Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Suttrajeet charged Shree
Krishnù Chund first with the theft of a jewel; and afterwards,
finding his accusation to be false, he was ashamed, and gave his
daughter Sutbhama in marriage to Huri. Raja Pureechit enquired from
Shree Shookdeo Jee, “O abode of compassion! who was Suttrajeet, where
did he obtain the jewel, and how did he accuse Huri of theft, and
afterwards finding the charge false, in what manner did he give his
daughter in marriage; explain these circumstances to me?” Shree
Shookdeo Jee replied,--O great king! be pleased to listen, and I will
explain all the circumstances. Suttrajeet belonged to the family of
Judoo, who for a long time was engaged in an act of very difficult
religious penance in honour of the sun. The sun-god was highly
gratified, called him and having given him a jewel, said, “This
jewel’s name is Soomuntka, it contains an unbounded power of
conferring happiness and wealth; worship it continually, and look upon
it as equal to me in power and splendour; if you meditate upon it,
having offered up prayers, and performed acts of penance, abstinence
and fasting, you shall obtain whatever you ask for; into whatever
country, city and house this jewel shall enter, there misery, poverty
and death shall not have access. There shall be constant plenty and
increase, and prosperity.”
O great king! having thus spoken the sun-god allowed Suttrajeet to
take leave; who went home with the jewel. After this, rising, early
and performing his morning ablutions, and finishing his religious
meditations and libations, he was in the habit of offering adoration
to the jewel, with unbroken rice, flowers, sandal, perfumes, lamps and
consecrated food; and taking away the eight loads of gold, which came
from the jewel, he was delighted.
One day whilst engaged in worship, beholding the beauty and brilliancy
of the jewel, he thought to himself,--“It will be a good act to take
this jewel and show it to Shree Krishnù Chund.” Having come to this
resolution, and fastening the jewel on his arm, Suttrajeet went to the
court of the descendants of Judoo. On seeing the brilliancy of the
jewel from a distance, the descendants of Judoo stood still with
admiration, and began to say to Shree Krishnù Jee, “O great king! the
sun is coming here from a longing desire to see you. Bruhmù, Roodrù,
Indrù and all the gods worship you; and meditating upon you during
the eight puhurs, sing of your celebrity. You are the immortal first
male, Vishnù, Luchmee has become your servant, and constantly waits
upon you. You are the god of all the gods. No one knows your nature.
Your attributes and qualities of mind are limitless; now, O lord! will
you be concealed, having come into the world?”
O great king! when the descendants of Judoo began to discourse thus,
on seeing Suttrajeet approach, Huri said, “This is not the sun; it is
Suttrajeet, one of the family of Judoo, who has obtained a jewel for
having performed an act of penance in honour of the sun. Its splendour
is equal to that of the sun. He is coming with that jewel, fastened on
his arm.”
O great king! whilst Shree Krishnù Jee was thus speaking, Suttrajeet
came and sat down in the court, where the descendants of Judoo were
playing at “_choupur_” and dice. The minds of all were fascinated by
beholding the brilliant lustre of the jewels, and Shree Krishnù Chund
remained also looking at it. Suttrajeet, then, upon something
occurring to his mind, took leave, and returned home; and afterwards
used constantly to come to the court with the jewel fastened about his
neck. One day, the descendants of Judoo said to Huri, “O great king!
take the jewel from Suttrajeet, and give it to Raja Oogursen and
obtain celebrity in the world. This jewel does not suit him, but is
fit for a Raja.”
On hearing this, Shree Krishnù Jee smilingly said to Suttrajeet,
“Give this jewel to the Raja, and acquire for yourself a great name
and reputation in the world.” On hearing this proposal to give the
jewel away, he made an obeisance, and rose up; and, engaged in
thought, went to his brother, and said, “Shree Krishnù Jee asked me
for the jewel to-day, and I did not give it him.” When Suttrajeet had
thus spoken, his brother, Pursen, was angry, and took the jewel, and
threw it on his own neck; and arming himself, and mounting a horse,
went out hunting. Having gone into an extensive forest, he began to
kill various kinds of deer and antelopes with his bow and arrows. A
deer having rushed out before him, he was enraged, and pursued it on
horseback; and in the course of the pursuit came alone to a large deep
cave, which had existed for ages. On hearing the sound of the deer and
horse’s feet, a lion came forth from the cave; and killing all three,
and carrying off the jewel, went into his cave again. The light was so
great in consequence of the jewel coming into the cave, that its rays
extended to the infernal regions. A bear, named Jamwunt, that had been
with Shree Ramchund in the descent of Ram upon the earth, and had
since the Treta age dwelt in the regions below with all his family,
seeing that shining light in the cave, rose up; and pursuing his
journey came to the lion. Having killed the lion, he carried off the
jewel, and went with it to his wife who fastened it in her daughter’s
cradle. The child constantly played and amused herself with the jewel,
which filled their abode with a perpetual stream of light.
Having recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! the
jewel was thus lost, and such was the fate of Pursen. The people, who
had accompanied Pursen, came and said to Suttrajeet, “O great king! he
left us, and went off alone, and we have found no trace of where he
went. They searched again in consequence of their statements not being
believed, but could not find Pursen any where in the forest.”
