Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Shree Krishnù Chund having
thus spoken, took the cowherds’ children with him again to engage in
sports. And whilst Krishnù was absent in the jungle, grazing the
cows, the cowherdesses remained in their houses, singing his praises.
One day Shree Krishnù played on the flute in the jungle: and, on
hearing the sound of the flute, all the women of Bruj stood up in a
state of agitation; and, having assembled in one place, sat down on
the road they began to say to each other, “Our eyes will then be fully
gratified when we behold Krishnù; he is now with the cows in the
jungle, dancing and singing, in the evening he will return, and then
we shall see him.” On hearing this a cowherdess said, “Hear me friend!
he has played upon the flute, and behold what greatness he has
conferred upon the bamboo!”
“What excellent qualities has it, that Shree Krishnù’s mouth should
be fastened to it all day long. And having drank the nectar of his
lips, and raining forth joy, (it) the flute emits sounds like the
clouds?
“What, is it more beloved than ourselves, that Krishnù keeps it near
him day and night?
“It was made in our presence, and has now become a rival to us, being
constantly on his person.
“When Shree Krishnù, having wiped the flute with a yellow silk cloth,
plays upon it, the gods, sages, celestial choristers and musicians
taking their wives with them and seated in their chariots, come
eagerly to hear him, and being fascinated by hearing him, they become
fixed and motionless as pictures. What penance has the flute
performed, that all are so subservient to it?”
Another cowherdess said in reply, “Having first of all been produced
in the stock of the bamboo, the flute kept Huri in constant
remembrance. Afterwards it endured heat, cold and rain. Suddenly,
being broken up into small pieces, it burnt its body in fire and
inhaled smoke.
“This is the penance it has performed, by means of which it has become
complete, and obtained this result (fruit).”
Having heard this, one of the Bruj women said, “Why has the lord of
Bruj not formed us into flutes, that we might stay with Huri day and
night?” Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja
Pureechit,--O great king! the cowherdesses constantly sung the praises
of Krishnù, until his return from grazing the cows in the jungles.