Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! on one occasion the earth, having
assumed mortal shape, began to perform a very difficult penance. Upon
this, the three gods, Bruhmù, Vishnù and Roodrù, came and enquired,
“Why do you perform such excessively severe penance?” The earth
replied, “O seas of compassion! I am very desirous of having a son;
and am therefore performing this great penance; have compassion on me
and grant that I may have a very powerful, renowned and glorious son,
who shall not have an equal in the world, and who shall never die.”
The three gods were delighted at hearing these words; and, having
granted the boon she solicited, said, “Thy son, by name Nurkasoor,
shall be very potent, and of great reputation, and no one shall obtain
a victory over him in battle. He shall conquer, and bring under
subjection, all the kings of the world; having gone to the sky, he
shall destroy and put to flight the gods, and carrying off the
ear-rings of Aditee, the mother of the gods, shall wear them himself,
and carry off and place the canopy of Indrù over his own head. He
shall collect together, without marrying them, sixteen thousand one
hundred virgin daughters of different Rajas. Shree Krishnù Chund
shall then attack him with all his army, and you shall tell him to
kill your son, which he will do, and take away with him to Dwarka all
the Rajas’ daughters.”
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! when the three gods, having granted
the boon, had thus spoken, the earth said, “Why should I ever tell any
one to kill my son?” and was silent. After the lapse of some days, the
earth’s son, Bhomasoor, was born, who is also called Nurkasoor; and
dwelt in Pragojotikpore. The city was protected on all sides by hills;
and, having built forts of water, fire and air, he carried off by
violence the young daughters of all the Rajas in the world, and
brought them, and kept them there with their nurses. He was
incessantly occupied with arrangements for their food and clothes, and
brought them up with the greatest care. One day, Bhomasoor was in a
great passion, and sitting in a chariot of flowers he had brought from
Lunka (Ceylon,) went to the regions above, and began to vex the gods.
From the troubles he brought upon them, the gods fled for their lives
in every direction, abandoning their celestial abodes. He then carried
off the ear-rings of the mother of the gods and the canopy of Indrù,
and began to inflict great griefs on all the gods, mortals and sages
of the world.
Having heard of all his practices, Shree Krishnù Chund, the brother
of the world, said to himself, “I will destroy him, and carry off all
the women, and will convey Indrù’s canopy to the celestial regions, I
will restore Aditee’s ear-rings, and will arrange that Indrù shall
govern, free from all fear.”
Shree Krishnù Chund then said to Sutbhama, “O wife! if you come with
me, Bhomasoor shall be put to death; because you are a portion of the
earth, and in this manner are his mother. When the gods granted the
earth the boon of a son, they said to her, ‘Thy son shall die, when
thou givest the order: otherwise, no one will be able to put him to
death.’” Sutbhama, hearing and reflecting upon these words, remained
thoughtful. “O great king! my son is also your son; why will you kill
him?” Krishnù evaded this question, and said, “I am not very anxious
to destroy him; but on one occasion, I made you a promise, which I
wish to fulfil.” Sutbhama enquired, “What promise?” Krishnù said,
“Narud Jee once came, and gave me a flower of the tree Kulpù, which I
sent to Rookmunee. You were angry, when you heard of this. I then made
an agreement, that if you would not be uneasy, I would bring the
Kulpù tree to you. I, therefore, take you with me, in order that I
may fulfil my promise, and show you the paradise of Vishnù.”
Sutbhama was much pleased at hearing these words, and prepared to
accompany Huri; who seated her behind him on the sovereign of the
feathered race, the vehicle of Vishnù, and set off on his journey.
After they had gone some distance, Shree Krishnù Chund said to
Sutbhama, “Say, truly, why were you displeased, when I first mentioned
this subject to you; explain the reason of this, that the doubts of my
mind may be removed?” Sutbhama replied, “O great king! after killing
Bhomasoor, you will bring away his sixteen thousand one hundred
damsels, and will consider me as one of them. This is the reason of my
having been displeased.” Shree Krishnù Chund said, “Do not allow
yourself to suffer anxiety on any account. I will bring the tree
Kulpù, and place it in your house. And do you make a present of it,
and also of me to Narud, the sage. Having afterwards purchased me
again, keep me near you, I will always be subservient to you. In this
manner, Indranee made a present of Indrù, together with the tree; and
Aditee also made a present of Kusyp. If you bestow this gift, no wife
of mine will be equal to you.”
