Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Shree Krishnù Chund Jee
having seated Suhdeo on the royal throne; and, having given him
advice, said to him, “Raja! go now and bring those Rajas, whom your
father kept shut up in a hill cave.” On hearing these words from the
mouth of Krishnù, Joorasindhoo’s son, Suhdeo, consenting to bring
them, went to the cave; and, having removed a stone from the mouth of
it, brought forth twenty thousand eight hundred Rajas, and took them
to the presence of Huri. On coming there with handcuffs and leg-irons,
iron collars on their necks, their nails and hair grown long, bodies
emaciated, depressed in spirits, and dirty in appearance, all the
Rajas stood in rows before Krishnù, joining their hands, they
submissively said, “O sea of compassion and brother of the poor! you
have thought of us in good time, otherwise we should have died; by
seeing you our lives have been restored, and our former griefs have
been obliterated.”
On hearing these words, O great king! when Shree Krishnù Chund, the
sea of favour, looked upon them; Suhdeo immediately took them away;
and, having had their handcuffs, leg-irons and the rings with which
their fetters were fastened, cut off, causing them to be shaved and
bathed, and washed, entertaining them with all sorts of delicacies,
giving them clothes and ornaments, and furnishing them with arms,
brought them again into Huri’s presence; at that time Shree Krishnù
Chund Jee appeared to them in a form with four arms, and holding a
shell, quoit, club and lotus. On beholding the form Krishnù had
assumed, the Rajas joining their hands said, “Lord! you liberate
mortals from the difficult bonds of the world; what difficulty was
there to you to release us from the imprisonment of Joorasindhoo? As
you have compassionately released us from this severe confinement,
release us also from this well in the form of a dwelling, free us from
desire, anger, avarice and inordinate affection, in order that we may
sit down in retirement and meditate on you, and cross over the sea of
the world.”
Shree Shookdeo Jee said, Raja! when all the Rajas had spoken these
words, so full of knowledge and devotion, Shree Krishnù Chund Jee was
delighted and said, “They who worship me with sincerity of mind, shall
certainly obtain deliverance and salvation; bondage and release are
trials of the mind, to him whose mind is firm; the house and forest
are alike; have no other anxiety in your minds, than living happily at
your homes; carry on a well regulated government, protect the subject;
attend upon the cow and brahmin; do not speak falsely; avoid lust,
anger, avarice and pride; worship Huri with sentiments of religion,
and you will certainly obtain eternal happiness; whoever, coming into
the world, has indulged in pride, has not lived long; behold! how many
pride has brought to destruction. His strength destroyed Pursooram,
celebrated as being very powerful, and having a thousand arms. Raja
Bynoo became Rawun, and was ruined by his pride. Bhomasoor and
Banasoor, and Kuns were all exterminated through pride. Let no one be
intoxicated with prosperity, or indulge in pride; he who shuns pride
may live without fear.”
Having thus spoken, Shree Krishnù Chund said to all the Rajas, “Go
now to your homes, have meetings with you relations, arrange the
affairs of your kingdoms and settle yourselves upon your thrones, and
come quickly, about the time of my own arrival, to Hustinapoor, to the
Raja Joodisthur’s, to assist at the royal sacrifice.”
O great king! when Shree Krishnù Chund Jee had thus spoken, Suhdeo
instantly procured all things necessary for the departure of the
Rajas. They received them; and, taking leave of Krishnù, went each to
his own country, and Shree Krishnù Chund Jee also travelled thence
joyfully, accompanied by Suhdeo and Bheem, and Urjoon, and came to
Hustinapoor. Krishnù having gone, after his arrival, to the Raja
Joodisthur, explained to him all the circumstances, attending the
death of Joorasindhoo, and the release of the Rajas.
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to
the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! about the time of the arrival of
Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, at Hustinapoor, the Rajas
arrived also with their armies, and with presents; and, having had an
interview with Raja Joodisthur, and offered their presents, they
encamped on all sides of Hustinapoor by order of Shree Krishnù Chund
Jee, and prepared to assist in the sacrifice.