking provisions with them from their homes, accompanied
him. Having gone to the pasture ground, and deposited their food, and
let the calves loose to graze, staining their bodies with white and
red earth, making necklaces of jungle fruits and flowers, they put
them on, and imitating the sounds of beasts and birds, and indulging
in sports of various kinds, they began to dance and sing.
In the meantime, a demon named Ooghasoor, sent by Kuns, arrived; and
being transformed into a huge serpent, sat with his mouth open; and
Shree Krishnú playing, sporting and taking his companions with him,
came to the spot where the serpent, having prepared his ambuscade, was
sitting with his mouth open. Having beheld him from a distance, the
cowherds’ children began to say amongst themselves, “Brother! this is
some great mountain, the chasm of which is so large.” Thus conversing,
and leading the calves, they came near the serpent. One child then
seeing its mouth open, said, “Brother! this is some very frightful
cave, do not let us go inside it, we are frightened on even looking at
it.” One of the companions, named Tokh, then said, “Come, let us go
inside, what fear have we, whilst Krishnù is with us? If it should be
any demon, he will be destroyed as Bukasoor was.” They were all
standing and conversing thus, when the serpent drew such a deep
breath, that all the cowherds’ children together with the calves fell
into his mouth. There was such a poisonous, hot vapour, that the
calves alarmed, began to low, and Krishnù’s companions to call out,
“O beloved Krishnù! quickly take thought of us, or we shall be burnt
to death.” Hearing their cries, Shree Krishnù, being distressed, went
also into his mouth; and the serpent delighted shut its mouth. Upon
this, Shree Krishnù increased his body to such a size, that the
serpent’s stomach was burst. All the calves and cowherds’ children
fell out. At this time, the gods delighted, and raining flowers and
nectar, took away the heat, under which all were suffering. Upon this,
the cowherds’ children began to say to Shree Krishnù, “Brother! by
putting this demon to death, you have well saved us: otherwise, all
would have perished--(or had perished.)”