Prem Sagar (English translation)
by W. Hollings | 1848 | 128,812 words
This is the English translation of the Prem Sagar written by in the early 19th century. This was one of the first modern Hindi books written in the Delhi dialect. The Prem Sagar (meaning “ocean of Love”) narrates the exploits of Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, based on the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana. This book however conists of fifty chapter...
Chapter XL
SHRI SHUKADEVA JEE said,—O lord of the earth! When Nanda Jee had finished conversing, Krishna and Balarama, having made a sign to Akrura took him aside. Treating him with respect and dignity they enquired about the welfare and affairs of Mathura. "Are Vasudeva and Devaki well? Has the enmity of the Raja fallen upon them? Our maternal uncle, Kamsa, is a great sinner, who has destroyed all the family of Yadu.
"Some great disease of the family of Yadu must have been born upon the earth in bodily shape, which has distressed them severely. In truth, Vasudeva and Devaki suffer all their present affliction on our account; if they had not concealed us, they would not have been subjected to so much misery." Again Krishna said, "What did they say to you as you were starting? We shall remain indebted to them for ever. They will keep us in remembrance; and must be very wretched in their present misfortunes."
At these words Akrura Jee said, "O lord of beneficence! you know all things; why need I speak of the tyranny of Kamsa, who has not friendship or affection for any one? He is constantly thinking of putting Vasudeva and Devaki to death: but they have hitherto escaped through their good fortune. And since Narada Ji, the sage, came and explained to him all the circumstances of your birth, he has subjected Vasudeva and Devaki to very painful imprisonment with fetters and handcuffs. To-morrow, he will offer sacrifice to Mahadeva, and the bow has been placed upon the sacrifice. All people will come as spectators; and he has sent me to invite you, saying, go and bring Balarama, Krishna and Nanda Rae, together with their presents, for the sacrifice. I have, therefore, come to bring you."
When Akrura had thus spoken, Balarama and Krishna went to Nanda Rae and said, "Our uncle, Akrura, says, that Kamsa has invited us, father. It is the sacrifice, in which the bow is introduced; let us take butter-milk, rams and goats, as offerings. Come, accompanied by us all: the Raja Kamsa says he will not admit any excuse."
When Shri Krishna Chund had explained this matter to Nanda Jee, Nanda Rae sent for a public crier, and had proclamation made throughout the whole city, that all should go with him together to Mathura; as the Raja had invited them. On hearing the proclamation, all the inhabitants of Vraja came early in the morning with presents; and Nanda Jee having taken milk, curd, butter, rams, goats and buffaloes, and having yoked oxen in carts, went in company with them. And Krishna and Baladeva were conveyed on a ruth, accompanied by their companions, the cowherds' children.
Nanda and Upananda went in advance, Haladhara and Gobind behind all the rest.
SHRI SHUKADEVA Jee said, O lord of the earth! having heard of Shri Krishna's sudden departure, all the women of Vraja were in a state of great alarm and agitation, and came rushing forth from their houses in a state of confusion. They came to Krishna's ruth, with lamentations and trembling—and surrounding the ruth on all sides, said, with joined hands, and in a supplicating manner, "Why are you leaving us, O lord of Vraja! We have sacrificed every thing for you. The friendship of a virtuous man never diminishes, but always endures, like the lines of the hand, and the friendship of a fool is unstable, like a wall of sand. What fault towards you have we committed, that you are leaving us?"
Having thus addressed Shri Krishna Chund, the cowherdesses, looking at Akrura, said, "This Akrura is very cruel; he does not sympathize with our pain. He is taking away him, by being separated from whom, for a second, we are widowed. Kroor is deceitful, and hard-hearted: who has wrongly given him the name of Akrura, that is, not cruel? O perverse Akrura! void of all understanding, why do you destroy, with fire, us poor, weak creatures?"
Having uttered these harsh words, and laying aside all modesty and reflection, they laid hold of Hari’s ruth, and began to say, to each other, "The women of Mathura are very playful, lively and possessed of beauty and many good qualities. Beharee will fall in love with them, and being under the influence of their agreeable and pleasing dispositions, will remain with them. Why should he then think of us? The women of Mathura are very fortunate, in having one so much loved to stay with them. What error has there been in our prayers and penance, that Shri Krishna Chund is separated from us?" After thus conversing amongst themselves, they began to address Hari again, "Your name is lord of the cowherds, why do you not take us with you? How will the moments pass away without you? You have become the shade of our eye-lids, our bosoms will burst; after having felt love for us, why do you absent yourself? You are relentless and unkind, and have no affection." The women thus offered their supplications, and were filled with anxious thoughts, having fallen into a sea of affliction, they remained gazing at Hari with unmoved gaze, like a doe that has been charmed, or a red partridge fascinated by the moon. Tears gushed from their eyes, and their tresses were spread in disorder over their faces.
SHRI SHUKADEVA, the sage, said, the state of the cowherdesses was such as I have described; and the Ranee Yashoda, having embraced her son with affection, said to him in a very endearing manner, "Son! take provisions with you for as many days as you will be absent; do not form an affection for any one there, and come back quickly to your own." On hearing these words, Krishna descended from his ruth, and having entered into an explanation with them all, took leave; making a salutation, and receiving his mother’s blessing, he ascended the ruth again, and started on his journey. The cowherdesses and Yashoda were deeply grieved, and shedding tears, continued to call out the name of Krishna; whilst Krishna stood up in his ruth, and said to them, as he went along; Go to your homes and be not at all anxious, I will return hither in four or five days."
Whilst he was thus speaking, and looking at them, when the ruth had gone some distance, and there was so much dust, (literally, the dust was spread to the sky,) that the flag of the ruth could not be seen; being in despair, they fluttered like fish deprived of water, and fell fainting to the ground. After some delay they recovered, and rose up and consoled themselves with the confident hope of his return. Yashoda took all the cowherdesses back with her to Vrindavana; and Shri Krishna arrived with his companions at the banks of the Yamuna. The cowherds' children drank water there; and Hari placed his ruth under the shade of a fig tree. When Akrura Jee descended from the ruth with the intention of bathing, Shri Krishna Chund said to Nanda Rae, "Be pleased to take all the cowherds' children on with you, my uncle Akrura will bathe, and we will join you by and bye."
Nanda Jee, on hearing these words, went forward. And Akrura Jee undressed; and having washed his hands and feet, sipping a little water from the palm of his hand, he went upon the bank and into the water. After this, he dipped his head under water, performed pooja, poured out a libation of water to the manes of deceased ancestors, engaged in prayers and meditations; and after having dived his head under the water, opened his eyes, and beheld Shri Krishna and his ruth in the water.
He then raised his head, and saw the lord of the Yadus in the same place, as he first occupied. He was astonished on reflecting upon this strange appearance, when he saw Krishna far off on the ruth. They were both under the shade of a fig tree: and he saw them both in the water. He said to himself, "I cannot understand the mystery of their being both out of the water, and in it. Which shall I call the real figures?"
O great king! Akrura Jee, on seeing the same forms in and out of the water, was thinking of the phœnomenon; when in the mean while, Shri Krishna Chund Jee appeared first of all in a form with four arms; and bearing a shell, quoit, club and lotus; and the gods, sages, celestial musicians and dancers together with all the worshippers of Hari, appeared in the water: and afterwards, Krishna appeared as the sleeper on the serpent Sheshù. On beholding this Akrura Jee was still more perplexed.