Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! if I could obtain the power
of the lord of Dwarka, I would relate the whole history of the taking
away of Ookha; listen with attention, and I will explain, how she saw
Unroodrù in a dream at night, and lost her strength through sorrow;
and how Chitrekha brought about a meeting between Unroodrù, and
Ookha. In the generation of Bruhmù was first Kusyp, whose son
Hirunkusyp was very mighty and renowned; and became immortal. His son
Hurijun, a worshipper of Krishnù, was named Purladh, whose son was
Raja Biroochun, and Biroochun’s son the Raja Bul, whose fame and
excellence are still spread abroad on the earth. When Krishnù
descended upon the earth in the form of a dwarf, he having practised a
stratagem sent Raja Bul to the infernal regions. The eldest son of
that Bul was Banasoor; a very potent and splendid monarch, he dwelt in
Shronitpore, and went constantly to the mountain Kuelas to perform
adoration to Shivù; he cherished the profession of brahmins, spoke
the truth, and lived with his passions in complete subjection.
O great king! Banasoor having gone to the hill Kuelas, and performed
adoration to Huri; and being absorbed in an intense feeling of
affection, began in a state of ecstacy to play upon the hand-drum and
dance and sing. Hearing him sing and play, Shree Muhadeo Bholanath was
delighted, and began to dance with Parbutee, and play upon a
hand-drum. After dancing for some time, Muhadeo was highly pleased;
and having called Banasoor to him said, “Son! I have been highly
gratified with your singing and dancing, ask a boon from me, and I
will grant whatever you ask; you have played most agreeably, and my
mind has been rejoiced at hearing you.”
On hearing these words, O great king! Banasoor, joining his hands and
bending his head, said, with the greatest humility, “O lord of
compassion! you have shown me great favour in promising me a boon, I
solicit that you will first make me immortal, and confer on me the
sovereignty of the whole world, and afterwards make me so powerful
that no one will obtain a victory over me.” Muhadeo Jee replied, “I
grant you this boon, and release you from all fear; in the three
worlds no one shall have power equal to yours; and, even Bruhmù shall
have no authority over you: you have played excellent music, and
afforded me extreme gratification, being greatly rejoiced in mind, I
have bestowed upon you a thousand arms, go home now, and, free from
all anxiety, exercise a sovereignty, which cannot be shaken.”
Banasoor, O great king! having heard this speech of Bholanath, and,
having received a thousand arms, was highly delighted; and, going to
the right, by way of adoration, and bowing his head, took leave, and
dwelt by permission at Shronitpore, afterwards having conquered the
three worlds, and having brought all the gods under subjection, he dug
a broad deep ditch with water, springing at the bottom, and built
castles of fire and air; being free from all dread or fear of any one,
he began to carry on his government happily; after the lapse of some
time his arms, in consequence of his not fighting, became very strong:
he rubbed them and shook them about. Banasoor said to himself, “With
whom shall I fight, on whom shall I make an attack? I have become
infected with itch in consequence of not fighting, who will fulfil the
desires of my mind?”
Having thus spoken, Banasoor went outside his house, and began to root
up hills, and dash them to pieces, and wander about different
countries. When he had destroyed all the hills, and the irritation and
itching of his hands had not left him, Banasoor said, “With whom shall
I now fight, and what shall I do with so many arms? How shall I
support the huge weight of my own strength, I will go again to
Muhadeo, and speak to him on the subject.”
O great king! Banasoor, having thus reflected, went into the presence
of Muhadeo Jee, and, joining his hands and bowing his head said, “O
lord of the three worlds! in whose hand is the trident, you did me the
kindness to bestow upon me a thousand arms, which I find too heavy for
my body, I cannot support the weight of them, be pleased to remedy
this, and point out some one possessed of great strength with whom I
may fight, I cannot find any one in the three worlds so powerful as to
face me in an encounter; as you have, through compassion, bestowed on
me great strength, do me the kindness now to fight with me and satisfy
the yearnings of my mind, or else point out some other very strong
being with whom I may contend, and dissipate the troubles of my mind.”