Discoursing, O great king! in this manner, Shree Krishnù arrived at
Pragojotikpore; there beholding a hill fort, protected by fire, water
and air, Krishnù gave the order to the sovereign of the feathered
race, and to the quoit, Soodursun, who, by levelling, making smooth,
lopping away and fixing, made a good road in a second. When Huri,
advancing, was about to enter the city, the demons, who were guarding
the fort, came out to fight; Krishnù easily killed and overthrew them
with a club. On hearing the news of their death, a devil, named Moor,
with five heads, who was sentinel over the city and fort, was greatly
enraged, and made an attack upon Shree Krishnù with a trident in his
hand, and his eyes red with fury, and gnashing his teeth, began to
say, “Who, in the world, is more powerful than me? I should like to
see him here.” With these words, O great king! the devil, Moor, rushed
at Shree Krishnù Chund, as the king of the feathered race would rush
upon a snake. He then aimed blows with the trident, which Krishnù
parried with a quoit. As many weapons as Moor, in his rage, made use
of, and discharged against, Huri, he, with the greatest ease, warded
off. He then ran and threw himself upon Krishnù, in a state of great
confusion, and began to wrestle; when the fight had lasted some time,
Shree Krishnù, perceiving that Sutbhama was alarmed, cut off his five
heads with the quoit, Soodursun. Bhomasoor, having heard the sound of
the heads falling from the body, enquired, “What very loud noise was
that?” Some one came and informed him that Shree Krishnù had killed
the devil, Moor. Bhomasoor was very sorrowful on first hearing this
account; but afterwards gave the order to his commander-in-chief to
fight. He arranged his forces, and stood ready for battle at the gate
of the fort. After this, the seven sons of Moor, who were very potent
and mighty warriors, hearing of their father’s death, came to fight
with, and encounter, Krishnù, armed with weapons of all kinds.
Bhomasoor, after a while, sent a message to his commander-in-chief,
and the sons of Moor to fight cautiously, as he was also coming. On
receiving the order to fight, the commander-in-chief of Bhomasoor and
the sons of Moor, accompanied by their armies of evil spirits, came
forth to fight with Shree Krishnù Jee; and all at once, their troops
spread like clouds in every direction round Krishnù. The warriors of
Bhomasoor began to shower from all sides missiles of every
description, and to make use of all kinds of arms against Shree
Krishnù Chund; which he, parrying with ease, collected in heaps. At
length Huri perceiving that Sutbhama was greatly disquieted, cut in
pieces, in a second, with the quoit, Soodursun, the whole army of
demons, together with the seven sons of Moor; just as a husbandman
would cut a field of “_jowar_.”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! on hearing of the destruction of
all his army, and of the sons of Moor, Bhomasoor was at first very
thoughtful, and perplexed. On subsequent reflection, he recovered his
confidence; and taking several very powerful demons with him, his eyes
inflamed with rage, tightening his waist belt, preparing his arrows,
talking foolishly, he got ready to fight with Shree Krishnù Jee.
Bhomasoor was exceedingly wroth when he saw Shree Krishnù; and,
seizing arrows by the handful, began to discharge them. Huri cut them
into three pieces. Then Bhomasoor drew a sword, and howled angrily at
Krishnù; he sent forth a sound like thunder, exclaiming, “You shall
not escape from me now, you villager.” Having spoken these harsh
words, Bhomasoor engaged in a fierce encounter.
He, O great king! attacked violently with a club; and his blows made
as much impression on the body of Shree Krishnù, as a stick of
flowers would make on the body of an elephant. He fought with Krishnù
with weapons of all kinds, which Huri cut in pieces. Bhomasoor then
returned to his house, and brought forth a trident; and prepared for
an encounter. Then Sutbhama called out, “When will the lord of the
Judoos kill him?” On hearing these words, Krishnù poised his quoit,
and killed Bhomasoor by cutting off his head. His head fell, together
with the ear-rings and crown. The snake, on which the world rests,
trembled when the body fell. There was joy in the three worlds; and
the cares and miseries of all were removed. His splendour went into
the body of Huri. Gods and wise men raised shouts of victory. They
rained down flowers from their chariots, which were assembled
together. The gods singing praises to the Vedas, celebrated the
exploits of Krishnù.