On hearing this statement, Suttrajeet abstained from all food and
drink; and being greatly depressed and troubled in mind began to say
to himself, “This is Shree Krishnù’s doing, he has killed my brother
for the sake of the jewel, and has carried off the jewel to his own
home. First of all he asked me for it; but I did not give it, and he
has thus carried it off.” With these thoughts, he passed his time in
great anxiety. One night, he was sitting on his wife’s bed, emaciated,
low-spirited, silent and deeply engaged in thought, when his wife said
to him, “Why are you so thoughtful, husband! tell me your secret
anxieties?” Suttrajeet replied, “It is not right to reveal important
secrets to a wife, as she cannot keep them; what she hears at home,
she publishes abroad; she is ignorant, and without knowledge of any
thing, good or bad.”
Suttrajeet’s wife was angry at this speech, and said, “When did I ever
publish abroad any thing I heard at home, as you state? Are all women
alike?” She added, “Until you mention to me, what is preying upon your
mind I will abstain from all sustenance.” Suttrajeet replied, “Truth
and falsehood are known to Bhugwan; but I will inform you of what I am
thinking, provided you will not tell any one.” His wife assented.
Suttrajeet began to say, “One day Shree Krishnù Jee asked me for the
jewel, and I did not give it, I, therefore, think that he has killed
my brother in the forest, and taken away the jewel; this must have
been done by him, as no one else has the power to perform such an
act.”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee
said,--O great king! his wife did not sleep after hearing this
account, and passed the night in great perplexity of mind. Early in
the morning, she said to her female companions and servants, “Shree
Krishnù Jee has killed Pursen, and taken away the jewel, I heard this
from my husband last night, but do not mention it to any one.” They
went away silently agreeing not to speak of the matter; but in
private, began to talk to each other, in astonishment, upon the
subject. At length one of the servants went and mentioned the subject
in the female apartments of Shree Krishnù Chund. On hearing it, all
the women thought, that if Suttrajeet’s wife had said so, the
statement could not be false; and having formed this opinion, they
began to blame, and speak ill of, Shree Krishnù. In the mean while,
some one came, and said to Shree Krishnù Jee, “You are under a
suspicion, O great king! of having killed Pursen, and taken away the
jewel; why are you sitting idle? You should adopt some measures to
counteract these statements.” On hearing this statement, Shree
Krishnù Jee was at first frightened; afterwards, reflecting on the
subject, he came to the court, where Oogursen and Basoodeo and Bulram
were sitting, and said, “O great king! I am accused of having killed
Pursen, and carried off the jewel; I will, therefore, with your
permission, go and search for them both, in order that this disgrace
may be wiped away.”
Having thus spoken, Shree Krishnù Jee went thence to the forest,
taking with him several of the descendants of Judoo, and the
companions of Pursen. When they had gone some distance, they saw marks
of horse’s feet, on tracing which, they reached the spot where a lion
had devoured Pursen and his horse. On seeing the remains of their
bodies, and the marks of a lion’s feet, they were all of opinion, that
the lion must have killed them. Thinking thus, and not having obtained
the jewel, Shree Krishnù Chund went, accompanied by them all, to that
deep, dark and terrible cave. At the entrance, he saw a lion lying
dead, but did not find the jewel there. On beholding this strange
sight, they all said to Shree Krishnù Jee, “O great king! whence has
such a powerful animal come into this forest, as to be able to kill a
lion, and carry off the jewel into the cave? Adopt measures
immediately against him. You have made all necessary search, and have
obliterated all the suspicions, that were raised against you, the
disgrace is now upon the lion’s head.” Shree Krishnù Jee said, “Come
let us go into the cave, and see who has killed the lion, and taken
away the jewel.” They all replied, “O great king! we are terrified at
beholding the mouth of the cave; how shall we be able to enter it?
Moreover, we beseech you also, not to go into this frightful cavern,
let us return home; we will all say in the city, that a lion killed
Pursen, and carried off the jewel; and that some animal killed the
lion, and went into a deep and very terrible cave with the jewel. We
all saw this with our own eyes.” Shree Krishnù Chund replied, “My
mind is intent upon the jewel, and I will go into the cave alone; in
ten days, I will return, stay here that time; and if I delay beyond
that time, return home, and give information of the matter.” O great
king! having thus spoken, Huri entered that dark, frightful cave, and
pursuing his journey arrived at the place, where Jamwunt was sleeping,
and his wife rocking her daughter in a cradle of chalk. On beholding
Krishnù, she called out through fear, and Jamwunt awoke, and making a
rush, grappled Krishnù, and they both began to wrestle. When neither
his stratagems nor strength succeeded against Huri, he began to
reflect and say, “Luchmun Ram is my equal in strength, who else in the
world is so powerful as to be able to fight with me?” O great king!
Jamwunt having thus reflected, and meditating upon Krishnù, shrunk
back with joined hands, and said, “O Rugoonath! appear to me, I know
you to be acquainted with the secrets of the heart, and recognize you
by beholding your exploits. You have done well in descending upon the
earth; remove the burthens of the world. I have dwelt here since the
Treta age. Narud has told me your history; that Krishnù would come
here for the jewel, and then he will appear to you.”