Having narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O
great king! Muhadeo Jee was angry at hearing Banasoor thus address
him, and began to say to himself, “I granted him a boon, thinking him
a holy man, and now he is ready to fight with me; this fool has become
proud of his strength and shall not escape with life; he who indulges
in pride never lives long.” Muhadeo having these thoughts in his mind,
said, “Banasoor! do not distress yourself, in a short time a fit
antagonist for you, Shree Krishnù, will descend upon the earth in the
family of Judoo, with exception of him there is no one in the three
worlds who can contend with you.” Banasoor was very much pleased when
he heard this, and said, “Lord! when will that man descend upon the
earth, and how shall I know that he has been born?” Raja Shivù
presenting Banasoor with a banner, said to him, “Take this flag and
place it on the top of your house, and when this flag shall fall of
itself and be broken to pieces, then know that your enemy is born.”
When Muhadeo, O great king! had thus explained to him, Banasoor took
the flag and returned home. On arriving there, he fixed the flag upon
his house, and daily offered up prayers that the man might appear,
with whom he could fight. When some time had elapsed, his chief queen,
named Banawutee, became pregnant, and when her time was completed,
brought forth a girl; on that occasion Banasoor having sent for
astrologers, and given them seats, said, “Fix upon the name, and point
out the mental qualities of this girl.” When he had thus spoken, the
astrologers determined quickly upon the year, month, half month, lunar
day, day of the week, hour, division of time equal to forty-eight
minutes and the twenty-seventh division of the zodiack; and, having
considered the proper moment, named the girl “Ookha,” and said, “O
great king! this girl will be a mine of beauty, and good qualities of
mind and disposition; and will be very intelligent; we can discover
this from her planet and other signs.”
Banasoor was highly gratified at hearing this; and, having bestowed
many gifts upon the astrologers, allowed them to take leave; and
afterwards, having sent for singers and dancers and musicians, gave a
festive entertainment. As the girl grew up, Banasoor treated her with
the greatest affection. When Ookha was seven years of age, her father,
Banasoor, sent her to the mountain Kuelas, which is near Shronitpore,
with many attendants and companions to Shivù and Parbutee, for the
purpose of learning to read. Ookha, having propitiated Guneshù and
Suroswutee, went into the presence of Shivù and Parbutee; and, having
joined her hands and bending her head, thus submissively spoke: “O
seas of compassion! Shivù and Devee, grant me, your servant, the gift
of knowledge, and acquire for yourselves renown in the world by so
doing.” O great king! Shivù and Parbutee, being pleased with the
humility of Ookha’s speech, began to impart knowledge to her; she went
constantly to them for the purpose of reading; and after some time had
been thus spent, she read all the Shastrùs, and became very
proficient in knowledge, and played upon all kinds of musical
instruments. One day Ookha played a duet with Parbutee on the lute,
and sang scientifically, when Shivù Jee came and said to Parbutee,
“Beloved! Shree Krishnù Chund has restored to life Kamdeo, whom I
burnt to death.” Having thus spoken, Shree Muhadeo went to the banks
of the Ganges with Parbutee, and bathing both himself and her, became
very amorous, and began to assist Parbutee in dressing with great
affection of manner, and to make love to her. At length, in the
ecstasy of his passion, he began to play upon a hand-drum, and dance
frantically with violent gesticulation, singing according to the
science of music, explained in the Shastrùs, and fondly embracing his
wife. Ookha, beholding the mutual joy and fondness of Shivù and
Parbutee, and feeling a desire to have a husband, began to say to
herself, “If I had a husband, I would enjoy amorous diversion with
him, in the manner of Shivù and Parbutee. A woman without a husband
is as defective in beauty as night without the moon.”
When, O great king! Ookha had thus expressed her thoughts to herself,
Shree Parbutee, acquainted with the secrets of the heart, knowing her
thoughts, invited her with the greatest affection to come near, and
thus with the most tender regard addressed her, “Daughter! suffer not
any anxiety of mind, thou shalt obtain a husband in a dream; search
for him and enjoy amorous pleasure with him.” Having thus given her a
bridegroom, the wife of Shivù allowed Ookha to take leave. Having
attained a great proficiency in knowledge, and received a promise of a
husband, she made a salutation, and went to her father; who gave her a
very beautiful house, apart from all others, to live in. And she,
taking with her several of her friends and companions, lived there,
and increased in stature daily.
