Next. Chapter Xxvi
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"The Vishnu Purana", translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, [1840],
p. 569
Chap. Xxiv.
Muchukunda goes to perform penance. Krishna takes the army and treasures of Klayavana, and repairs with them to Dwrak. Balarma visits Vraja: inquiries of its inhabitants after Krishna.
Thus praised by the wise Muchukunda, the sovereign of all things, the eternal lord, Hari, said to him, "Go to whatever celestial regions you wish, lord of men, possessed of might irresistible, honoured by my favour. When you have fully enjoyed all heavenly pleasures, you shall be born in a distinguished family, retaining the recollection of your former births; and you shall finally obtain emancipation." Having heard this promise, and prostrated himself before Achyuta, the lord of the world, Muchukunda, went forth from the cave, and beholding men of diminutive stature, now first knew that the Kali age had arrived. The king therefore departed to Gandhamdana, the shrine of Naranryana, to perform penance.
Krishna having by this stratagem destroyed his enemy, returned to Mathur, and took captive his army, rich in horses, elephants and cars, which he conducted to Dwrak, and delivered to Ugrasena, and the Yadu race was relieved from all fear of invasion. Baladeva, when hostilities had entirely ceased, being desirous of seeing his kinsmen, went to Nanda's cow-pens, and there again conversed with the herdsmen and their females, with affection and respect. By some, the elders, he was embraced; others, the juniors, he embraced; and with those of his own age, male or female, he talked and laughed. The cowherds made many kind speeches to Halayudha; but some of the Gops spoke to him with the affectation of anger, or with feelings of jealousy, as they inquired after the loves of Krishna with the women of Mathur. "Is all well with the fickle and inconstant Krishna?" said they: "Does the volatile swain, the friend of an instant, amuse the women of the city by laughing at our rustic efforts (to please him)? Does he ever think of us, singing in chorus to his songs? Will he not come here once again to see his mother? But why talk of these things? it is a different tale to tell for
p. 570
him without us, and for us without him. Father, mother, brother, husband, kin, what have we not abandoned for his sake? but he is a monument of ingratitude. Yet tell us, does not Krishna talk of coming here? Falsehood is never, O Krishna, to be uttered by thee. Verily this is Dmodara, this is Govinda, who has given up his heart to the damsels of the city, who has no longer any regard for us, but looks upon us with disdain." So saying, the Gops, whose minds were fixed on Krishna, addressed Rma in his place, calling him Dmodara and Govinda, and laughed and were merry; and Rma consoled them by communicating to them agreeable, modest, affectionate, and gentle messages from Krishna. With the cowherds he talked mirthfully, as he had been wont to do, and rambled along with them over the lands of Vraja 1.
Footnotes
570:1 This visit of Balarma to Vraja is placed by the Hari Vana anterior to the fall of Mathur; by the Bhgavata, long subsequent to the establishment of the Yadus at Dwrak.
"The Vishnu Purana", translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, [1840],
p. 569
Chap. Xxiv.
Muchukunda goes to perform penance. Krishna takes the army and treasures of Klayavana, and repairs with them to Dwrak. Balarma visits Vraja: inquiries of its inhabitants after Krishna.
Thus praised by the wise Muchukunda, the sovereign of all things, the eternal lord, Hari, said to him, "Go to whatever celestial regions you wish, lord of men, possessed of might irresistible, honoured by my favour. When you have fully enjoyed all heavenly pleasures, you shall be born in a distinguished family, retaining the recollection of your former births; and you shall finally obtain emancipation." Having heard this promise, and prostrated himself before Achyuta, the lord of the world, Muchukunda, went forth from the cave, and beholding men of diminutive stature, now first knew that the Kali age had arrived. The king therefore departed to Gandhamdana, the shrine of Naranryana, to perform penance.
Krishna having by this stratagem destroyed his enemy, returned to Mathur, and took captive his army, rich in horses, elephants and cars, which he conducted to Dwrak, and delivered to Ugrasena, and the Yadu race was relieved from all fear of invasion. Baladeva, when hostilities had entirely ceased, being desirous of seeing his kinsmen, went to Nanda's cow-pens, and there again conversed with the herdsmen and their females, with affection and respect. By some, the elders, he was embraced; others, the juniors, he embraced; and with those of his own age, male or female, he talked and laughed. The cowherds made many kind speeches to Halayudha; but some of the Gops spoke to him with the affectation of anger, or with feelings of jealousy, as they inquired after the loves of Krishna with the women of Mathur. "Is all well with the fickle and inconstant Krishna?" said they: "Does the volatile swain, the friend of an instant, amuse the women of the city by laughing at our rustic efforts (to please him)? Does he ever think of us, singing in chorus to his songs? Will he not come here once again to see his mother? But why talk of these things? it is a different tale to tell for
p. 570
him without us, and for us without him. Father, mother, brother, husband, kin, what have we not abandoned for his sake? but he is a monument of ingratitude. Yet tell us, does not Krishna talk of coming here? Falsehood is never, O Krishna, to be uttered by thee. Verily this is Dmodara, this is Govinda, who has given up his heart to the damsels of the city, who has no longer any regard for us, but looks upon us with disdain." So saying, the Gops, whose minds were fixed on Krishna, addressed Rma in his place, calling him Dmodara and Govinda, and laughed and were merry; and Rma consoled them by communicating to them agreeable, modest, affectionate, and gentle messages from Krishna. With the cowherds he talked mirthfully, as he had been wont to do, and rambled along with them over the lands of Vraja 1.
Footnotes
570:1 This visit of Balarma to Vraja is placed by the Hari Vana anterior to the fall of Mathur; by the Bhgavata, long subsequent to the establishment of the Yadus at Dwrak.