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,
said,--O great king! on hearing of Bhomasoor’s death, the earth and
Bhomasoor’s wife with her son came to Krishnù; and standing in his
presence, with joined hands and bended heads, began to say, in a most
supplicating manner, “O luminous form of Bruhmù! Beharee, thou friend
of thy worshippers, for the sake of holy and virtuous men, thou
assumest numberless shapes; your greatness, exploits and delusive
power are boundless, who can understand them, and who has power to
explain them without your favour? You are the god of all the gods; no
one understands your nature.”
O great king! having thus spoken, and placed the canopy and ear-rings
before Krishnù, the earth again said, “O lord of the poor and sea of
compassion! this son of Bhomasoor, Soobhugdunt, has come to you for
protection. Take compassion on him, and be pleased to place your soft,
lotus-like hand on his head, and grant that he may be free from all
dread of you.”
On hearing these words, the abode of mercy, Shree Krishnù,
compassionately placed his hand on Soobhugdunt’s head, and caused him
to be free from all fear of him. Then Bhogawuttee, the wife of
Bhomasoor, having brought many gifts to Huri, standing before him with
joined hands, and bowing her head, said with the greatest humility, “O
kind to the poor compassionate being, as you have fulfilled all our
desires by showing yourself to us, be pleased now to make our houses
pure by going to them.”
On hearing this request, Shree Moorari, acquainted with the secrets of
the heart, the friend of his worshippers, went to the house of
Bhomasoor. The mother and sons, having spread silken cloths for
Krishnù to walk upon; and having accompanied him into the house,
seated him upon a throne; and having given him an oblation with eight
ingredients, and taken the water with which his feet had been washed,
said, with the greatest submissiveness, “O lord of the three worlds!
you have done well, in having destroyed this great demon; who that has
done acts of enmity towards Krishnù, has ever obtained happiness in
the world? Rawun, Kanbhkurun, Kuns and others, who were your enemies,
have lost their lives; and whatsoever persons have borne malice toward
you, have none in the world to perform the commonest offices for
them.” Bhomawutee proceeded to say, “O lord! listen to my
supplication; and, looking upon Soobhugdunt as your servant, be
pleased to marry the sixteen thousand one hundred young unmarried
daughters of Rajas, whom his father kept confined.”
Having thus spoken, she, O great king! brought out all the young
daughters of Rajas into the presence of Krishnù, and arranged them in
rows. On seeing the light of the world, the sea of beauty, Shree
Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, they were fascinated; and imploring
him earnestly, and with expressions of deep grief, they said, joining
their hands, “O lord! as you have come and released us, poor, weak
creatures, from the bonds of this great affliction, be pleased now to
show us favour, and take us with you, and permit us, your servants, to
attend upon you.”
On hearing this petition, Shree Krishnù Chund said to them, “I will
procure ruths and palkees to convey you hence;” and looked at
Soobhugdunt. Soobhugdunt, understanding the thoughts of Krishnù’s
mind, went to the seat of his empire, and brought back with him
elephants and horses fully equipped, carriages with four wheels, and
shining, glittering ruths, and all sorts of splendid palkees. On
seeing them, Huri gave orders to all the Rajas’ daughters to get into
them. He took Soobhugdunt with him to the royal palace; and having
seated him on the throne, made the royal marks on his forehead with
his own hand, and took leave. The splendour of the scene, in the
course of his journey with the Rajas’ daughters thence to Dwarka
cannot be described. The splendour of the elephants and horses the
glitter of the white and black trappings, and the brilliancy of the
iron armour of the horses, the beauty of the coverings of the
chariots, wheeled carriages and palkees and the lustre of their
fringes of pearls, shone forth, equalling the sun in brightness.
Shree Krishnù Chund arrived, after a few days’ journey, with the
Rajas’ daughters, at Dwarka. On arrival there, he placed them in the
royal palace, and having gone to the Raja Oogursen, and made a
salutation, Shree Krishnù related all the circumstances of his
slaying Bhomasoor, and releasing and bringing away the Rajas’
daughters. Then taking leave of the Raja, Krishnù, accompanied by
Sutbhama, and taking the canopy and ear-rings with him, seated on the
sovereign of the feathered race, went to the paradise of Vishnù. On
arrival there, he gave the ear-rings to the husband of Aditee, and
placed the canopy over the head of the lord of the gods.
