Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! having taken his sixteen
thousand one hundred wives to Dwarka, Krishnù began to engage in
joyful sports and diversions with them; and his eight queens attended
constantly upon him day and night: rising continually early in the
morning, some washed his face, some applied perfumed paste, and bathed
his body; others served up, and fed him with all sorts of delicacies,
some having made an image of their husband with cloves, mace, nutmegs
and other spices gave it to Krishnù to eat, others arrayed him in
elegant garments, and ornaments studded with jewels, which they
selected and prepared; several of them gave him a garland of flowers
to wear; and sprinkling rose-water, smeared his body with saffron, and
sandal; some fanned him, and others rubbed his feet. O great king! all
his queens thus constantly performed various acts of attendance on
Krishnù, who made them completely happy.
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O
great king! after some years, each of the wives of the lord of the
Judoos brought forth children; each having a daughter, equalling
Luchmee, and ten dutiful sons. Thus the number of children amounted to
a lakh and sixty-one thousand, all alike, and possessed of unbounded
excellence of mind, strength and beauty, all of them of the colour of
clouds, with countenances like the moon, lotus eyes, dressed in blue
and yellow frocks, and wearing knotted strings, necklaces and amulets
on their necks, pleased and gratified their parents by their childish
sports and pastimes in each house: and their mothers brought them up
with the most tender and affectionate care. O great king! on hearing
of the birth of Shree Krishnù Chund’s sons, Rookum said to his wife,
“I will not now give my daughter Charoomutee to Kritbruma’s son, to
whom she has been betrothed, but will allow her to choose a husband
for herself; send some one to invite my sister Rookmunee with her
sons.”
On hearing these words, Rookum’s wife wrote a most pressing letter of
invitation to her brother’s sister and her sons, which she sent by the
hand of a brahmin, and made preparations for the ceremony of her
daughter selecting a husband for herself. On receipt of her brother’s
wife’s invitation, Rookmunee having obtained the permission of Shree
Krishnù Chund, took leave and starting from Dwarka with her son,
arrived at her brother’s house at Bhojkut. Rookum was highly delighted
at seeing her, and respectfully bowed his head; falling at her feet,
his wife said, “This is the first visit you have paid us, since you
were carried off.” She again said to Rookmunee, “O sister-in-law! as
you have come here, kindly take compassion upon us, and receive this
our daughter, Charoomutee, for your son.” Rookmunee Jee replied, “You
know your husband’s disposition; do not give occasion for him to
quarrel with any one, there is no understanding or depending on my
brother; who knows what he may do, for this reason, both his words and
actions excite apprehension.” Rookum said, “Fear not, sister! there
shall be no violence, it is an injunction of the Vedas, to give a
daughter in marriage to a sister’s son in the Deccan country, for this
reason, I will give my daughter, Charoomutee, to your son, Purdiyomun;
and, abandoning my habit of enmity towards Shree Krishnù Jee, unite
myself to him by a new bond of relationship.”
O great king! having thus spoken, when Rookum, rising thence, went to
the court, Purdiyomun having arrayed himself in full dress, went also,
with his mother’s permission, to the assembly that was collected on
the occasion of Charoomutee selecting a husband for herself. He beheld
Rajas of all countries standing there with the hope of marriage,
splendidly dressed, and wearing a variety of jewels and ornaments. And
the young girl was moving about in the middle of the crowd with a
garland in her hand, and looking in every direction, but her glance
did not rest upon any one. In the mean while, when Purdiyomun Jee
entered the assembly, she was fascinated at beholding him, and came
and threw the garland on his neck. All the Rajas beheld the act with
regret, and remained standing there in a state of disappointment and
pique; and began to say to themselves, “Let us see whether he will
lead away this girl in our presence, we will carry her off on the
road.”
O great king! the Rajas thus continued discoursing to themselves; and
Rookum, having taken the bride and bridegroom under the temporary
building which had been erected for the occasion, and having made a
solemn vow in the manner prescribed by the Vedas, gave away his
daughter; and bestowed upon her a dowry of unbounded wealth and
riches; when Shree Rookmunee Jee had celebrated her son’s marriage,
and taken leave of her brother and his wife, she mounted her chariot,
taking with her, her son and daughter-in-law, and started for Dwarka.
