as they beheld her, all were, for the moment, astonished. Afterwards their understanding returned, and then they began to sing the praises of Hari. Meanwhile the divine Krishn Chand, having eaten food, said to them, 'Now depart to your own abodes; your husbands will not rebuke you.'

"When the divine Krishn carried off their clothes, he then gave this promise to the cowherdesses, that in the month Kátik, he would dance with them the circular dance. From that time the cowherdesses, cherishing the hope of this dance, remained solicitous in mind, and continually, when they rose up, used to propitiate especially the month Kátik. It happened that as they persevered in their propitiations, the pleasure-giving Autumnal Season arrived.

"From the time when the month Kátik commenced, an end was put to fierce heat, cold, and rain,

The lakes were full of pellucid water, and the expanding lotus was freshly blooming.

The night-flowering lotus and the Bartavelle, like lover and mistress, gazed, rejoicing, on the moon at night.

The ruddy goose with the lotus droop, who ever regard the sun as their friend.

"One day the divine Krishn Chand, issued from the house on the night of the full moon in the month Kátik, and beheld the stars sprinkled in the clear sky, and the moonbeams spread in the ten quarters. A cool and gentle breeze, fraught with odours, continued blowing, and on one side the appearance of the thick forest imparted exceeding beauty to the scene. On seeing such a scene, it occurred to the mind of Krishn, that he had promised to the cowherdesses, that in the Autumnal Season he would dance with them the circular dance, and that the promise must be fulfilled. Having thus reflected, the divine Krishn entered the woods, and played on the flute. Having heard the sound of the Bambú, all the young women of Braj, who were inflamed with desire, through separation (from Krishn) were greatly agitated. At last, abandoning all regard for their relations, dashing from them the modesty belonging to the well-born, and forsaking their household duties, in great confusion, with their ornaments put on at random, they arose and hastened. One cowherdess, who, when she arose from beside her husband, to go, was stopped on the road by her husband, led back to the house, and not permitted to depart, fixed her thoughts on Hari, and, quitting her body, went and joined him before all the rest.

Beholding the affection of her mind, the divine Krishn Chand immediately conferred on her beatitude."

Thus far having heard, king Paríkshit inquired of the saintly Shukadev as follows, "Gracious Lord! the cowherdesses not knowing the divine Krishn to be God, did not regard him as such; they only looked upon him as a sensual object. How had that woman salvation conferred on her? This explain to me and tell, that the doubt of my mind may depart." The saintly Muni Shukadev said, "Incarnation of Justice! they who even ignorantly sing the praises of the greatness of the divine Krishn Chand, they too undoubtedly obtain the reward of faith and final beatitude. Just as if any one, without knowing what it was, should drink nectar, he also becoming immortal would live (for ever); and, if he drank it with knowledge of its properties, it would affect him in the same way. This all know, that the quality of a thing and its fruit cannot but result; and just such is the powerful efficacy of worship paid to Hari; whoever worships him, with whatever disposition of mind, obtains beatitude. It is said,

"Invocation, the rosary, the denominational and sectarial marks,* all of them are useless.

"The vain-minded man plays his antics (lit. dances) to no purpose; the true only please Rám.'

"And, attend! I will now relate to you the different persons, and their different feelings towards the divine Krishn, who obtained beatitude from him. Nand and Jasodá looked on him as their son, the cowherdesses as their lover; Kans worshipped him through fear; the cowherds, regarding him as their friend, repeated his name; the Pándavs as their darling; Sisupál respected him as an enemy; the family of Yadu held him to be one of their own members; and Jogis, Jatis, and Munis, knowing him to be the Supreme Being, fixed their meditations upon him: but in the end all, without exception, obtained beatification. If, therefore, one cowherdess, by fixing her thoughts on the Deity, passed the ocean of existence, what marvel is it?"

Having heard this, Paríkshit said to the saintly Muni Shukadev, "Gracious Lord! the doubt of my mind has departed; now be gracious enough to continue the history." The saintly Shukadev said, "Sire, when all the cowherdesses, each in her own different company, ran and joined the Light of the World, the Ocean of

Of a lotus, trident, etc., made on the body or forehead of worshippers of Vishnu and other gods.

Beauty, the divine Krishn Chand, as, during the four rainy months, the rivers run violently and mingle with the ocean, then the scene was such that Bihárí Lál has no power to express the beauty of that adornment, for Hari, decked out with ornaments, and dressed as a juggler, appeared so heart-delighting, beautiful, and charming, that the young women of Braj, beholding him, remained amazed. Then Mohan, after inquiring after their welfare, assumed a peevish tone, and said, 'Tell me how, at this time of night-the hour of goblins and ghosts-you have passed this dread road, and come into the vast forest, with your clothes and ornaments cast on at random, in a state of extreme agitation, and having abandoned the regard due to your family? It behoves not women to act so boldly. It is said, that "should a woman have a husband, who is a coward, vicious, stupid, deceitful, ugly, leprous, blind of one eye or of both, lame of hand or foot, poor, or aught else, even then she ought to serve him, and from this alone her welfare and estimation in the world arise." It is the duty of a well-born and chaste lady not to leave her husband, even for a moment, and that wife who, quitting her own spouse, goes to another man, finds, in successive births, hell as her habitation.' Thus having spoken, he added, 'Hearken! you have come, have seen the dense forest, the clear moonlight, and the beauty of Yamuna's bank; now return home, and, with earnestness of purpose, wait on your husbands. By this your welfare will be in every way consulted.' Soon as they heard these words from the mouth of the divine Krishn, all the cowherdesses were for a time indeed, bereft of sense, and buried in a boundless ocean of thought;-afterwards,

