Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Shree Krishnù, with a
delusive power, like that of jugglers, had shown himself in many
shapes to Akroor, and had stolen away his senses, Akroor came out of
the water, and standing on the bank, made an obeisance to Huri. Nund
Lal then enquired from Akroor, “Uncle! why do you stay so long in the
water, when it is so cold? I was very anxious about you, supposing
that you had forgotten to proceed on your journey! Have you seen any
thing strange? Explain to me, that the doubts of my mind may be
removed?”
On hearing these words, Akroor said, joining his hands, “Lord of Bruj!
you know every thing? You have shewn yourself admirably to me in the
water. Nothing is too wonderful for Krishnù to perform. I have
confidence in thee, let us proceed, lord! on the road to Muthoora? Let
us not delay here, but go on quickly, and perform what we have to do.”
At these words Huri went into the ruth, accompanied by Akroor, and
stood up. Nund and all the cowherds had proceeded on their journey,
and on arrival had pitched their tents outside the city of Muttra; and
in anxious expectation of the arrival of Bulram and Krishnù, said to
one another, “What has been the reason of the delay they have made in
bathing, and why has Huri not yet arrived?” when Shree Krishnù Chund,
the root of joy, arrived and met them.
Then Akroor Jee, with joined hands, and bowing his head, said in a
supplicating manner, “O lord of Bruj! come and make my house pure, and
gratify your worshippers with a sight of you?” Huri said in reply to
Akroor, “First acquit yourself of your debt to Kuns, then show me your
house. Present our humble compliments.” Akroor bowed his head at these
words, and departed.
Having descended from his ruth, he arrived after some time at the
place where Kuns was holding a court. On seeing him, Kuns descended
from his throne, and gave him a most friendly reception; and taking
hold of his hand with great respect, seated him on a throne near
himself, and asked him to communicate all the news, and the
occurrences of his late visit.
Akroor replied, “The greatness of Bruj cannot be explained. How shall
I speak in fitting terms of the greatness of Nund. I have accomplished
what you instructed me to do. Bulram and Krishnù have both come here;
and all the inhabitants of Bruj have brought presents. They are
encamped on the banks of the river; great numbers of them have come
with numerous carts.”
Kuns was delighted at these words, and said, “Akroor Jee! you have
executed a most important business for me to-day, in having brought
Bulram and Krishnù; go now to your home, and repose.”
Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja
Pureechit,--O great king! on receiving permission from Kuns, Akroor
Jee went home; and was occupied with many thoughts and reflections.
And Huldhur and Gobind, having gone to where Nund and Oopnund were
sitting, and asked their permission to look at the city, Nund Rae Jee
produced some sweetmeats, which the two brothers ate; and afterwards
he gave them permission to go, and not to delay long.
When Nund, the chief, had thus spoken, the two brothers being greatly
rejoiced, took their companions, the cowherds’ children, with them,
and went forth to see the city. As they proceeded, they saw woods and
orchards on all sides of the city, in full blossom and fruit: and
birds were pouring forth in them all kinds of agreeable melodies.
There were large tanks, filled with pure water. In them, lotuses were
in full flower, on which swarms of bees were humming. And on the bank,
geese and herons, and other birds were sporting. A cool, fragrant
breeze was blowing. And on the margins of the enclosed grounds,
gardens of betel were planted. In the midst, for many koss, beds of
flowers were blooming. At different places, wheels and leather buckets
were in full play at the wells; and the gardeners, singing sweet
songs, were sprinkling water.
Being pleased at beholding this beautiful appearance of the woods and
groves, Krishnù entered the city of Muthoora with his companions.
There were castles of copper on all sides of the city, and there was a
deep, broad ditch, with water springing at the bottom. There were four
crystal gates, whose doors were composed of eight metals, and inlaid
with gold. And in the city, there were five-storied and seven-storied
houses of all colours, red, yellow, green and white, which vied with
the clouds in height. The brilliancy of the ornaments on their domes
shone like lightning: flags and banners were waving: the sweet scent
of the perfume, burnt at the time of worshipping, came forth from the
trellis-work, lattices and air-holes. At the doors there were pillars
formed of plantain trees; and golden waterpots filled with sprouts.
There were garlands and nosegays, and strings of flowers suspended in
every direction. There was music in every house. And on one side, the
jewelled and golden palace of the Raja stood apart in its splendour,
of which the beauty admits not of description. Such was the beautiful
and elegant city of Muthoora, which Shree Krishnù and Buldeo,
accompanied by the cowherds’ children, went to see.
