Krishn used the Jogí's illusive power,—the particles of his body became many different bodies.

To all he gave pleasure to the full of their desire, sporting with perfect affection.

As many cowherdesses as there were, just so many bodies did the divine Krishn Chand assume, and, taking all with him to that same terrace of the circular dance, he again commenced dancing and delight.

The cowherdesses joined hands two and two, between each two was Hari, their companion;

Each thought him beside her—so thought all; none perceived his other forms; Each put her fingers into the fingers of another, and danced gaily, circling round, taking Hari with them;

Here, intermediate, (danced) a cowherdess, there, intermediate, the son of Nand, like dense clouds on all sides, and between them the flashing lightning,

Krishn, of the dark blue hue, and the fair girls of Braj-like a necklace of gold beads and sapphires.

Sire in this manner the cowherdesses and Krishn, standing up, began to blend the tunes of various kinds of instruments, and running over in prelude the notes of very difficult airs, to play and sing, and, selecting tunes in a high key, pleasing and full of contrast, and others raised half a tone higher, or a whole tone, or two tones, and others which they extemporised while they sang them, represented, by the dance, the emotions they were intended to convey. And their joy was so exuberant that they retained no longer their consciousness, corporeal or mental. In one place, the breasts of some of them were uncovered; in another, their diadems fell off. Here, necklaces of pearls, snapping asunder, were falling down; there, wreaths of forest flowers. The drops of perspiration on their foreheads glittered like strings of pearls; and the ringlets on the fair faces of the cowherdesses were, in their dishevelled state, like young snakes, which, through desire of nectar, had flown up and fastened themselves on the Moon. At one time, a cowherdess, blending her voice with the sound of Krishn's flute, was singing in a treble key; at another, one of them sang, unaccompanied. And when a cowherdess, having stopped the sound of the flute, was bringing from her throat its entire note with exact agreement, then Hari remained fascinated with delight, just as a child, beholding its image in a glass, stands riveted.

"In this manner, singing, and dancing, and displaying various kinds of emotions, and blandishments, and coquetry, they were giving and imparting delight; and mutually pleased, and laughing gaily, they were embracing, and making a propitiatory offering of their clothes and ornaments. At that time, Brahmá, Rudr, Indr, and all the other deities and celestial musicians, seated on their cars, together with their wives, beholding the bliss of the circular dance, were, through joy, raining down flowers, and their wives, beholding those pleasures, and filled with desire, were saying in their hearts, 'Had we been born in Braj, we also should have enjoyed the circular dance, and other delights, with Hari.' Such was the concert of musical modes (the Rágs of which there are six), and airs (the Ráginís of which are thirty), that, hearing them, even the winds and waters ceased to move, and the moon, with the circle of stars, being fascinated, was pouring down nectar with its rays. Meanwhile, the night advanced, and six months passed away, and no one was aware of it, and from that time the name of that night has been-the night of Brahmá."

Thus far having related, the saintly Shukadev said, "Earth's

Lord! sporting on in dances and diversions, a fancy entered into the mind of the divine Krishn Chand; whereupon, taking the cowherdesses with him, he went to the bank of the Yamuná, and, having plunged into the water, and sported there, he dispelled his fatigue, and came forth, and thus, having accomplished the wishes of all, he said, 'Now, four gharis (about one hour and a half) of the night remain; do you all depart to your own homes.' Having heard these words, the cowherdesses, being dejected, said, 'Lord! how can we go home, quitting your celestial lotus-feet? Our greedy hearts listen no whit to this direction.' The divine Krishn said, 'Listen! as Jogís fix their thoughts on me, so too do you abstract and fix your minds: wherever ye may be there will I remain with you.' On hearing this, all were pleased, and taking leave, departed to their own houses; and none of the inmates knew of this secret, that the women had been away."

Krishna speaks to his father.

'Listen, father! Kans has sent for us; our uncle Akrúr has brought these tidings. Take milk, sheep, and goats; it is the sacrifice of the bow; there offer them. Let all accompany you: the king has said it; the case admits not of delay.

When the divine Krishn Chand, with such explanations and advice, had addressed Nand, then that chieftain, at that very time, having summoned criers, caused a proclamation to be made throughout the city to this effect, 'To-morrow, at early dawn, all will together proceed to Mathurá: the king has summoned us.' On hearing this intelligence, all the inhabitants of Braj, as soon as it dawned, came, bringing presents; and Nand also, taking with him milk, curds, butter, sheep, goats, and buffaloes, having caused the cattle in his carts to be yoked, went with them. Krishn and Baladev also, taking with them the cowherd youths, their companions, mounted on their cars,

In front were Nand and Upanand; in rear, of all, Haldhar and Govind."

