Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said, on the departure of the surud
season, the winter came, when there was very great cold and frost. At
this time the women of Bruj said to one another, “By bathing in the
month Aghun, the sins of every birth are obliterated, and the hopes of
the mind are accomplished. I have heard so from old people.” On
hearing this, they all resolved to bathe in Aghun, that they might
without doubt obtain Shree Krishnù. Having resolved upon this, and
risen very early in the morning, the women of Bruj dressed and
ornamented themselves, and went in a body to bathe in the Jumna.
Having bathed and made an offering to the sun, of eight ingredients,
coming out of the water, they made an earthen image of Parvutee.
Putting sandal, rice, flowers and fruits upon it, placing before it
perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, performing poojah with hands
joined, and holding their heads, they beseeched Parvutee, saying “O
Dewee! we constantly supplicate this boon from you, that Shree
Krishnù may be our lord.” In this manner the cowherdesses constantly
bathed. Fasting all day, they ate coagulated milk and rice in the
evening, and slept on the ground at night. With a view of quickly
obtaining the fruit of their fasting, all the women of Bruj went one
day to a very steep ghaut to bathe; and on arrival, having taken off
their clothes, and placed them on the bank, they went naked into the
water. They began sporting about, and singing the praises of Huri.
Shree Krishnú was also at this time pasturing cows, sitting under the
shade of a fig tree. Having heard by chance the sound of their
singing, he came silently to the spot, and having concealed himself
began to look on. A sudden thought struck him, while he was looking
on, and having stolen all their clothes, he climbed up a “kudum” tree,
and placed them all in a bundle before him. In the meantime, the
cowherdesses looking on the bank for their clothes could not find
them. Being alarmed, they got up and began searching all round, and
saying to each other, “Not even a bird has come here; who can have
taken away our clothes?” Just then a cowherdess saw Krishnù sitting
hid on a “kudum” tree, with a crown on his head, a club in his hand,
marked with saffron on the forehead, in a yellow silk dress, with a
garland of flowers reaching to his feet, and preserving a strict
silence, with a bundle of clothes before him. She called out, “Behold
him! who has stolen our hearts and our clothes, seated on a ‘kudum’
tree with our bundles.” Hearing this, and seeing Krishnù, all the
women were ashamed, sitting down in the water, joining their hands and
bending their heads, they supplicated and entreated Krishnù, saying
“O compassionate to the poor! beloved destroyer of our griefs! O
Mohun! please give us our clothes.” Krishnù replied, “By the oath of
Nund, I will not give them thus; come out of the water one by one, and
you shall obtain your clothes.”
The women of Bruj said angrily, “This is a pretty lesson you have
learnt, in telling us to come out of the water naked. We will go and
tell this to your father and brother, and they will come and lay hold
of you as a thief. And we will mention it also to Nund and Jusodha,
who will teach you better. We are ashamed at what you have done; you
have put an end to all recognition (acquaintance) between us.” On
hearing this, Shree Krishnù Jee was enraged and said, “You shall not
have the clothes until you come, and fetch them yourselves.” The
cowherdesses were alarmed and said, “O kind to the poor! it is you,
who constantly keep us in remembrance, and who are the guardian of our
good name; how shall we fetch them? It is for your sake, that we have
offered up our vows, and bathed in the month of Mungsir.” Krishnù
replied, “If you have bathed with sincerity on my account in the month
of Aghun, lay aside all bashfulness and deceit, and come and take your
clothes.” When Shree Krishnù Chund had thus spoken, the cowherdesses
on reflection began to say to each other, “Let us go friend! let us
mind what Krishnù says, because he knows all the secrets of our
bodies and minds. Why should we be ashamed before him?” Having thus
determined, acting according to what Shree Krishnù had said, and
concealing their breasts and privities with their hands, all the women
came out of the water, bowing their heads. When they stood opposite to
Shree Krishnù on the bank, he said laughing, “Now put your hands
together, and come forward, and I will give you your clothes.” The
cowherdesses said, “Darling of Nund! why do you deceive us, we are
plain, simple women of Bruj. We have been tricked, and all our mind
and memory are gone. Is this the game you have determined upon
playing, Huri? Whenever we think of this, we shall be ashamed; now do
something for us, O lord of Bruj!” When they had thus spoken, and put
their hands together, Shree Krishnù Chund Jee giving them their
clothes, and approaching them said, “Be not displeased at what has
happened, because this is a lesson I have given you. The habitation of
the god Varoonù is in water: for this reason, if any one goes naked
into the water, his character is entirely destroyed. Having been
delighted at beholding the affection of your mind, I have told you
this secret, now go home, and return in the month of Kartik to dance
the circular dance with me.”
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! the cowherdesses having
heard this speech, returned to their homes, delighted and satisfied.
And Shree Krishnù, having come to the fig tree, went along with the
cowherds’ children and their companions and cows. Beholding on all
sides jungle of various kinds, they began to speak in high terms of
trees, saying, “that after coming into the world, they themselves
suffered many troubles, and afforded pleasure to mankind. It is thus,
that the coming into the world of those, who are attentive to the
interests of others is beneficial.” Conversing in this manner and
advancing onward, they arrived near the Jumna.