O great king! when the young maiden had reached the age of twelve
years, the full moon hid its diminished rays on beholding the lustre
of her moon-like countenance; compared with the blackness of her hair,
the darkness of the night at the change of the moon seemed trifling.
On seeing her taper locks, snakes cast their skins and fled away; the
bow began to palpitate, on beholding the arch of her eye-brows; deer,
fishes and wagtails were abashed at the sight of her large and rolling
eyes; the sesamum withered on gazing at the elegance of her nose; the
fruit of the binba tree was restless at the redness of her lips; the
breast of the pomegranate was lacerated, on viewing the regularity of
her teeth; the rose ceased to blow when she saw the softness of her
cheeks; pigeons were fidgetty at the roundness of her neck; on taking
a side view of her breasts, the buds of the lotus fell into the tank;
the lioness retired into the forest when she saw her slim waist; the
plantain ate camphor on beholding the smoothness of her thighs; gold
was abashed at the fairness of her body, and the chumpa hid itself;
the lotus lost all its estimation in comparison with her hands and
feet. Such was she, with the gait of an elephant, the voice of a
kokila, and in the very flower of youth and beauty, and by the
splendour of her charms eclipsed all the abovementioned.
On a subsequent day, the maiden, having applied perfumes and paste,
and bathed and rubbed herself in pure water, combed her hair, and
divided it, and fastening pearls where the hair is divided, made use
of antimony and tooth-powder, and stained herself with “_mehadu_” and
“_lac_;” and, having eaten pawn and decked herself out in all kinds of
jewels and ornaments wearing an elegant, brilliant petticoat, with a
border of large pearls, and a cloth round her body with a hem of great
splendour, a shining boddice, and a sparkling and perfumed veil, came
forth thus adorned and smiling with her female companions and
attendants like Luchmee, and saluted her parents. When Ookha stood
before them after having made a salutation, Banasoor, on beholding the
splendour of her beauty, allowed her to take leave, with this thought
in his mind, “That she was now of a fit age to be married;” and he
afterwards sent many male demons to guard her house, and many females
for the protection of her person; the male demons exercised the
greatest vigilance night and day, and the females were in constant
attendance upon her.
O great king! the royal maiden constantly performed penance, bestowed
gifts, fasted and offered adoration to Shree Parbutee Jee for a
husband; saying, “When will my father celebrate my marriage, and how
shall I obtain a husband?” Having thus said, she went to sleep,
thinking of a husband, and beheld in a dream a being of a childish
appearance, black colour, a moon-like countenance, lotus eyes, very
beautiful and Cupid-like, with an enchanting face, dressed in yellow
silk, wearing a peacock crown on his head, standing awry, decked out
with ornaments and jewels, wearing ear-rings in the shape of an
alligator, a garland reaching to his feet, and also one of the
“_goonja_” seed, and very wanton looking and playful. On seeing him,
she blushed and held down her head. He then addressed her in the
language of love, and approached her in an affectionate manner, and
laying hold of her hand and embracing her, made her forget all her
anxious and perplexing thoughts. Having both got rid of this reserve
and hesitation, they sat upon the bed, and engaging in amorous
dalliance and glances, and kissing and embracing each other, they
reciprocated pleasure, and in a delighted excitement of mind,
addressed each other in the accents of love. After some time, when
Ookha, in the midst of her affection, desired to embrace her husband
in her arms, she awoke from sleep, and disappointed and sad, remained
fixed in the position she had assumed with her arms extended for the
embrace. She was very sorrowful on waking and greatly grieved; “Where
has he gone, the lord of my soul?” She continued to search for him in
every direction. She thought to herself, “How shall I meet him again,
and how shall I see him? If I had continued sleeping, my beloved would
never have gone away? Why should I have been on the point of embracing
him, when my sleep was disturbed, when I awoke, the night seemed very
tedious, why did he inflict misery on me by departing? Without my
beloved my soul is very wretched, whilst not beholding him, my eyes
long for his presence. My ears desire anxiously to hear him speak.