The saintly Shukadev said, "Lord of the earth! all of a sudden, having heard of the departure of the divine Krishn Chand, all the cowherdesses of Braj, much agitated and distressed, left their homes, and arose and hastened in confusion, and lamenting and talking incoherently, stumbling and falling, came where the divine Krishn Chand was seated in his car. On coming up, they stood around the car, and, joining their hands, began to say with humility, 'Why, O Lord of Braj! do you forsake us? we have given all we possessed to

you. The affection of the good never suffers decrease: it ever remains, like the writing in the lines of the hand; but the regard of the fool is not lasting, but resembles a wall of sand. What such crime have we committed against you that you are departing and turning your back upon us?' Having thus addressed the divine Krishn Chand, the cowherdesses, having turned their eyes towards Akrúr, added,

'This Akrúr* is very cruel; he is altogether ignorant of our pain.

That being-to be deprived of whose company for a single moment renders us desolate him he takes away along with him.

He is deceitful, cruel, and stern of heart. Who vainly gave him the name of Akrúr?

O Akrúr! cruel, and void of understanding. Wherefore do you injure weak, dependent woman?'

Using such harsh words, and abandoning all consideration and reserve, they laid hold of the car of Hari, and began to say among themselves, 'The women of Mathurá are very wanton, artful, beautiful, and accomplished; Bihárí, having formed an attachment for them, and being overcome by their good qualities and taste, will take up his abode entirely there. Then how will he remember us? Great is their good fortune, indeed, that they will remain with their beloved one. What such fault has occurred in our invocation and penance from which the divine Krishn Chand forsakes us?' Thus having spoken among themselves, they again addressed Hari, 'Your name truly is the Lord of Cowherdesses; wherefore do you not take us along with you?

How will each moment pass without you? If you are absent for an instant our bosoms burst with sorrow.

After shewing us affection, why separate from us? relentless, pitiless, you feel no attachment.'

Thus the fair ones uttered their supplications there, and were thoughtful

plunged in a sea of grief:

They remained stedfastly gazing in the direction of Hari,—like a fascinated antelope, or the Chakor looking at the moon;

The tears fell dropping from their eyes; and their curls, falling loose, were spread over their faces.

The saintly Muni Shukadev said, "King! at that time this indeed was the state of the cowherdesses, which I have described to you; and the lady Jasodá-with the tenderness of a mother-embraced her son, and, weeping, was saying, with intense affection, 'Son!

* There is an equivoque here. A-krúr signifies "not cruel," though it is here a proper name.

take with you, as you go, provisions sufficient for the number of days (which will elapse) till you return thence. And when you have arrived there, place your affections on none; but quickly return, and present yourself to the sight of her who gave you birth.' Hearing these words, the divine Krishn, having dismounted from his car, and having comforted and admonished all, took leave of his mother, and, having made his obeisance, and received her blessing, again mounted his car and departed. At this time, in the one direction, Jasodá, with the cowherdesses, in great emotion and sobbing, were calling out 'Krishn! Krishn!' and, in the other direction, the divine Krishn, standing up in his car, and calling out, was saying, as he departed, 'Do you go home, and have no anxiety; I will return in four or five days at most.""

"Sire! these cowherdesses, distracted by separation from the divine Krishn, and singing his praises alone, in their several companies, with their thoughts fixed on their beloved one, began on their way to sing of the exploits of the Supreme Being.

One said, 'Kanháí met me;' another, 'He has run off and hidden himself. From behind he seized my arm; there stands he, Hari, in the shade of the Indian fig.'

One says, 'I saw him milking;' another, 'I beheld him at early dawn.'

One avers that, 'He is pasturing the cattle; listen! given ear, he plays the flute By this road, sister, we will not go; the youth Kanháí will demand alms of us; He will break our water-pots, and untie the knots (of the cords on which we carry them), and, having surveyed us a little (¿.e. with a mere glance), will steal away our senses;

He is concealed somewhere, and will come running; then how shall we be able to escape?'

Thus speaking, the women of Braj departed, their frames being greatly agitated through separation from Krishn."

The saintly Muni Shukadev said, "Lord of the Earth! when Udho had finished repeating his whispered invocations, then, having issued from the river, having put on his clothes and ornaments, and taken his seat in his car, when he took his way from the bank of the Kalindí towards the house of Nand, then the cowherdesses, who had gone forth to fill water, beheld his car on the road, coming from a distance. On beholding it, they began to say among themselves, Whose is this car which is coming towards us? Let us take a survey of this, then let us advance.' Hearing this, one cowherdess among them said, 'Sister! it may be, perhaps, that the deceitful Akrúr may have come, who led the divine Krishn Chand