Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--Raja! when Shree Krishnù Chund had
spoken in this agreeable manner, all the cowherdesses, laying aside
their anger, and being greatly rejoiced, arose, and having united with
Huri, began to indulge in every kind of pleasure, delight and pastime;
when Krishnù had recourse to his deceptive power, and divided his
body into numberless particles, desiring to give pleasure to them all;
and engaging in their sports with the greatest affection, Shree
Krishnù Chund, having assumed as many bodies as there were
cowherdesses, took them all with him to the circular terrace, where he
had before gone; and again began engaging in festive dances and songs.
The cowherdesses, in pairs, joined their hands, and Huri was in the
midst of them. Each thought he was at their side, and did not
recognize him near any one else. They placed their fingers within his
fingers, and whirled about with the greatest enjoyment, taking Huri
with them. The son of Nund in the midst of the cowherdesses was like
thick masses of clouds, surrounded on all sides by lightning. The
dark-blue Krishnù amongst the fair women of Bruj was like a sapphire
on a necklace of gold.
O great king! standing thus together, the cowherdesses and Krishnù
began to tune various kinds of musical instruments, preluding
difficult airs, and played and sang, producing great varieties of
tone, and singing whilst they danced. And so delighted were they, that
they seemed to lose all recollection of their very existence.
Sometimes the breast of one was uncovered, and the diadem of another
slipped off. At one place, the pearl necklaces of some were broken,
and the pearls fell on the ground: at another, garlands of flowers
were strewed about. The drops of perspiration on their foreheads
glittered like strings of pearls; and the ringlets of the cowherdesses
were spread in such a loose and dishevelled manner over their faces,
that they resembled young snakes, who had flown up, and then become
fastened to the moon, from an eager desire to obtain the water of
life.
Sometimes a cowherdess, singing in high tones, accompanied Krishnù’s
flute: and sometimes one of them sang without accompaniment. And when
any one of them, having stopped Krishnu’s flute, poured forth the same
notes from her own voice, he was as much fascinated as a child on
beholding its own image in a mirror.
Thus singing and dancing, and practising all kinds of coquetry and
ogling, they passed the hours in mutual enjoyment, and being pleased
with each other, they laughed and embraced and made a propitiatory
offering of their dresses and ornaments. At that time, Bruhmù,
Roodrù, Indrù and all the gods and celestial musicians, seated in
their chariots with their wives, looked down upon the festivities, and
showered down flowers with delight. And the wives, gazing on this
scene of pleasure with eager desire, thought to themselves, that if
they could be born in Bruj, they also might join in festivities with
Huri. And to such a pitch were the musical notes and tones carried,
that on hearing them, the air was stilled, and water ceased to flow;
and the moon, together with the whole of the stars, was astonished,
and poured down the water of life from its rays. The night was
prolonged so that six months passed away, whence that night was named,
Bruhmù’s night.
Having proceeded thus far with the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee
said,--O lord of the earth! whilst engaged in these festive sports, a
whim seized Krishnù, and he went with the cowherdesses to the banks
of the Jumna. Going into the water and engaging in aquatic pastimes,
after he had got rid of his fatigue, he came out; and having
accomplished the wishes of them all, said to them, “There are four
ghurees of the night remaining; go all of you to your homes.” The
cowherdesses were sad at these words, and said, “Lord! how shall we go
home, leaving your lotus-like feet? Our greedy minds do not approve of
what you have suggested.” Shree Krishnù replied, “Meditate on me in
the manner that religious devotees meditate; and wherever you may be,
I will always be with you.” They were gratified at these words, and
taking leave returned home; and no one at their houses was aware that
they had not been all along at their respective house.
Having heard thus much of the history, Raja Pureechit said to Shree
Shookdeo, the sage,--“O kind to the poor! Shree Krishnù Chund had
come upon the earth to destroy evil spirits, and remove the burthens
of the world, and, having conferred happiness on saints and religious
men, to promote piety. Explain to me, why he engaged in festivities
with other men’s wives; as it is the act of a dissolute person to
enjoy himself with another man’s wife?” Shookdeo Jee replied, Raja!
you do not understand this mystery, and regard the deity as a mortal.
His body is glorious and pure, by remembrance of whom sin is
obliterated, just as any thing falling into fire, itself becomes fire.
What cannot the powerful do? because by their acts they overcome fate:
as Shivù took poison, and after having taken it made of it an
ornament for his neck, and formed a black snake into a necklace. Who
can understand his actions? Beings with power do nothing for
themselves, but confer boons on all petitioners, who worship and hold
them in remembrance.
The nature of Krishnù is this; that he seems to associate with all:
but if you consider, you will perceive, that he appears as separate as
the lotus leaf from the water. I have already narrated to you the
history of the cowherdesses’ birth, and that Dewee and the mystical
prayers of the Vedas were born, and came to Bruj to see and touch
Huri. And in this manner Shree Radhika also, having obtained a
blessing from Bruhmù, was born to be a servant to Krishnù Chund; and
remained in the service of her master.
Shree Shookdeo Jee continued, O great king! we are told to believe all
the acts that Krishnù performed, but not to turn our thoughts to the
manner in which, and the means by which, they were performed. Whoever
celebrates the fame of the lord of the cowherdesses, obtains, fearless
and unmoved, the highest dignity. And the same benefits which are
procured by bathing in the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage, are
procured by celebrating the great renown of Shree Krishnù.