The Rajas then came in a body, and blocked up the road, with the view
of fighting and forcibly carrying off Purdiyomun’s bride.
Observing their wicked design, Purdiyomun seized his arms, and
prepared for battle. The battle lasted for some time between them;
when at length Purdiyomun, having slain and routed them all, arrived
joyfully and happily at Dwarka.
On hearing of their arrival, all their relations, male and female,
came outside the city, and observing the usual and prescribed
ceremonies, and spreading silken cloths on the ground, conducted them
in musical procession; there was rejoicing throughout the city, and
they dwelt happily in the royal palace.
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! after some years, a son was born to
Purdiyomun, the son of Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy. On that
occasion, Shree Krishnù Jee sent for astrologers; and, having had
seats placed for all his relations, gave a festive entertainment, and
made preparations for giving a name to the child in the manner
prescribed by the Shastrus. The astrologers, consulting their
almanacs, and having fixed upon the year, month, half-month, solar and
lunar day, the hour, the rising of the sign and the twenty-seventh
division of the zodiack, gave the child the name of Unroodrù. On that
occasion, when Purdiyomun had a son, Krishnù was so overjoyed, that
his body could not contain him; and he could not be surfeited with
giving presents and gifts to the brahmins.
O great king! having received intelligence of the birth of Krishnù’s
grandson, Rookum wrote a letter to his sister and her husband in terms
of great affection, proposing a marriage between the grandson and his
grand-daughter, and mentioning that the match would afford him great
delight. And afterwards, he sent for a brahmin; and, giving him a red
mixture for the forehead, unbroken rice, a rupee and a cocoanut
explained to him and said, “Go to Dwarka, and making many
supplications, in my name, give the nuptial presents to Unroodrù,
Krishnù’s grandson, and my daughter’s son.” On receiving this order
the brahmin, taking with him the nuptial gifts and presents, proceeded
on his journey, and arrived at Shree Krishnù Chund’s house at Dwarka.
On seeing him, Krishnù, treating him with the greatest respect and
honour, enquired, “What, O divinity! is the occasion of your coming
here?” The brahmin replied, “O great king! I have been sent by Raja
Bheekmuk’s son, Rookum; and have brought the nuptial gifts and
presents for an alliance between his grand-daughter, and your
grandson.”
On hearing this message, Shree Krishnù Jee sent for ten of his
relations; and, having received the nuptial presents, and given many
gifts to the brahmin, allowed him to take leave; and went to his
brother, Bulram, to make arrangements for the journey. Afterwards, the
two brothers started thence, and went to the Raja Bheekmuk; and,
having informed him of what had been proposed, took leave. Having come
forth, they began to make all necessary arrangements, and collect all
things necessary for the marriage procession; when, after some days,
these arrangements were completed, and every thing was ready, Krishnù
went in great pomp and splendour, with the marriage procession, from
Dwarka to the city of Bhojkut. At that time, Shree Rookmunee Jee sat
upon a glittering ruth with her son and grandson, and Shree Krishnù
and Bulram were seated upon another ruth. At length after some days
Krishnù arrived at Dwarka with them all.
O great king! on arrival of the marriage procession, Rookum, together
with the Rajas of Kuling and other countries, went outside the city to
meet it; and having invested all composing the procession in honorary
dresses, and receiving them with the utmost respect and honour,
escorted them to the appointed place of reception at the bride’s
house; afterwards, having entertained them, he had them conducted to a
hall erected for the occasion adorned with flowers, and he gave away
the virgin in the manner prescribed by the Vedas; and he bestowed upon
her so rich a marriage portion, that an account of it is impossible.
