INDIA. PART II. Krishna jealous that Bhima should be sent to fetch the horse instead of Arjuna. Krishna's objections to Bhima on the score of his fondness for HISTORY OF that they were about to perform. Now when Krishna heard that Bhíma had been chosen to go to Badravati, rather than Arjuna, he was somewhat jealous, for Arjuna was his friend and near kinsman. And Krishna said :- Why send Bhíma to bring away the horse? Surely such a mission is too great for him I am aware that he understands everything connected with eating; but a man can have but a foolish head who is always thinking of his stomach: I know also that he has married a woman of the Asuras, and she will certainly marriage to an deprive him of any sense he may have remaining: Moreover, it is the rule that if a man marries a woman of inferior rank, or gives himself up to the love of women, or lives in the house of his father-in-law, he may not take any part in the performance of an Aswamedha: Arjuna, on the other hand, Bhima retorts is fitted in every way for high deeds." Bhíma replied: eating, and his Asura wife. that Krishna's stomach con tains the universe. na's marriage of a Bear. "You say, O Krishna, that he who has a large stomach, and is ever intent upon eating, is without understanding; but who can have a wider stomach than yours in which the whole creation finds a place? You also say that a great eater has no brains; who eats more than you, who devour all the Refers to Krish- rivers, all the demons, and all mankind? Then you object to the daughter that I have the daughter of an Asura living in my house, but you have married the daughter of Jámbavat who is a Bear; and is the daughter of a Bear to be preferred to the daughter of an Asura? As to my giving myself up to the love of women, is it not known unto all men that you are in no wise better than me? But let this pass: We are all anxious for your aid in the performance of this Aswamedha; and all my own hopes rest upon you alone." Mollifies to Badravati to bring away the horse. At these words Krishna was mollified, and he gave his Bhima proceeds consent that Bhíma should go to Badravati. And Bhíma set out with two other warriors, and defeated the Raja of Badravati and brought away the horse. And the Raja resolved to accompany Bhíma to Hastinapur, and attend the Aswamedha of Yudhishthira, and to carry with him all his family and treasures. Now this Raja had a mother who was very old, and she was called his great mother, because she had been his father's head wife; and he was very anxious INDIA. PART II. Obstinate re mother of the the Palace. to take her with him. And the Raja said to her, that as she HISTORY OF was now approaching the end of her days, it would be most proper for her to proceed to the river Ganges and bathe there, and to behold the many holy Rishis and devotees fusal of the old who had taken up their abode there. But his old mother Raja to leave replied:-" What is this Ganges water that you are talking about? Have I not a hundred better springs here? I will never quit this house; for if I stir, all the goods and chattels here will be eaten up: My maids and servants will be every day plundering milk, and grain, and butter, and causing me grievous damage; so that when I return I shall find half my property wasted and stolen." And the Raja's mother was very obstinate, and notwithstanding all that could be said, nothing would persuade her to leave the city of Badravati and proceed to Hastinapur. So the Minister advised the old lady carried Raja to carry her by force, and accordingly a litter was prepared, and the old Rání was placed upon it, and she was carried away, crying very loudly, along with the whole camp to the city of Hastinápur. And when they came nigh unto the city, Bhíma went forward to inform his brother Yudhishthira, who thereupon came out to meet the Raja of Badravati, accompanied by Krishna and all his Chieftains; and Yudhishthira then conducted the Raja and all his party with great ceremony into Hastinápur. away by force. to Dwaraká of the loosening of the horse. Now according to the rule of the Aswamedha the horse Krishna returns could not be loosened until the night of the full moon in the until the night month of Choitro. And Krishna returned to his own city, and dwelt there; for there remained many months before the horse could be loosened and the preliminary rites be commenced. And when it only wanted one month to the Trick played by ceremony, Raja Yudhishthira sent Bhíma to Dwáraká to Bhima invite Krishna to attend the sacrifice. And Bhíma set off for Dwaraka with all speed, and after some days he reached the city in the evening, and proceeded to the palace of 4 The month Choitro generally corresponds to the latter half of the month of March and the first half of the month of April. The full moon in the month of Choitro would thus often correspond to the full moon at Easter; and this coincidence has given rise to wild conjectures. Krishna upon PART II. for Krishna's meal. HISTORY OF Krishna. And he was exceedingly hungry, and seeing that INDIA. there was no doorkeeper at the gate, he passed on until he came to the door of the hall where Krishna was about to sit Feast spread out down to dinner. Now Krishna was aware that Bhíma had arrived, but feigned not to see him; and he sent a maid to fasten the door of the hall, and feigned not to see Bhíma, who could only peep in and see and smell the exquisite feast that was laid out for Krishna's dinner. And Bhíma was ravenous from his long journey, and he beheld the table most plentifully served with sixty-four choice dishes of meat, and an immense tray of rice, together with various Tantalizing of vegetables; and Krishna, still feigning not to see him, began to name aloud every dish, and to smack his lips at its savour, until Bhíma was well nigh frantic and near to faint. And when this jest had lasted a long time, Krishna admitted Bhíma, and when Bhíma had eaten and drank until he was Krishna sets out full, he told his errand to Krishna. So Krishna immediately for Hastinapur. ordered all his sons to make ready for their departure to Hastinapur, and prepared to set out with Rukmini and Satyabhama