HAVING narrated so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Kuns continued to rule tyrannically in Muttra, and Oogursen to be afflicted with many griefs--When Dewukee, the daughter of Dewuk, Kuns' uncle, was fit for marriage, Dewuk went to Kuns, and asked him to whom she should be given in marriage; he replied, give her to Basoodeo, the son of Soorsen. On hearing this, Dewuk having sent for a Brahmin, and having fixed upon a fortunate time, sent the nuptial gifts to Soorsen's house; and Soorsen also having formed a marriage procession with great splendour, and taking with him Rajas of all countries, came to Basoodeo's marriage. Having heard of the arrival of the marriage procession near the city, Oogursen, Dewuk and Kuns, taking their armies with them; and advancing to meet it brought the procession with them into the city. Having advanced to meet the bridegroom with the greatest respect, they appointed a place in the bride's house for the reception of him and his attendants; having entertained all who composed the marriage procession, they seated them in a hall, erected for the occasion, and adorned with flowers; and Kuns gave away Dewukee to Basoodeo in the manner prescribed by the Vedas, and bestowed a dowry of fifteen thousand horses, four thousand elephants, eighteen hundred ruths or cars, numerous male and female servants, and golden dishes, or trays filled with dresses ornamented with jewels without number; and Kuns gave jewelled dresses also to all who composed the On hearing this, Kuns trembled with fear, and being enraged, seizing Dewukee by the hair, he dragged her from her ruth: snatching a sword, he began to say, gnashing his teeth, "The tree which is plucked up by the roots will not produce blossoms and fruits; I will now put her to death, and reign without fear." On hearing and seeing what had happened, Basoodeo began to say to himself, "This fool has given pain, he does not distinguish between good and evil; if I should show rage now, the business in hand would be ruined; wherefore, it is better in the present instance to forgive; it is said, that, 'when an enemy draws a sword, a virtuous man will strive to soothe him; the fool on coming to his senses will regret his conduct, just as fire is put out by water.'" Reflecting thus, Basoodeo went into the presence of Kuns, and joining his hands in a supplicating manner, and speaking submissively began to say, "O lord of the earth! there is no one in the world so powerful as you, and all men live under your shadow; being so great a hero, it is very improper that you should raise your sword against a woman, and it is a great crime to kill a sister--men will be guilty of injustice, if they know that they will never die: this is the custom of the world, we are born in one place, and die in another: a man may cherish his body by doing good or evil in ten million different ways, but his body will never be at his own disposal: wealth, poverty, royal power will be of no use; for this reason, be pleased to listen to what I say, and release your poor, weak sister." On hearing this, Kuns, looking upon his sister as the instrument of his death, was alarmed, and became more enraged.