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee
said,--O great king! when the marriage ceremonies had been performed,
Raja Bheekmuk went to the place of reception at the bride’s house,
and, joining his hands and using much entreaty, whispered to Shree
Krishnù Chund, and said, “O great king! the marriage has been
completed, and every thing has gone on well; be pleased to make
arrangements for a speedy departure, because his relations, the Rajas
whom Rookum has invited, are all wicked and violent men. Do not let
there be any quarrelling. I, therefore, have taken an opportunity of
speaking to you, Moorari.” When he had thus spoken, and went away,
Rookum came near Shree Rookmunee, and then Rookmunee exclaimed, “How
shall we be able to return home? Your guests, the Rajas, are hostile,
who are united with you; if you mean well, brother, arrange so that we
may quickly reach home, otherwise you will see a pleasant state of
affairs, succeeded by an unpleasant one.” Rookum replied, “Sister! be
not at all anxious, I will first of all allow the different Rajas, who
have come as my guests, to take leave, and will afterwards do as you
wish.” With these words Rookum went thence to his royal guests; they
all coming in a body, began to say, “Rookum! you have given so much
wealth to Krishnù and Buldeo; and they through pride have not acted
at all well, this is one subject of regret to us; and we are grieved
on another account, which is, that Bulram brought dishonour upon you.”
O great king! Rookum was angry at this speech, when the Raja of
Kuling, said, “I have something to say, which, with your permission, I
will mention.” Rookum replied, “Mention it.” The Rajas said, “We have
no concern with Shree Krishnù, but send for Bulram; and we will play
at _choupur_ with him, and win all his money: and great as his pride
is, we will send him away hence empty-handed.” When Kuling had thus
spoken, Rookum, after reflecting for a short time, went to Bulram Jee,
and said, “O great king! all the Rajas send their compliments, and
have invited you to play at _choupur_.” On hearing this, Bulbhuddrù
went to accept the challenge; the Rajas rose, and bowed their heads on
his coming. The Rajas then said with the greatest politeness to Raja
Bulram, “You have had great practice at the game of _choupur_, we,
therefore, wish to play with you.” With these words, they brought out
and spread a cloth for playing at _choupur_; and Rookum and Bulram
began playing; at first Rookum won ten times, and then said to Buldeo
Jee, “You have lost all your money; what will you stake now?” The Raja
of Kuling applauded this speech, and laughed. Observing this, Buldeo
Jee bent his head, and became thoughtful; Rookum then staked ten
crores of rupees at once, which when Bulram had won and taken up, they
all began to wrangle and said, “Rookum’s dice has fallen, (that is, he
has won,) why are you collecting the money?” Bulram returned the whole
sum on hearing this, and staking a hundred millions took up the dice.
Bulram won again, and Rookum lost; the Rajas, cheated a second time,
and said, “That Rookum had won,” and thus exclaimed, “What do you know
about gambling and dice, you mean villager! Rajas understand war and
play, cowherds only understand about cows.”
On hearing this speech, the anger of Buldeo Jee was excited in the
same manner, that the waves of the sea are swollen at the full moon.
Bulram, however, reasoning within himself, contrived to stifle his
wrath; and making another stake of seven millions, played again; again
Buldeo won, and then again the Rajas falsely declared “That Rookum had
gained the game.” When they had thus cheated, there was a voice from
heaven, “Huldhur won and Rookum lost; O Rajas! why have you spoken
falsely?”
O great king! when Rookum and the other Rajas having heard the voice
from heaven, pretended not to hear it, Buldeo Jee was exceedingly
angry, and said, “Although you have allied yourself with me by
marriage, you have again quarrelled with me; O unjust and dishonest
man! I will now put you to death, whatever opinion my brother’s wife
may form of the deed. I will not now listen to any one on this
subject, but will to-day deprive you of life, you deceitful wretch.”
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--O king! after some delay, Bulram killed Rookum in
the sight of all present: and having thrown Kuling down, knocked out
all his teeth with blows, and said to him, “You also showed your teeth
and laughed.” After this, having slain and put to flight all the
Rajas, Bulram came to the place of reception at the bride’s house, and
mentioned all that had occurred to Shree Krishnù Chund. On hearing
the account, Huri departed thence with all his party, and had a safe
and pleasant journey to Dwarka; joy was diffused throughout the city
on his arrival, and there were festivities in every house. Shree
Krishnù Jee and Buldeo Jee went into the presence of Raja Oogursen,
and said, “O great king! through your excellence and glory, we have
celebrated Unroodrù’s marriage, and have destroyed the very wicked
Rookum.”