O great king! the cowherdesses being distracted at separation from Krishnù, and deeply imbued with love for him, and celebrating his many excellent qualities with songs, began, as they went along the road, to meditate upon him, and sing of his sports. One said, “I have seen Krishnù;” another, “That he had run off and hid himself. He has laid hold of my arm from behind: Huri is now standing under the shade of a fig tree.” One remarked, “I saw him milking:” another, “I beheld him very early.” Some said, “He is tending herds; others, Listen! he is playing the flute. We will not go this road, as Krishnù will ask for presents. He will break our water pots, and untie the knots, on which we carry them; and will steal away our senses by his many glances. He is hid somewhere, and will come running towards us; and then where shall we escape.” The women of Bruj went along, conversing thus with each other; their minds being much agitated in consequence of their separation from Krishnù. CHAPTER XLVIII. Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O lord of the earth! when Oodho Jee had finished counting his beads, he came forth from the river, and putting on his clothes and ornaments sat down in his ruth. As he came near Nund’s village on his way from the banks of the river, the cowherdesses, who had come for water, saw his ruth from afar coming along the road. On seeing it, they began to say to each other, “Whose ruth is this? that is coming towards us, let us see, and afterwards proceed on our journey?” One of them said, “Friend, I hope that deceitful creature, Akroor, has not come, who took off Shree Krishnù Chund to live at Muttra, and caused him to kill Kuns.” Another said, “Why has this treacherous wretch come again, he has already taken away the root of our lives, and what more will he take away?” O great king! carrying on various conversations of this kind, the women of Bruj stood still, having taken the water-pots from their heads, and placed them on the ground. In the mean while as the ruth came near some of the cowherdesses having seen Oodho a short way off, said to each other, “Friend! why this is some one of a black colour with lotus-like eyes, and a crown on his head; wearing a garland that reaches to his feet, dressed in yellow silk, and with a scarf of the same colour. He is sitting on a ruth like that of Shree Krishnù, and is looking at and coming towards us.” One of them remarked, “This person has been at Nund’s house since yesterday; his name is Oodho, and Shree Krishnù Chund has sent some message by him.”