There was great bustle in Muthoora on the arrival of Nund’s son; all
the people, on hearing it, rushed forth from their houses, leaving
their domestic business. And the women of Muthoora, on hearing the
news, were very much agitated. They exclaimed to each other,
“Bulbhudrù and Moorari are come, let us go friend! and see those whom
Akroor went to bring.” Some ran off in the middle of their dinner:
others, while bathing; and others, while engaged in plaiting their
hair. They forgot all amorous sport and dalliance with their husbands;
and put on their dresses and ornaments in a most confused, irregular
manner. They got up, and went off in the state they were then in, and
came to look upon Krishnù. Laying aside shame, modesty and fear, some
stood at the windows, some in the balconies, some at the doors, and
some wandered about the lanes. Wherever the women stood, they pointed
to Krishnù, stretching out their hands. The fair Bulram was dressed
in blue, and Krishnù in a yellow silk vest. “These are the two
nephews of Kuns, from whom no evil spirit escapes. Let us behold with
our own eyes the forms of those, of whom our ancestors have only
heard. One of us in a former birth must have performed a most
meritorious act, as a reward for which Bruhmù has granted us an
opportunity of seeing them.”
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, continued,--O great king! in this manner,
the inhabitants of the city, both men and women, conversed with each
other, making all kinds of remarks, and were rejoiced at beholding
Krishnù and Bulram. In whatever market, road or cross-road, they and
their companions made their appearance, the inhabitants stood upon
their houses, and through joy sprinkled them with, and poured down
upon them, perfumes and sandal, and flowers. And whilst admiring the
beauty of the city, they said to the cowherds’ children, “Brothers! do
not any of you mistake the road; and if any should mistake it, let him
go to our last encampment.” When they had gone some distance, they saw
the dhobees of Kuns with loads of washed clothes and bundles. They
were drunk and besmeared with coloured earths, and singing the praises
of Kuns, as they were coming out of the city. On seeing them, Shree
Krishnù Chund said to Buldeo Jee, “Take away all their clothes, and
wear some yourself, and give some to the cowherds’ children to wear,
and allow them to steal whatever is surplus.” When he had spoken thus
to his brother, they all went up in a body to the dhobees, and Huri
said to them, “Give us the fine white clothes, and receive them back
again, when we have paid our visit to the Raja. We will give you some
dresses from amongst those, which the Raja presents us with.”
At these words, the head dhobee amongst them, laughed, and said, “We
will arrange and place the clothes at the Raja’s gate; come there, and
take them, and give us what you please. You wander about the jungle,
tending cows; you are of the cowherd caste, and wear blankets. You
have come here disguised as jugglers: do you flatter yourselves, that
you are to wear the Raja’s garments? By going all together to the
Raja, with the hope of obtaining his dresses, you run an almost sure
risk of losing your lives.”
At this speech of the dhobee’s, Huri smiled, and again said, “We ask
you for the clothes in a proper manner; why do you misunderstand us?
It will be no loss to you, giving us the clothes: but you will gain a
good name by doing so.”
The dhobee was enraged at these words, and said, “Just look at the
fellow, who wants to wear the Raja’s clothes: be off with you, or I
will put you to death instantly.” Krishnù was angry at these words,
and gave him a blow with the side of his hand, so that his head flew
off like a stalk of Indian corn. Then all his companions and
assistants, fearing to meet the same fate, left their bundles and
loads behind them, and ran off to Kuns, and bawled out, “Shree
Krishnù Jee has taken all our clothes: some he wears himself, and has
given some to his brother to wear, and distributed some to the
cowherds’ children, and allowed them to steal the remainder.” In the
meantime, the cowherds’ children were much pleased, and began to put
the clothes on wrong. Having tightened their waists, they put the
upper garments on their feet, and their arms in drawers. They did not
understand the proper way of putting on the different articles.
Krishnù laughed on seeing what took place.
When they proceeded thence, a tailor came, and making a salutation
said, standing before them with joined hands, addressing Krishnù, “O
great king! I am called the servant of Kuns, but in my mind I am
constantly celebrating your many virtues; if you will be so kind as to
give me the order, I will put on the clothes for them, and from doing
so, shall be called your servant.”
When he had thus spoken, Shree Krishnù Chund, acquainted with the
secrets of the heart, knowing him to be one of his worshippers, called
him near, and said, “You have come at a lucky moment; (or it is lucky
you have come,) fit the clothes well on them.”
Upon this he began at once to unseam and unravel, and cut and patch;
and sewed the clothes up again so as to fit exactly; then having
selected dresses for Krishnù and Bulram and all the rest, he assisted
in dressing them. After this, Nund Lal, having granted him absolution
from sin, took him with him and went on.
Soodama, gardener, came there and brought them to his house. He placed
garlands upon all of them; there were songs of congratulation and
rejoicing in the gardener’s house.