Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O lord of the earth! having seen the
gardener’s great attachment, Shree Krishnù Chund was rejoiced, and
granted him a blessing for his faith; and as he proceeded onwards, he
saw standing before him in a lane a hump-backed woman, who had cups
and broad plates, filled with saffron and sandal in her hand. Huri
enquired, “Who art thou, and where art thou taking these things?” She
replied, “O kind to the poor! I am the servant of Kuns; my name is
‘Hump-back,’ and I constantly rub and anoint Kuns’ body with sandal;
and in my own mind, sing of your many excellent qualities. Through the
glorious favour of which I have obtained a sight of you to-day; and
gained the greatest happiness in my present birth, and have seen the
object my eyes most wished to see. The wish of this slave now is, with
your permission, to rub you with sandal.”
Seeing her great faith, Huri said, “Rub me with it, if it will give
you any pleasure.” On hearing these words the hump-backed woman, with
very great affection and endearment, anointed Krishnù; who,
perceiving her sincere attachment, took compassion on her, and placing
his foot on hers, and putting his two fingers under her chin, caused
her to jump up, and made her straight. On being touched by Huri’s
hand, she became very beautiful, and said in a most supplicating
manner to Krishnù, “O lord of favour! as through your beneficence you
have made this slave’s body straight, be pleased to extend your
compassion by coming to my house, and purifying it; and having taken
repose confer happiness on your servant.” Huri taking hold of her
hand, and smiling, replied, “Thou hast removed all my fatigue by
rubbing me with cool sandal: thy beauty is great; and the good
qualities of thy mind, and thy virtues are excellent. My friendship
for thee shall be without end. After having destroyed Kuns, I will
come to see thee.” Saying these words, Krishnù went on; and the
hump-backed woman, who had been made straight, went home; and having
filled a square place with coloured meal, perfumes and sweetmeats, and
entertaining a firm hope of again meeting Krishnù, began to indulge
in rejoicings.
The women of Muthoora came there, and on seeing her, were astonished,
and said--“Great, very great is your good fortune, O hump-back! to
whom Bruhmù has shown affection! What difficult act of penance have
you performed, that the lord of cowherdesses has visited you and taken
you in his arms? We, who are without bodily defects, have not seen
Huri, he has had an interview with you, and shown you the greatest
affection.” The women continued talking thus, whilst Krishnù went
about, looking at Muthoora.
Whilst they were engaged in seeing the city, Krishnù arrived with his
companions at the gate, where the bow was. On seeing them approach,
besmeared with colours of different kinds, and in a state of
intoxication, the sentinels called out angrily, “Where are you coming,
you stupid villagers? go away some distance off, this is the royal
gate.” Huri, pretending not to hear what the sentinels said, went
straight to the spot where the bow of Muhadeo, which was very large
and weighty, and as long as three palm trees, was placed. On arrival
there, he immediately took it up, and, bending it with ease to its
full extent, broke it in pieces, in the same way that an elephant
breaks sugar-cane in pieces.
All the sentinels of Kuns, who were guarding the bow, rushed forward
and attacked him, but Krishnù overthrew and killed them also. On
beholding these exploits, the inhabitants of the city began to
reflect, and say fearlessly to each other, “Behold! the Raja, sitting
in his own house, has himself invited his own death; he will not
escape alive from the hands of these two brothers.” And having heard
the crash, caused by the breaking of the bow, Kuns enquired, with
great terror from his people, “What had occasioned so great a noise?”
In the mean while, many of his attendants, who were looking on at a
distance, came with their heads uncovered, and called out, “By the
oath of the great Raja! Bulram and Krishnù, by coming into the city,
have caused great disturbance: they have broken in pieces the bow of
Shivù, and killed all the guards.”
On hearing these words, Kuns assembled a great many powerful men, and
said to them, “Accompany these men, and having by artifice or force,
destroyed Krishnù and Buldeo, bring their bodies here immediately.”
When Kuns had thus spoken, they took their arms and weapons, and went
forth to meet the two brothers. They had no sooner called out to them,
than the brothers killed them all. When Huri saw, that not a single
attendant of Kuns was left, he said to Bulram Jee, “Brother! it is
some time since we came here; we ought to return to our encampment,
because our father Nund will be expecting us, and will be anxious on
our account.”
Having thus said, Krishnù returned with Bulram and the cowherds to
the encampment. On arriving, he said to the chief Nund, “Father! we
have been to the city, and seen fine games, and have shown our
honorary dresses to the cowherds.”
Then Nund, looking at him, said, “Your old practices will not leave
you. This is the habitation of the Raja Kuns, and not our own village
in the forest of Bruj. Keep my instructions, son, in mind, and do not
commit any violence here.”
When Nund Rae had thus instructed him, Nund Lal replied, with great
coaxing and endearment of manner, “Father! we are hungry; please give
us whatever our mother may have sent for us to eat.” Nund, at these
words, produced the different articles of food they had brought with
them; and Krishnù and Buldeo, and the cowherds partook of them.
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,
said,--O great king! Krishnú and all his party on their return ate
their supper in the highest glee, and went to sleep; whilst Kuns,
having heard what Krishnù had done, suffered the greatest anxiety of
mind; and could not obtain any ease or relaxation of his griefs,
whether reclining or standing erect. His mind mourned, and did not
communicate its griefs to any one. It is said, as the weevil eats into
wood, and no one knows the pain the wood suffers: thus, when there is
anxiety in the mind, the understanding, strength and body are
diminished. At length, being in a state of great fear, he went into
his house, and reclined upon a bed; but he was so alarmed, that he
could not sleep.
He remained awake during three watches of the night, when he shut his
eye-lids, and had a moment’s sleep. Then in a dream he saw, in
imagination, the shadow of a body, wandering about without a head. He
sometimes bathed naked upon the sand; and then, having eaten poison,
rushed about, mounted on an ass. He took up his abode in a burial
ground with ghosts, wearing garlands of blood-red flowers. Then he saw
trees all round him, on which young children were sitting.
O great king! when Kuns had this dream, he was in a state of such
excessive agitation, that he awoke; and being occupied with anxious
thoughts, rose up, and came forth; and having summoned all his
ministers, said, “Go immediately, and have the place of amusement
sprinkled over with water, and thoroughly arranged and prepared, and
invite Nund and Oopnund, and all the inhabitants of Bruj, and Basoodeo
and all the members of the family of Judoo; and invite also all the
Rajas, who may have come here. Whilst this is being done, I will come
also.”
Having received Kuns’ orders, the counsellors came to the place of
amusement, and having had it thoroughly swept, and sprinkled with
water, they spread silken cloths; and having suspended garlands, and
strings of flowers, and flags, and banners, and having caused musical
instruments of all kinds to be played, they issued invitations to all.
They, who were invited, came and took their seats on their chairs of
state. In the meantime, the Raja Kuns came, filled with very great
pride, and took his seat on a platform erected for him. The gods, at
that time, seated in their chariots, began to look down from the sky.