Having received intelligence of this event, Narud came there, to whom
Huri said, “Go and tell Indrù, that Sutbhama asks for the tree Kulpù
from him, let us see what he will say, and bring his answer back to
me, I will form my plans after receipt of his reply.”
Narud Jee, O great king! having heard this request of Shree Krishnù
Chund, went to the lord of the gods, and said, “Sutbhama, your
brother’s wife, solicits from you the tree Kulpù. Tell me what answer
I am to take back from you to this request.” When Indrù had heard
what Narud said, he was at first confused and thoughtful; and
afterwards went and mentioned to Indranee all that Narud, the sage,
had said. Indranee, on hearing the account, was angry, and said, “Your
dulness of intellect, O lord of the gods! will never leave you. You
are a great fool, O blind husband! Who is Krishnù, and whose brother
is he? Do you remember or not, that in Bruj he abolished the adoration
of you, and caused the inhabitants to worship a hill, and deceitfully
ate the sweetmeats, which had been prepared for your poojah? Again,
having caused you to pour down rain on the hill, for seven days, he
lowered your pride, and dishonoured you throughout the world. Are you
not ashamed of this? He respects what his wife says. Why do you not
listen to my suggestions?”
When Indranee, O great king! had thus addressed Indrù, he was
annoyed; and returned to Narud Jee and said, “O chief of the sages! go
and say to Shree Krishnù Chund from me, that the tree Kulpù shall
never leave the forest of Nundun to go elsewhere; nor shall it remain
any where else. Explain also to him, that there will be a great battle
between us if he should injure me as he did formerly; when having
misled the inhabitants of Bruj, and pretending to worship a hill, he
ate up all the sweetmeats and other confections, which had been
collected for my worship.”
Narud Jee, on hearing these words, returned to Shree Krishnù Chund,
and having repeated Indrù’s speech, said, “O great king! Indrù would
have given the tree Kulpù; but his wife would not let him.” On
hearing these words, Shree Moorari, the destroyer of pride, went into
the forest of Nundun; and having slain, and put to flight the keepers,
carried off the tree Kulpù, and brought it away with him on the bird,
which is the vehicle of Vishnù. The keepers who had been wounded by
Krishnù and fled, went to Indrù and called out, mentioning what had
happened.
O great king! Raja Indrù was greatly enraged, when he received
intelligence of the tree Kulpù having been carried off; and taking
thunderbolts in his hand, and summoning all the gods, he mounted the
elephant Yerawut, and prepared for battle with Shree Krishnù Chund.
Narud, the sage, having come again to Indrù, said, “Raja! you are
very foolish in preparing to contend with Bhugwan at the instigation
of your wife. Are you not ashamed of having said what you did? If you
intended fighting, why did you not do so, when Bhomasoor carried off
your canopy and the ear-rings of Aditee? Now that Krishnù has slain
Bhomasoor, and restored the canopy and ear-rings, you are preparing to
fight with him. Why did you not fight with Bhomasoor, if you are so
powerful? Have you forgotten that day, on which you went to Krishnù
at Bruj, and asked forgiveness of your fault with the greatest
humility, and obtained it? And do you now proceed to fight with him
again?”
O great king! on hearing this speech of Narud Jee’s, Indrù regretted
and was ashamed, and repented having made preparations for battle.
When Shree Krishnù Chund reached Dwarka, all the Judoos were highly
delighted at seeing him. Krishnù took the tree Kulpù and placed it
in Sutbhama’s palace; and the Raja Oogursen gave the sixteen thousand
one hundred unmarried daughters of Rajas in marriage to Shree Krishnù
Chund, in the manner prescribed by the Vedas, There were festive
rejoicings according to the prescribed injunctions of the Vedas; thus
did Krishnù enjoy himself in the world. Huri showed great affection
for the sixteen thousand one hundred daughters of Rajas; and had an
unceasing love for his eight queens.
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,
Raja! thus did Huri slay Bhomasoor, and restore the ear-rings of
Aditee and the canopy of Indrù. Then having contracted sixteen
thousand one hundred and eight marriages, Shree Krishnù Chund brought
all his wives to Dwarka and began joyfully to indulge in sports and
diversions.