and his other favourite wives, and all his family; leaving his father Vasudeva and his brother Balaráma in charge of Dwáraká. Bhima. Krishna's motley camp. Now when Krishna set out from Dwáraká, his camp was composed of an infinite number of tradespeople and artisans of all descriptions, and women of the lowest character. There were gay women, flower-women, oil-women, and milk-women; also jugglers, serpent-charmers, monkey leaders, and all kinds of pedlars and showmen. There were also some Chieftains of high rank, for Vasudeva and Balarama accompanied Krishna during the first three Merriment of stages. And as they marched along there was very much laughter and merriment amongst the crowd, especially on Declaration of a account of the women. And a certain woman of infamous that by behold- character was travelling on a bullock, and she was overturned by a camel; and the people laughed when they saw the woman falling upon the ground, for her character was known to all. But the woman arose and said:-"There is no occasion for laughing, for every day I behold the divine the crowd. gay woman, ing Krishna her sins were forgiven her. And HISTORY OF INDIA. PART II. Application of a Krishna. Krishna, and therefore all my sins are forgiven me." Krishna heard her words, but he only smiled. After this a flower-girl came up to Krishna, and said :-"I have these flowers for sale, and it is already mid-day; I pray you there- flower-girl to fore to order the camp to be pitched, that I may be able to sell my flowers before they are all withered and spoiled." Krishna replied:-"I will give orders that you be paid for Krishna's bene every flower you have;" and the flower-girl heard his words and rejoiced exceedingly. Then another woman who sold milk came to Krishna, and said:-" All my milk is Application of a being spoilt by the journey, and the people here take no Krishna. heed of the poor and needy." I volent reply. milk-wom an to plains to Krish troublesome women. Krishna appoints Bhima to perintendent of sation between Krishna. When Bhíma, who had been listening to these com- Bhima complaints, heard the grumbling of the milk-woman, he could na of the contain himself no longer; and he said to Krishna :-" All conduct of the the gay women and flower-girls, and milk-women in the camp come to you as if there were nobody else to take care of them, as there surely ought to be." Krishna replied: "Your pity for these poor women is so praiseworthy that be General Suherewith constitute you their Superintendent-General.” the women. Bhíma said: "I have in my house the daughter of an Jesting converAsura as my wife, and should she see me in the company of Bhima and these women, she would be very jealous, and would devour them up. I pray you, therefore, to appoint some Superintendent who has a great number of women in his family." But Krishna, who had many thousands of wives, excused himself, saying:-"I have Jámbavatí in my family, who is the daughter of a Bear, and should she see such a number of handsome baggages about me, she would kill them all in like manner: But you Pándavas are five brothers with only one wife among you, and when she is with one of your brothers, these women will keep you from solitude." And all the people laughed at the words of Krishna. And Krishna sent the women to Bhíma accordingly, and they all sat round Bhima and began to jest and laugh. And Bhíma said Bhima's address to them :-"Why do you come here to die; no one but Krishna can bear the trouble of so many women: All of you know that I have a wife who is the daughter of an Asura; to the women. PART II. HISTORY OF and she is very jealous, and should she ever see you in my INDIA. company she will devour you all up." At these words of Bhíma the women returned and informed Krishna, who Balarama return laughed at their fears and then dismissed them. Vasudeva and to Dwaraká accompanied by the multitude. party approach Mathura. People of Ma and meet Krish na with presents. Both men and women remind him of his boy Now after three stages Vasudeva and Balaráma, the father and brother of Krishna, returned to Dwáraká accompanied by all the multitude; and Krishna, and his wives and children, proceeded with Bhíma towards the city of HastináKrishna and his pur. On their way Krishna and his party approached the city of Mathurá; and when the people of Mathurá heard that thurá come out Krishna was coming, they went out to meet him with presents of curds, milk, and flowers. And one who remembered him when he was a boy tending his cattle at Vrindavana, asked him where he had obtained such vast pomp and magnificence; and another answered him, saying:-" Krishna was once a keeper of cattle, and knew nothing of wealth beyond milk and butter; but now he is the mighty Raja of Dwáraká, and the sovereigns of the earth bow down before him." And some of the women also, who had known him in his childhood, asked him if he could remember the time when he had stolen their butter, and had been tied up for it Krishna's pre- by his mother Yasodá. But Krishna only laughed at these questions, and gave the women presents of fine cloths, and jewels, and money; so that they all went away in great joy. hood amongst the cattle at Vrindavana. sents to the women. Krishna encamps on the bank of the Jumná. After this Krishna ordered the tents to be pitched on the bank of the river Jumná; and he sent for his sons and bade them to be mindful of their behaviour at the sacrifice, which was about to be celebrated; and he desired his wives to be sure to pay proper respect to Kuntí and Draupadí; and he specially commanded his eldest son Pradyumna to conduct himself with all humility at the ceremony, and to keep himself free from all high thoughts and pride, and to tell his mother, Rukminí, to wait with a great number of slave women upon Draupadí during the sacrifice. Krishna advance to Has- then went forward to the city of Hastinápur, leaving his camp to be brought up by Bhíma. And as he journeyed, a A Brahman pro- Brahman said to the people :-" Ye think much of the merit of beholding of the sacrifice that is about to be performed; but the real Krishna pro ceeds in tinápur. claims the merit Krishna. |