Where has my beloved gone, the bestower of pleasure? If I again behold
my darling in a dream, I will resign my life to him.”
O great king! having thus spoken, Ookha was very sad, and thinking
upon her husband, sat down upon her bed with her face buried in her
hands; when night was succeeded by morning, and about four hours and a
half of the day had passed, her female friends and attendants began to
say to each other, “What has happened to Ookha, that she has not yet
risen from sleep, although the day is so far advanced?” Having heard
this remark, Chitrekha, the daughter of Banasoor’s minister,
Rookbhano, went to the picture gallery, and beheld Ookha, lying
dejected and motionless on her curtained bed, shedding tears and
heaving long drawn sighs. On seeing her in this state, Chitrekha said
to her with great emotion, “Explain, my dear, to me, why you are so
sad to-day, and have fallen into such a sea of affliction? You are
weeping and sighing; why is your mind so disturbed? I will drive away
all your griefs, and will do for you whatever you wish. You have no
friend so attached as me, nor one who has a greater affection for you.
I will wander over all the three worlds to accomplish what you desire.
Bruhmù has granted me a boon, and subjected all to my authority.
Devee will assist me; and, by means of her power I will do whatever
you may tell me. Look upon me as possessed of such power of
enchantment, as to be able to deceive and bring here Bruhmù, Roodrù
and Indrù. No one knows the secrets of my nature, I therefore, myself
explain my own attributes. No one, whosoever he be, whether good or
bad, can speak with the same knowledge of them as I can; mention all
your distresses to me; what has happened during the night? Do not
deceive me, O beloved! and I will bring about all you hope for.”
On hearing these words, O great king! Ookha was very much ashamed, and
with her head drooping, approached Chitrekha, and said to her, in a
sweet tone of voice, “O beloved! knowing you to be my friend, I will
mention all that occurred during the night, keep the affair a secret;
and if you can apply a remedy, do so. During the night, in a dream, a
being of the colour of the clouds, a figure brilliant as the moon,
with lotus-like eyes, dressed in yellow silk, and with a scarf of the
same colour, came and sat near me, and displaying great affection for
me, captivated my mind; so that I lost all reserve and bashfulness,
and conversed with him; at length when the conversation had continued
for some time, and in the eagerness of passion, I extended my arms to
lay hold of him, I was awakened from sleep, and his fascinating form
remained imprinted on my mind; I have never heard of nor seen any one
like him. How shall I attempt to give you a description, his beauty
exceeds the power of language. He has stolen away my affections. When
I used to go to the mountain Kuelas to acquire knowledge, under the
tuition of Shree Muhadeo Jee, Shree Parbutee told me, that I should
see my husband in a dream, and that I ought to cause search to be made
for him. I saw that bridegroom last night in a dream; where shall I
find him again, and to whom shall I reveal the pangs of separation I
endure? Whither shall I go, how shall I search for him, not knowing
either his name or place of abode?”
O great king! when Ookha having thus spoken, and heaved long drawn
sighs, drooped and pined in thought, Chitrekha said to her, “Be not at
all anxious, my dear; I will search out your husband wherever he may
be, and bring him to you. I have access to the three worlds; wherever
he may be I will try and find him out for you. Tell me his name, and
allow me permission to start.” Ookha replied, “Friend! there is a
proverb, he is dead, because he cannot breathe. If I knew his name and
residence why should I be sad; could I not apply some remedy to my
distress?” Chitrekha replied, “Never mind, dear, about not knowing his
name and residence, I will write down and point out to you all the
male inhabitants of the three worlds; amongst whom, show me him, who
has stolen your heart, and it will be my business to bring him to
you.” Ookha laughed and assented.
O great king! when Chitrekha had obtained Ookha’s consent, she sent
for writing materials, and sat down upon the ground; and, having
propitiated Guneshù and Devee, and meditated upon her spiritual
preceptor, began to write. She first wrote and showed her a
description of the three worlds with their eight divisions, and
fourteen sub-divisions, the seven islands, the nine divisions of the
earth, the sky, the seven seas, and Vishnù’s celestial paradise.