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--Raja! When Jamwunt, having recognised Krishnù,
spoke thus, Shree Moorari, the friend of his worshippers, beholding
the attachment of Jamwunt, was delighted; and assuming the appearance
of Ram, appeared to him with a bow and arrows, and Jamwunt, having
prostrated himself so as to touch the ground with the eight principal
parts of his body, stood up; and joining his hands said, with the
greatest humility, “O sea of compassion and brother of the poor! with
your permission, I will explain my wishes.” Krishnù granted
permission. Then Jamwunt said, “O purifier of the guilty and lord of
the poor! it is the wish of my mind to give you this damsel, Jamwutee,
in marriage, and obtain celebrity and greatness in the world by so
doing.” Bhugwan replied, “If such is your desire, it is acceptable to
me.” When Krishnù had thus spoken, Jamwunt took sandal, unbroken
rice, flowers, perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, and worshipped
him; and afterwards married his daughter to him in the manner, and
with the ceremonies prescribed by the Vedas, giving her the jewel as a
part of her dowry.
Having related thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,
said,--Raja! Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, taking with him
Jamwutee and the jewel, came forth from the cave. And now be pleased
to listen to what befel the descendants of Judoo, and companions of
Pursen and Shree Krishnù, who were standing at the mouth of the cave.
When twenty-eight days had elapsed and Huri did not return, they went
thence, devoid of all hope; and came to Dwarka, troubled with all
kinds of perplexing thoughts, and shedding tears. The descendants of
Judoo were very much alarmed at the intelligence they brought; and
calling on the name of Shree Krishnù, and suffering great affliction,
they began to weep and lament; and there was mourning in all the
female apartments. At length, all the women being much agitated,
emaciated and in low spirits, went forth from the palace, and weeping
violently came to a temple of Devee, distant about a coss outside the
city. Having worshipped and propitiated Devee, joining their hands and
bowing their heads, they began to say, “O Devee! gods, men and sages,
all meditate upon thee, and receive from thee whatever boon they ask,
tell us, when will Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, come?”
O great king! all the women sat down at the entrance of the temple,
and continued imploring Devee; Oogursen, Basoodeo, Buldeo and the
other descendants of Judoo were sitting in a state of great anxiety,
when Shree Krishnù, the immortal, the dweller in Dwarka, smiling and
bringing Jamwutee with him, came and stood in the royal court; all
were delighted at beholding the moon-like face of Krishnù. And on
hearing the good news of his arrival, all the women having worshipped
Devee, returned home; and began to engage in festive rejoicings.
Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king!
Shree Krishnù Jee, sitting in the court, sent for Suttrajeet, and,
having given him the jewel, said, “I did not take away this jewel, and
you suspected me falsely. Jamwunt took away this jewel, and has given
it to me, together with his daughter.” Taking the jewel, Suttrajeet
went away, bowing his head, and thoughtful:--“I have committed a great
crime against Huri, and ignorantly abused his family; I have cast a
slur and suspicion on the lord of the Judoos, and have shown great
enmity to him for the sake of the jewel. I must now endeavour to atone
for my fault, and give the jewel, Sutbhama, to Krishnù.” With these
thoughts in his mind, Suttrajeet went home with the jewel, depressed
in spirits, and explained all his anxieties to his wife. His wife
said, “O husband! this is a good thought of yours. Give Sutbhama to
Shree Krishnù, and obtain celebrity in the world.”
On hearing these words, Suttrajeet sent for a brahmin; and having
fixed upon a favourable rising of a sign of the zodiack, and a
division of time equal to forty-eight minutes, and placing on a dish a
coloured mixture for the forehead, unbroken rice, a rupee and a
cocoanut, sent the nuptial gifts to Shree Krishnù Chund by the hands
of the family priest. Shree Krishnù Jee came to the marriage with
great pomp and splendour, wearing a high crowned hat. Then Suttrajeet,
having observed all the usual forms and ceremonies, gave his daughter
in marriage according to the injunctions of the Vedas, and having
bestowed great wealth upon her, added the jewel also to her dowry. On
beholding the jewel, Shree Krishnù Jee drew it forth, and said, “This
jewel is of no use to me, because you have obtained it for having
performed a penance in honour of the sun. Keep this in your own house,
as my family do not accept the things bestowed by other gods, with
exception of Bhugwan.”
O great king! when Shree Krishnù Chund had thus spoken, Suttrajeet
took the jewel, and was ashamed, and Shree Krishnù Jee returned home
in musical procession with Sutbhama, and lived happily with her in the
royal palace. The Raja Pureechit interrupted Shree Shookdeo Jee in
this part of the story, and enquired, “O abode of compassion! kindly
explain, why the suspicion and calumny of the theft were fastened upon
Shree Krishnù Jee?” Shookdeo Jee replied, Raja! Mohun had seen the
moon, when it was four days old in the month of Bhadon; and hear me,
whoever, having heard this history, shall see the moon when four days
old in the month of Bhadon, shall escape unblemished.