SHREE SHOOKDEO JEE said,--Raja! on one occasion the earth, having assumed mortal shape, began to perform a very difficult penance. Upon this, the three gods, Bruhmù, Vishnù and Roodrù, came and enquired, "Why do you perform such excessively severe penance?" The earth replied, "O seas of compassion! I am very desirous of having a son; and am therefore performing this great penance; have compassion on me and grant that I may have a very powerful, renowned and glorious son, who shall not have an equal in the world, and who shall never die." The three gods were delighted at hearing these words; and, having granted the boon she solicited, said, "Thy son, by name Nurkasoor, shall be very potent, and of great reputation, and no one shall obtain a victory over him in battle. He shall conquer, and bring under subjection, all the kings of the world; having gone to the sky, he shall destroy and put to flight the gods, and carrying off the ear-rings of Aditee, the mother of the gods, shall wear them himself, and carry off and place the canopy of Indrù over his own head. He shall collect together, without marrying them, sixteen thousand one hundred virgin daughters of different Rajas. Shree Krishnù Chund shall then attack him with all his army, and you shall tell him to Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! when the three gods, having granted the boon, had thus spoken, the earth said, "Why should I ever tell any one to kill my son?" and was silent. After the lapse of some days, the earth's son, Bhomasoor, was born, who is also called Nurkasoor; and dwelt in Pragojotikpore. The city was protected on all sides by hills; and, having built forts of water, fire and air, he carried off by violence the young daughters of all the Rajas in the world, and brought them, and kept them there with their nurses. He was incessantly occupied with arrangements for their food and clothes, and brought them up with the greatest care. One day, Bhomasoor was in a great passion, and sitting in a chariot of flowers he had brought from Lunka (Ceylon,) went to the regions above, and began to vex the gods. From the troubles he brought upon them, the gods fled for their lives in every direction, abandoning their celestial abodes. He then carried off the ear-rings of the mother of the gods and the canopy of Indrù, and began to inflict great griefs on all the gods, mortals and sages of the world. Having heard of all his practices, Shree Krishnù Chund, the brother of the world, said to himself, "I will destroy him, and carry off all the women, and will convey Indrù's canopy to the celestial regions, I will restore Aditee's ear-rings, and will arrange that Indrù shall govern, free from all fear." Shree Krishnù Chund then said to Sutbhama, "O wife! if you come with me, Bhomasoor shall be put to death; because you are a portion of the earth, and in this manner are his mother. When the gods granted the earth the boon of a son, they said to her, 'Thy son shall die, when thou givest the order: otherwise, no one will be able to put him to death.'" Sutbhama, hearing and reflecting upon these words, remained thoughtful. "O great king! my son is also your
Sutbhama was much pleased at hearing these words, and prepared to accompany Huri; who seated her behind him on the sovereign of the feathered race, the vehicle of Vishnù, and set off on his journey. After they had gone some distance, Shree Krishnù Chund said to Sutbhama, "Say, truly, why were you displeased, when I first mentioned this subject to you; explain the reason of this, that the doubts of my mind may be removed? Sutbhama replied, "O great king! after killing Bhomasoor, you will bring away his sixteen thousand one hundred damsels, and will consider me as one of them. This is the reason of my having been displeased." Shree Krishnù Chund said, "Do not allow yourself to suffer anxiety on any account. I will bring the tree Kulpù, and place it in your house. And do you make a present of it, and also of me to Narud, the sage. Having afterwards purchased me again, keep me near you, I will always be subservient to you. In this manner, Indranee made a present of Indrù, together with the tree; and Aditee also made a present of Kusyp. If you bestow this gift, no wife of mine will be equal to you." Discoursing, O great king! in this manner, Shree Krishnù arrived at Pragojotikpore; there beholding a hill fort, protected by fire, water and air, Krishnù gave the order to the sovereign of the feathered race, and to the quoit, Soodursun, who, by levelling, making smooth, lopping away and fixing, Having proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! on hearing of the destruction of all his army, and of the sons of Moor, Bhomasoor was at first very thoughtful, and perplexed. On subsequent reflection, he recovered his confidence; and taking several very powerful demons with him, his eyes inflamed with rage, tightening his waist belt, preparing his arrows, talking foolishly, he got ready to fight with Shree Krishnù Jee. Bhomasoor was exceedingly wroth when he saw Shree Krishnù; and, seizing arrows by the handful, began to discharge them. Huri cut them into three pieces. Then Bhomasoor drew a sword, and howled angrily at Krishnù; he sent forth a sound like thunder, exclaiming, "You shall not escape from me now, you villager." Having spoken these harsh words, Bhomasoor engaged in a fierce encounter. He, O great king! attacked violently with a club; and his blows made as much impression on the body of Shree Krishnù, as a stick of flowers would make on the body of an elephant. He fought with Krishnù with weapons of all kinds, which Huri cut in pieces. Bhomasoor then returned to his house, and brought forth a trident; and prepared for an encounter. Then Sutbhama called out, "When will the lord of the Judoos kill him?" On hearing these words, Krishnù poised his quoit, and killed Bhomasoor by cutting off his head. His head fell, together with the ear-rings and crown. The snake, on which the world rests, trembled when the body fell. There was joy in the three worlds; and the cares and miseries of all were O great king! having thus spoken, and placed the canopy and ear-rings before Krishnù, the earth again said, "O lord of the poor and sea of compassion! this son of Bhomasoor, Soobhugdunt, has come to you for protection. Take compassion on him, and be pleased to place your soft, lotus-like hand on his head, and grant that he may be free from all dread of you." On hearing these words, the abode of mercy, Shree Krishnù, compassionately placed his hand on Soobhugdunt's head, and caused him to be free from all fear of him. Then Bhogawuttee, the wife of Bhomasoor, having brought many gifts to Huri, standing before him with joined hands, and bowing her head, said with the greatest humility, "O kind to the poor compassionate being, as you have fulfilled all our desires by showing yourself to us, be pleased now to make our houses pure by going to them." On hearing this request, Shree Moorari, acquainted with the secrets of the heart, the friend of his worshippers, went to the Having thus spoken, she, O great king! brought out all the young daughters of Rajas into the presence of Krishnù, and arranged them in rows. On seeing the light of the world, the sea of beauty, Shree Krishnù Chund, the root of joy, they were fascinated; and imploring him earnestly, and with expressions of deep grief, they said, joining their hands, "O lord! as you have come and released us, poor, weak creatures, from the bonds of this great affliction, be pleased now to show us favour, and take us with you, and permit us, your servants, to attend upon you." On hearing this petition, Shree Krishnù Chund said to them, "I will procure ruths and palkees to convey you hence;" and looked at Soobhugdunt. Soobhugdunt, understanding the thoughts of Krishnù's mind, went to the seat of his empire, and brought back with him elephants and horses fully equipped, carriages with four wheels, and shining, glittering ruths, and all sorts of splendid palkees. On seeing them, Huri gave orders to all the Rajas' daughters to get into them. He took Narud Jee, O great king! having heard this request of Shree Krishnù Chund, went to the lord of the gods, and said, "Sutbhama, your brother's wife, solicits from you the tree Kulpù. Tell me what answer I am to take back from you to this request." When Indrù had heard what Narud said, he was at first confused and thoughtful; and afterwards went and mentioned to Indranee all that Narud, the sage, had said. Indranee, on hearing the account, was angry, and said, Your dulness of intellect, O lord of the gods! will never leave