Afterwards Chitrekha showed her a description of the gods, demons,
celestial musicians, choristers, demi-gods, saints, sages, the
supporters of the world, the supporters of the ten quarters and the
Rajas of all countries. But Ookha did not find her beloved amongst
them. After this, Chitrekha drew separate likenesses of the
descendants of Judoo; and when she showed them to Ookha, Ookha said on
beholding Unroodrù’s picture, “I have found him, who stole my heart,
this is he, who came to me in the night. Arrange some plan now,
friend, and search him out, and bring him here.” On hearing this,
Chitrekha replied, “How shall he escape me?” Chitrekha proceeded to
say, “O friend! you do not know him, but I can tell you who he is, he
is of the family of Judoo, and a grandson of Shree Krishnù Chund, and
the son of Purdiyomun; his name is Unroodrù. He lives at Dwarka, a
city built in the sea near the shore. By order of Huri, the quoit,
Soodursun, keeps constant watch over that city in order that no devil,
demon nor wicked person may annoy the descendants of Judoo, and if any
such come to the city, he cannot obtain entrance without the
permission of Rajas Oogursen and Soorsen.”
O great king! Ookha was very sad at these words, and said, “O friend!
if it be a place so difficult of access, how will you go there and
bring my husband thence?” Chitrekha replied, “My dear! set your mind
at rest on that point; by the glorious grace of Huri, I will bring
your soul’s lord to you.” Having thus spoken, Chitrekha put on
garments, imprinted all over with the name of Ramù, and made marks
and perpendicular lines on her forehead with sandal wood, such as
cowherdesses wear, and stamped impressions of different kinds on her
breasts, the upper part of her arms and throat, and wearing a large
garland of toolsee on her neck, and carrying rosaries of the large
diamonds of the toolsee in her hand, throwing over herself a chequered
blanket, she folded under her arm a cloth to sit upon and assuming the
appearance of a chief worshipper of Vishnù, she made an obeisance and
started for Dwarka, taking leave of Ookha, and saying to her, “I will
proceed through the air, and pursue my journey in the sky, I will
bring thy husband, otherwise my name is not Chitrekha.”
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O
great king! Chitrekha, having brought into play her delusive power,
and mounting on a horse of air, started on a dark night in company
with a black cloud; and having arrived almost instantaneously at the
city of Dwarka, shone forth like lightning and entered the dwelling of
Shree Krishnù Chund, in such a manner that no one knew of her coming.
Prosecuting her search, she came to where Unroodrù sleeping alone on
a bed, was diverting himself in a dream with Ookha. On beholding this,
she quickly took up the sleeper’s bed, and went off with it. She
carried off the sleeper and his bed on Ookha’s account, and brought
Unroodrù to the place, where Ookha was sitting thoughtful.
O great king! on seeing Unroodrù and his bed, Ookha was at first in a
great flutter, and went and fell at the feet of Chitrekha, she
afterwards began to speak in terms of the highest praise of her
courage and prowess, for having gone to a place of such difficult
access, and having brought him away, bed and all; and thereby having
done what she agreed to do, “For my sake thou hast undergone all this
trouble; I am not able to make a fitting return, but must remain a
debtor to your goodness.” Chitrekha replied, “In the world it is a
very pleasant thing to contribute to the happiness of others; and it
is a good act to assist them; this body is of no use with reference to
our own selfish advantages, but it is very useful, if it can be made
to promote the benefit of others. By such conduct our own objects and
the objects of others are accomplished.”
O great king! having thus spoken, Chitrekha took leave, and went home,
saying, “Friend! by the glorious favour of Bhugwan I have brought thy
husband to thee, awake him now and satisfy thy desires.” On the
departure of Chitrekha the delighted Ookha was ashamed and afraid of
the first interview, and began to say to herself, “What shall I say to
awaken my husband, and how shall I embrace him in my arms?” At length
she began to play sweet notes on her lute, on hearing the sound of
which Unroodrù awoke; and, looking round on all sides, began to say
to himself, “What place is this and whose house; how did I come here,
and who has brought me here with my bed, while asleep?”
