Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Shree Krishnù Chund,
who is acquainted with the secrets of the heart, knew that the
cowherdesses would not survive without him, then appeared amongst them
the son of Nund, just as a juggler would appear again, after having
been concealed, whilst a person shut his eyes. When they saw that Huri
had come, the senses of all of them were revived, just as the organs
of perception are restored to animation, when life is revived in a
dead man. Whilst they did not see him, their minds were in a state of
agitation, as though they had all been bitten by the mind-agitating
snake. Their troubles were ended on the arrival of him they loved, as
creepers are revived by being sprinkled with the water of life. In the
same way that the lotus appears withered at night, but revives on
beholding the splendour of the sun, the large eyes of the women of
Bruj were restored to animation on beholding Krishnù.
Having recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! the
cowherdesses, on seeing Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, being
all at once released from the sea of despondency, approached him, and
were as much rejoiced, as a man, drowning in the unfathomable ocean,
would be to find a shallow place. And they collected round him on all
sides. Then Shree Krishnù took them with him to the place where they
had first engaged in festive songs and dances. On their arrival, one
of the cowherdesses took off her scarf, and spread it for Krishnù to
sit down upon. As he sat down upon it, many of the cowherdesses were
angry, and said, “O great king! you are very deceitful, and steal away
the minds and wealth of others, but do not respect the good qualities
of any one.”
After this, they said to each other, “He has abandoned what is good,
and embraced what is bad. Deceit suits his mind. Consider, friend! how
can we possibly form an association with him.”
On hearing this, one of them said, “Friends! do you remain apart; as
we derive no benefit from our own speaking, I will make Krishnù
himself speak.” Saying these words, she smiled and enquired from Shree
Krishnù,--“O great king! explain to us who is a good man, and who a
bad man in the four following instances:--One, who without having done
a good action, shall expect good actions from others, (or shall expect
to have his non-performance of good actions considered in the light of
the performance of them:) a second shall make a return for a good
action: a third shall return evil for good: a fourth shall take no
thought whatever of any good, that may be done to him.” Shree Krishnù
Chund replied, “All of you listen with attention, whilst I explain who
is the good, and who the bad man, in the cases mentioned. The best is
he who does good without receiving any, as a father loves a son. It is
no virtue to return good for good, in the manner that a cow gives milk
for the food she receives. Consider as your enemy one who regards good
and evil alike. The most ungrateful of all is he who forgets good done
to him.”
When the cowherdesses, on hearing these words and looking at each
other, began to laugh, Shree Krishnù Chund was frightened, and said,
“I am not to be reckoned amongst any of these four kinds of persons,
which you seem to think by your laughing; moreover, it is my custom to
grant the accomplishment of any wish or desire a person may ask from
me. Perhaps you will say, if this is your practice, why did you
abandon us in the jungle? The reason was, that I made trial of your
affection. Do not think ill of me for this, but believe what I say.”
After this, he again said, “I have now tried you: remember and
meditate upon me. You have increased your affection for me, who am
like a poor man that has obtained wealth. You have met my wishes in
every respect; and in doing so, have foregone the reproach of the
world, and the Vedas; just as a religious devotee, who abandons his
home, and entertains a love for Huri with sincerity of mind. If I
should live for a hundred years of Bruhmú, I should never be quit of
my debt to you.”