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Prem Sagar: Chapter XLIII

SHREE SHOOKDEO JEE said,--O lord of the earth! having seen the gardener's great attachment, Spree Krishnù Chund was rejoiced, and granted him a blessing for his faith; and as he proceeded onwards, he saw standing before him in a lane a hump-backed woman, who had cups and broad plates, filled with saffron and sandal in her hand. Huri enquired, "Who art thou, and where art thou taking these things?" She replied, "O kind to the poor! I am the servant of Kuns; my name is 'Hump-back,' and I constantly rub and anoint Kuns' body with sandal; and in my own mind, sing of your many excellent qualities. Through the glorious favour of which I have obtained a sight of you to-day; and gained the greatest happiness in my present birth, and have seen the object my eyes most wished to see. The wish of this slave now is, with your permission, to rub you with sandal." Seeing her great faith, Huri said, "Rub me with it, if it will give you any pleasure." On hearing these words the humpbacked woman, with very great affection and endearment, anointed Krishnù; who, perceiving her sincere attachment, took compassion on her, and placing his foot on hers, and putting his two fingers under her chin, caused her to jump up, and made her straight. On being touched by Huri's hand,

The women of Muthoora came there, and on seeing her, were astonished, and said--"Great, very great is your good fortune, O hump-back! to whom Bruhmù has shown affection! What difficult act of penance have you performed, that the lord of cowherdesses has visited you and taken you in his arms? We, who are without bodily defects, have not seen Huri, he has had an interview with you, and shown you the greatest affection." The women continued talking thus, whilst Krishnù went about, looking at Muthoora.

Whilst they were engaged in seeing the city, Krishnù arrived with his companions at the gate, where the bow was. On seeing them approach, besmeared with colours of different kinds, and in a state of intoxication, the sentinels called out angrily, "Where are you coming, you stupid villagers? go away some distance off, this is the royal gate." Huri, pretending not to hear what the sentinels said, went straight to the spot where the bow of Muhadeo, which was very large and weighty, and as long as three palm trees, was placed. On arrival there, he immediately took it up, and, bending it with

On hearing these words, Kuns assembled a great many powerful men, and said to them, "Accompany these men, and having by artifice or force, destroyed Krishnù and Buldeo, bring their bodies here immediately." When Kuns had thus spoken, they took their arms and weapons, and went forth to meet the two brothers. They had no sooner called out to them, than the brothers killed them all. When Huri saw, that not a single attendant of Kuns was left, he said to Bulram Jee, "Brother! it is some time since we came here; we ought to return to our encampment, because our father Nund will be expecting us, and will be anxious on our account."

Having thus said, Krishnù returned with Bulram and the cowherds to the encampment. On arriving, he said to the chief Nund, "Father! we have been to the city, and seen fine games, and have shown our honorary dresses to the cowherds."

Then Nund, looking at him, said, "Your old practices will not leave you. This is the habitation of the Raja Kuns, and not our own village in the forest of Bruj. Keep my instructions, son, in minci, and do not commit any violence here."

Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! Krishnù and all his party on their return ate their supper in the highest glee, and went to sleep; whilst Kuns, having heard what Krishnù had done, suffered the greatest anxiety of mind; and could not obtain any ease or relaxation of his griefs, whether reclining or standing erect. His mind mourned, and did not communicate its griefs to any one. It is said, as the weevil eats into wood, and no one knows the pain the wood suffers: thus, when there is anxiety in the mind, the understanding, strength and body are diminished. At length, being in a state of great fear, he went into, his house, and reclined upon a bed; but he was so alarmed, that he could not sleep.

He remained awake during three watches of the night, when he shut his eye-lids, and had a moment's sleep. Then in a dream he saw, in imagination, the shadow of a body, wandering about without a head. He sometimes bathed naked upon the sand; and then, having eaten poison, rushed about, mounted on an ass. He took up his abode in a burial ground with ghosts, wearing garlands of blood-red flowers. Then he saw trees all round him, on which young children were sitting.

O great king! when Kuns had this dream, he was in a state of such excessive agitation, that he awoke; and being occupied with anxious thoughts, rose up, and came forth; and having summoned all his ministers, said, "Go immediately, and have the place of amusement sprinkled over with water, and thoroughly arranged and prepared, and invite Nund and Oopnund, and all the inhabitants of Bruj, and Basoodeo and all the members of the family of Judoo; and invite also all

Having received Kuns' orders, the counsellors came to the place of amusement, and having had it thoroughly swept, and sprinkled with water, they spread silken cloths; and having suspended garlands, and strings of flowers, and flags, and banners, and having caused musical instruments of all kinds to be played, they issued invitations to all.

They, who were invited, came and took their seats on their chairs of state. In the meantime, the Raja Kuns came, filled with very great pride, and took his seat on a platform erected for him. The gods, at that time, seated in their chariots, began to look down from the sky.