O great king! Unroodrù was in a state of great astonishment, uttering
many expressions of surprise; whilst Ookha, thoughtful and abashed,
fearful of the first interview, standing in a corner, and gazing on
the countenance of her beloved, feasted her partridge-like eyes. In
the mean while, Unroodrù, on seeing her, was confused, and said,
“Tell me, fair one, thy history, who art thou, whence hast thou come
to me; or hast thou brought me here thyself? Look not upon truth and
falsehood as the same; at present I see every thing as in a dream.”
O great king! Ookha made no reply to this speech, but became more
ashamed, and crept into the corner; upon this he immediately laid hold
of her by the hand, and seated her upon his bed; and, addressing her
in the language of affection, dispelled all her anxiety and shame, and
alarm; they sat together on the bed and began to exchange amorous
glances, and engage in loving dalliance, and relate the history of
their love. In the course of conversation Unroodrù Jee enquired from
Ookha, “How didst thou, O beautiful creature! first see me, and
afterwards have me brought here? Explain the circumstances fully to
me, that my doubts may be all removed?” On hearing this Ookha, gazing
with delight on the face of her husband, said, “You came to me in a
dream, and stole away my affections; on awaking my mind was greatly
troubled, and I mentioned the subject to Chitrekha, who, O lord! has
brought you here, and whose proceedings I do not know.” Afterwards
Ookha said, “O great king! I have mentioned how I first saw, and have
since found, you; be pleased now, O lord of the Judoos! to explain how
you first saw me.” Unroodrù was highly delighted at this request, and
replied, smiling, “O beauteous fair! I also saw thee in a dream last
night, and some one took me up in my sleep and brought me here. I have
not yet discovered who it was, and, on awaking, I beheld thee.”
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O
great king! the two lovers conversed thus with each other; and in the
fervour of their affection, indulged in all kinds of voluptuous
pleasure and dalliance, and vanished all recollection of the pangs of
separation they had endured; subsequently when Ookha found the taste
of pawn insipid, the pearl necklace cold to the touch, and the light
of the lamp dim, and went outside, she perceived that it was morning.
The light of the moon was diminished, the splendour of the stars
dimmed, and there was a dark, red colour in the sky. The birds were
chirping on all sides, the white esculent lotus was withered, and the
other lotus blooming, the red goose and its mate were together.
O great king! observing this state of things, Ookha immediately shut
all the doors, and came in great fright into the house, and, putting
her arms most affectionately round her husband’s neck, laid down upon
the bed; then having concealed him, and hid him from the sight of her
female friends and companions, she began to attend upon him in secret;
after some time her friends and companions found out that Unroodrù
had come there, and that she passed the day and night in amorous
enjoyment with her lord. One day Ookha’s mother came to look after her
daughter; and without being observed saw her seated very happily, and
playing at _choupur_ in a house with a very handsome young man. On
perceiving this, she returned home, without saying a word, on tiptoe,
and in profound silence; highly delighted and uttering benedictions.
Some days afterwards Ookha seeing her husband asleep, came forth
blushing from the house, and thinking to herself, “I hope that no one
from not seeing me will imagine, that I remain in the house for my
husband’s sake.”
O great king! Ookha leaving her husband alone, went off; but could not
stay away from him, she returned again to the house, and shutting the
doors, engaged in amorous diversion. On observing this act, the
door-keepers said to each other, “Brother! what is the reason of the
Raja’s daughter having to-day come out of the house after remaining
there so long, and returning again immediately?” One of them remarked,
“Brother! for some days past I have observed the doors of Ookha’s
house shut day and night, and there is some man inside, who sometimes
laughs and talks with her, and sometimes plays at _choupur_.” Another
said, “If this be true, let us go and mention the matter to Banasoor;
why should we, knowing these circumstances, remain sitting quietly
here?” One of them said, “Let us not mention the matter, remain all of
you at some distance from the house, let what will happen; no one can
control the future, speak not a word about what the young lady may do,
but remain silent spectators of all that happens.”
