Chapter XXXIII

SHRI SHUKADEVA JEE said,—O great king! when Shri Krishna Chund, who is acquainted with the secrets of the heart, knew that the cowherdesses would not survive without him, then appeared amongst them the son of Nanda, just as a juggler would appear again, after having been concealed, whilst a person shut his eyes. When they saw that Hari had come, the senses of all of them were revived, just as the organs of perception are restored to animation, when life is revived in a dead man. Whilst they did not see him, their minds were in a state of agitation, as though they had all been bitten by the mind-agitating snake. Their troubles were ended on the arrival of him they loved, as creepers are revived by being sprinkled with the water of life. In the same way that the lotus appears withered at night, but revives on beholding the splendour of the sun, the large eyes of the women of Vraja were restored to animation on beholding Krishna.

Having recited thus much, SHRI SHUKADEVA Jee said, O great king! the cowherdesses, on seeing Shri Krishna Chund, the root of joy, being all at once released from the sea of despondency, approached him, and were as much rejoiced, as a man, drowning in the unfathomable ocean, would be to find a shallow place. And they collected round him on all sides.

Then Shri Krishna took them with him to the place where they had first engaged in festive songs and dances. On their arrival, one of the cowherdesses took off her scarf, and spread it for Krishna to sit down upon. As he sat down upon it, many of the cowherdesses were angry, and said, "O great king! you are very deceitful, and steal away the minds and wealth of others, but do not respect the good qualities of any one."

After this, they said to each other, "He has abandoned what is good, and embraced what is bad. Deceit suits his mind. Consider, friend! how can we possibly form an association with him."

On hearing this, one of them said, "Friends! do you remain apart; as we derive no benefit from our own speaking, I will make Krishna himself speak." Saying these words, she smiled and enquired from Shri Krishna,—"O great king! explain to us who is a good man, and who a bad man in the four following instances:—One, who without having done a good action, shall expect good actions from others, (or shall expect to have his non-performance of good actions considered in the light of the performance of them:) a second shall make a return for a good action: a third shall return evil for good: a fourth shall take no thought whatever of any good, that may be done to him." Shri Krishna Chund replied, "All of you listen with attention, whilst I explain who is the good, and who the bad man, in the cases mentioned. The best is he who does good without receiving any, as a father loves a son. It is no virtue to return good for good, in the manner that a cow gives milk for the food she receives. Consider as your enemy one who regards good and evil alike. The most ungrateful of all is he who forgets good done to him."

When the cowherdesses, on hearing these words and looking at each other, began to laugh, Shri Krishna Chund was frightened, and said, "I am not to be reckoned amongst any of these four kinds of persons, which you seem to think by your laughing; moreover, it is my custom to grant the accomplishment of any wish or desire a person may ask from me. Perhaps you will say, if this is your practice, why did you abandon us in the jungle? The reason was, that I made trial of your affection. Do not think ill of me for this, but believe what I say."

After this, he again said, "I have now tried you: remember and meditate upon me. You have increased your affection for me, who am like a poor man that has obtained wealth. You have met my wishes in every respect; and in doing so, have foregone the reproach of the world, and the Vedas; just as a religious devotee, who abandons his home, and entertains a love for Hari with sincerity of mind. If I should live for a hundred years of Bruhmú, I should never be quit of my debt to you."