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 Hastinápur, and prepared to set out with Rukminí 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 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. Merriment of the crowd. gay woman, ing Krishna her sins were forgiven her. :— INDIA. PART II. Application of a Krishna. Krishna, and therefore all my sins are forgiven me." And HISTORY OF 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 beneevery flower you have;" and the flower-girl heard his words and rejoiced exceedingly. Then another woman who volent reply. milk-wom an to 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." plains to Krish troublesome women. Krishna ap points 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 I 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 Bhíma 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 laughed at their fears and then dismissed them. Vasudeva and Balarama return to Dwaraká accompanied by the multitude. party approach Mathura. 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 thura 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 Hastinapur, 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. HIST ORY OF The Brahmans to forgive their by a eulogist. to him. merit is to be derived from beholding Krishna." And when he came nigh to the city, multitudes of Bráhmans, with clasped hands, besought him to forgive their sins; but he said:"If your hearts be true and single before God, beseech Krishna there is hope of forgiveness from him." So he went on to sins. the city while the women collected on the tops of the houses Krishna's reply. to behold him. As he advanced further, a eulogist said to Krishna praised him :-" What auspicious day is this in which men behold your face to the cleansing of all their sins:" And the eulogist also said to those around:-" This is Krishna, who has assumed so many transformations to visit the world." And Krishna took a necklace of pearls and jewels from off his own neck and gave it to the eulogist. After this Brahmans pray Krishna was met by a large number of Bráhmans, who prayed to him; and then by a company of dancing girls, Dancing girls who sang and played before him. And Krishna stopped for Krishna. a time to look at the dancing girls. And one of the girls said to those around:-" My heart is so intent with viewing Pious speechesi Krishna, that I lose my recollection; and I fear that I shall performances of spoil my dance, and that Krishna will think meanly of me." a dancing girl. She then turned to Krishna, and said:-"You have one chakra which you whirl where you list, but I have four chakras which I can whirl." So saying she took one on each hand, and, one on each foot, and whirled all four about to the admiration of Krishna and of all who beheld her. She then said:"You play with the world as with a ball; and I can play with seven balls." So she took and tossed seven balls into the air, and caught each one in turn. And Krishna praises Krishna bestowed great praises upon the girl, and told her girl. to come to his quarters, and he would give her whatever she asked of him. perform before and wonderful the dancing the city of Has After this Krishna approached the city, and was met by Krishna enters Arjuna and all his kinsmen, and lastly at some distance by tinapur. Raja Yudhishthira, and all the great men of Hastinapur, and they conducted him to the house which had been prepared for him. And Krishna paid a visit to Maháraja Dhritar- Visits the áshtra and the Rání Gándárí, and the Rání Kuntí, and they Rání. received him with every honour. And Arjuna was despatch Maharaja and INDIA. PART II. Ladies of the ceive the ladies Conversation between Draupadi and the wives of Krishna polyandry. HISTORY OF ed with many of the ladies of the Pándavas to meet the ladies of Krishna's camp; and when all the ladies had nearly reached the city, Yudhishthira and Krishna went out also to meet them; and in this manner the ladies of Krishna were conducted into the city and introduced to Kuntí, Gándhárí, and Draupadí. And Satyabháma said to Draupadí :-" We, who are so many thousands in number, have all but one and on polygamy and the same husband in Krishna, and we are all happy with him; how comes it then that you have five husbands, and are not ashamed before men?" Draupadí answered :—“ You are every one jealous of each other, and are always talking of your suspicions one of another: But I never speak one word which all my five husbands may not hear alike, or which would give to either the smallest offence: And as to what you ask of my having no shame before men, I had great shame when Duhsásana insulted me in the presence of all the Kauravas; but Krishna miraculously protected me by his divine power; and as fast as Duhsásana stripped me of one of my cloths, Krishna supplied another in its Draupadi's acknowledgment of the miraculous interference of Krishna in the gambling pavilion. Review of the foregoing narra ture of the horse. acter of the details. Later Bráh : The foregoing narrative of the capture of the tive of the cap- horse contains only a single relic of the original tradition; namely, the incident that the horse intended for the Aswamedha was literally stolen by Mythical char. Bhíma. Every other detail appears to be mythical; or, in other words, is a modern interpolation enforcing the observances of the Bráhmans, or the worship of Krishna. The conquest of the Rajas has been spiritualized into a conquest of the passin, and nequisi- sions; and the conjugal rights of the younger Pántion of religious davas are apparently set aside, in order that Yudhishthira may sleep every night for an entire year by the side of his wife with a naked sword between them. Moreover, the main idea of the Aswamedha, that it was undertaken to settle questions of supremacy, has been virtually set aside in favour manical idea of merit. |