"With downcast looks they drew deep sighs, and stood scratching the ground with the nails of their feet;

From their eyes a stream of tears descended, like a broken necklace of pearls! "At length, being deeply agitated by grief, they began with sobs to say, 'Ah, Krishn! you are a great deceiver! At first, indeed, by playing on the flute, you stole away our judgment, thoughts, mind, and all that we possessed; and now, turning pitiless, and practising deceit, you desire, by your cruel words, to deprive us of life.' Thus having spoken, they added,

"Folk, kinsmen, house, and husband, we have left; neglected, too, the reproach of people, to which we are exposed.

We are defenceless, there are none to aid us; give us protection, Lord of
Braj!

And those people who attend on thy celestial footsteps, they care

not for wealth, corporeal things, character, or greatness; of them, indeed, you are the husband, from birth to birth, O Deity! O soul's Beauty!

"Where shall we go and make our abode ? our spirits are bound up in affection for you.'

"On hearing these words, the divine Krishn Chand smiled, and called all the cowherdesses to him, and said, 'If you are imbued with this affection, then dance the circular dance with me.' Having heard these words, the cowherdesses laid aside their grief, and gladly assembled on all sides, and, continually gazing on the face of Hari, began to reap the enjoyment of their eyes.

"The dark-blue Krishn, with body of the hue of clouds, stood in the midst; and such was the beauty of the fair ones, as they sported,

That they resembled golden creepers, growing from beneath a blue mountain. "Then the divine Krishn gave this command to his Illusive Power, 'We will engage in the circular dance, wherefore do thou prepare a fair place, and remain standing here, and whoever shall ask for anything, whatever it may be, do thou bring and give it.' Sire! the Illusive Power, on hearing this, went to the bank of the Yamuna, and prepared a large circular terrace of pure gold, and having studded it with pearls and diamonds, fixed on all sides plaintain trees with young shoots, for pillars, fastened on them gay festoons of various kinds of flowers, and, returning to the divine Krishn Chand, told him. On hearing it, Krishn was pleased, and, taking with him all the young women of Braj, went to the bank of the Yamuná. Having arrived there, they saw that the brilliance of the circular terrace erected for the circular dance, was four times more beautiful than that of the moon's orb, and on all sides of it the sand was spread out like the moonbeams. A cool, sweet, fragrant breeze, continued blowing, and on one side the verdure of the dense forest derived increased loveliness from the night.

"On beholding this scene, all the cowherdesses were much delighted. Near that spot was a lake named Mán Sarowar, to the banks of which they went and put on clean robes and ornaments, such as their minds desired, and having adorned themselves from head to foot, returned, playing in harmony on fine instruments, such as the lute and timbrel. Then, intoxicated with love, they laid aside all care and diffidence, and, in company with the divine Krishn, began to play on instruments, to sing and dance. At that time the divine Govind, in the midst of the circle of the cowherdesses, appeared as beautiful as the moon in a circlet of stars."

Thus far having related, the saintly Shukadev said, "Hearken, Sire! when the cowherdesses, having abandoned, in the dance, judgment and discernment, mentally regarded Hari as their natural husband, and thought him utterly under their influence; then the divine Krishn Chand reflected in his heart as follows:

"These now imagine me subjected to them; they mentally regard me as a natural husband;

Their judgment is gone; modesty has left their persons; they twine themselves around me, and with fond affection embrace me, as their beloved

one.

They have forgotten knowledge and reflection; I will go and leave them, since their pride has increased.'

"Let us see what they will do in the forest without me, and what will be their condition?' Thus having reflected, the divine Krishn Chand, taking with him the divine Rádhiká, disappeared from sight."

The saintly Muni Shukadev said, "Sire! upon the sudden disappearance of the divine Krishn Chand, it became dark before the eyes of the cowherdesses, and being much afflicted, they were as distressed as a snake that has lost its crest-gem. Hereupon one of them began to say,

"Tell me sister! where is Mohan departed, having left us?

But lately he clasped my neck with his arm, and embraced me. Just now, in truth, closely united with us, he was dancing and rejoicing. In these short moments where has he departed? Did no one among you see him as he left us?' Having heard these words, all the cowherdesses, deeply dejected at separation from their beloved one, said, drawing deep sighs,

"Whither shall we go, what shall we do? To whom shall we call aloud and tell (our loss)?

Do not you know at all where he is? How shall we rejoin Murári ?'

"Thus having spoken, being intoxicated with the love of Hari, all the cowherdesses began, as they searched, and sang the praises of Krishn, to exclaim, lamenting, thus:

"Why have you left us, Lord of Braj? We have bestowed all we possess upon you.'

"When they found him not, then all, as they went on, said amongst themselves, 'Sister! here, indeed, we see no one; of whom shall we ask the road which Hari has taken!' Thus having