O great king! whilst the door-keepers were thus conversing with each
other, Banasoor came wandering about there, accompanied by several
strong, powerful men; and as he looked up at the top of the house, not
perceiving the flag, which Shivù Jee had given, said, “What has
happened to remove the flag hence?” The door-keepers replied, “O great
king! it is now many days since the flag fell, and was broken to
pieces.” On hearing this, and calling to mind what Shivù Jee had
said, Banasoor became thoughtful, and exclaimed, “When did the flag
fall, some enemy has come, and carried it off.” When Banasoor had thus
spoken, a door-keeper came into his presence: and joining his hands,
and bending his head, said, “I have an important matter to
communicate, which I cannot mention unless I obtain your permission to
do so.” Banasoor granting permission, told him to communicate what he
had to say. The door-keeper then said, “O great king! excuse my fault,
we have observed for some days past, that a man has come into your
daughter’s house; day and night he converses with her, we have not
discovered what man he is, and whence he has come, and what he does.”
On hearing this authentic statement, Banasoor was exceedingly angry,
and seizing his arms, went silently and alone to Ookha’s house;
concealing himself, he saw on his arrival a man of a black colour,
very handsome and dressed in yellow, lying fast asleep with Ookha.
Banasoor thought to himself, “It would be a sin to kill a sleeping
man.”
O great king! with these thoughts in his mind, Banasoor stationed
several guards there, and having told them to inform him when the man
awoke; came home, and holding a court, and having summoned all his
demons, began to say, “My enemy has arrived, take the whole of your
army and go and surround Ookha’s house, I will come also by and bye.”
On receiving Banasoor’s order, the demons all came and surrounded
Ookha’s house; whilst in the mean while, Unroodrù and the Raja’s
daughter having awoke, began to play again at _choupur_. Whilst they
were engaged at the game, Ookha saw thundering clouds collected from
all quarters, lightning began to flash, frogs, peacocks and sparrow
hawks began to utter cries.
O great king! on hearing the sparrow hawk’s cry, the Raja’s daughter
said, leaning on the neck of her beloved, “O sparrow hawk! do not call
out thus, leave off this language of separation.” In the mean while,
some one came and said to Banasoor, “O great king! thy enemy has
awoke.” On hearing mention made of his enemy, Banasoor rose in great
wrath; and taking arms with him, went and stood at Ookha’s door, and
began to peep inside. After looking some time, Banasoor called out
loudly, “Ho! who are you inside the house, rich in appearance,
fascinating as Cupid, with lotus-like eyes, and dressed in yellow?
What thief will come forth? How will he possibly escape from me?”
O great king! when Banasoor had thus bawled out, Ookha and Unroodrù,
on seeing and hearing him were greatly disquieted. The Raja’s daughter
being perplexed and terrified, heaving deep sighs, said to her
husband, “O great king! my father has come to attack us with an army
of demons, how will you escape from his hands?” Then Unroodrù was
angry, and said, “Wife! be not at all alarmed, I will destroy the
whole crowd of evil spirits and demons in a second.”
Having thus spoken, Unroodrù Jee read incantations from the Vedas,
and sent for a stone a hundred and eight hands long, and taking it in
his hand, coming forth and joining the army, challenged Banasoor. On
his coming out to give the challenge, Banasoor bent his bow and rushed
upon Unroodrù Jee with his whole forces, just as a swarm of honey
bees would rush upon any one. When the demons began to discharge all
sorts of weapons, Unroodrù Jee was enraged, and began to deal about
several such forcible blows with the stone, that the whole army of
demons became broken and dispersed like the scum upon stagnant pools:
some were killed, others wounded, and all who escaped whole, fled from
the field. Banasoor afterwards rallied them, and renewed the fight.
O great king! all the weapons the demons discharged, fell in every
direction, but not one touched Unroodrù; the weapons, which would
have fallen upon Unroodrù, the edge of the stone cut them off half
way. The strokes of the stone could not be endured, inflicting wounds
like those inflicted by Indrù, the lord of the gods, with a
thunderbolt; heads were split in two by a blow of it, thighs were
broken and arms and bodies cut through. When the battle had lasted
some time, and Banasoor was left alone, the rest of the army having
been cut in pieces, he was astonished, and laid hold of and fastened
Unroodrù with a running noose, saying to himself, “Now shall I
conquer this invincible man?”
Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! when Banasoor fastened Unroodrù in
a running noose, and took him to his court, Unroodrù thought to
himself, “Whatever troubles may befal me, it is not right to falsify
what Bruhmù has said; for if I were to escape by force from the
running noose, he would be dishonoured; I ought, therefore, to remain
bound.” And Banasoor kept constantly saying, “Youth! I will put thee
to death presently; if thou hast any one to assist thee, send for
him.” Mean while, Ookha having heard of her husband’s condition, said
to Chitrekha, “Friend! a curse will fall upon me, if I eat, drink and
sleep at my ease, whilst my husband remains in affliction.” Chitrekha
replied, “Friend! be not at all anxious, no one will be able to do any
harm to your husband; banish all care, for Shree Krishnù Chund and
Bulram Jee will soon come to the attack, accompanied by all the
descendants of Judoo; and, having exterminated the army of demons,
will release and take away with them you and Unroodrù; it is their
custom to carry off by force and stratagem, in any way they can, all
the pretty daughters of Rajas they hear of; this is the grandson of
him, who carried off Rookmunee, the daughter of Raja Bheekmuk, after
having fought with the very powerful and renowned Rajas Sissoopal and
Joorasindhoo, in like manner, they will take you off also; be not,
therefore, at all apprehensive.” Ookha said, “I cannot endure this
affliction. They have bound my husband in a running noose and carried
him off; a poisonous flame, in consequence thereof, burns up my body.
How shall I be able to enjoy peaceful repose, and how can my eyes
behold the grief of my beloved? Why should I live, since he, who is
dearest to me, has been plunged in calamity. I will neither eat nor
drink--now Banasoor destroy my husband! O grant me, Banasoor, an
asylum for my husband; (that is, spare his life,) whatever is to be,
will happen, what can any one say to prevent it? I will not respect
the world nor the Vedas, but will consider my husband’s grief and
happiness as my own.”
O great king! when Ookha had thus spoken to Chitrekha, she went to her
husband, and sat down near him, without fear or alarm. Some one then
went and said to Banasoor, “O great king! your daughter has left the
house, and gone to that man.” When Banasoor heard this, he sent for
his son, Uskundh, saying to him, “Son! bring away your sister from the
court, and take her into the house, and confine her there, and do not
allow her to go out.” On receiving his father’s order, Uskundh went to
his sister, and spoke very angrily to her, “What is this you have
done, you wicked creature, throwing aside all respect for the world,
and consideration for your own modesty, you low thing? Why should I
kill you (or what death shall I make you die?) It will be a crime, and
I fear for my own disgrace.” Ookha replied, “Brother! say and do what
you please, I have obtained the husband whom Parbutee Jee gave me,
whom else shall I run after, leaving him, and thereby bring
disgraceful abuse upon myself? Women of low degree abandon their
husbands: this is the common custom of the world, and always has been
so. If a woman is disgraced by living with him to whom the deity has
united her, she must submit.”
O great king! on hearing these words, Uskundh was enraged, and seizing
her by the hand, carried off Ookha thence to the house, and did not
allow her to leave it; he afterwards took Unroodrù Jee also thence to
some other place and confined him. At that time Unroodrù was in great
affliction at being separated from his wife, and the Raja’s daughter
denied herself all food and drink in the absence of her husband, and
began to perform a very severe penance. Some days after this, one day
Narud Jee, the sage, went first to Unroodrù and explained to him “Not
to be at all anxious, as Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, and
Bulram, the abode of happiness, would soon release and take him away
thence, after having fought with the evil spirits.” He afterwards went
to Banasoor and said, “Raja! he, whom you have fastened in the running
noose, is the grandson of Shree Krishnù, and the son of Purdiyomun,
and his name is Unroodrù. You know the descendants of Judoo well, act
according to this knowledge, I have come to put you upon your guard in
this matter and have done so.” On hearing this, Banasoor allowed Narud
Jee to take leave, saying to him, “Narud Jee! I know all about it.”