The Prem sagurCaturbhujamisra, active 17th century
Religion
The Prem sagur
Caturbhujamisra, active 17th century
Krishna (Hindu deity)
Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said, on the departure of the surud
season, the winter came, when there was very great cold and frost. At
this time the women of Bruj said to one another, “By bathing in the
month Aghun, the sins of every birth are obliterated, and the hopes of
the mind are accomplished. I have heard so from old people.” On
hearing this, they all resolved to bathe in Aghun, that they might
without doubt obtain Shree Krishnù. Having resolved upon this, and
risen very early in the morning, the women of Bruj dressed and
ornamented themselves, and went in a body to bathe in the Jumna.
Having bathed and made an offering to the sun, of eight ingredients,
coming out of the water, they made an earthen image of Parvutee.
Putting sandal, rice, flowers and fruits upon it, placing before it
perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, performing poojah with hands
joined, and holding their heads, they beseeched Parvutee, saying “O
Dewee! we constantly supplicate this boon from you, that Shree
Krishnù may be our lord.” In this manner the cowherdesses constantly
bathed. Fasting all day, they ate coagulated milk and rice in the
evening, and slept on the ground at night. With a view of quickly
obtaining the fruit of their fasting, all the women of Bruj went one
day to a very steep ghaut to bathe; and on arrival, having taken off
their clothes, and placed them on the bank, they went naked into the
water. They began sporting about, and singing the praises of Huri.
Shree Krishnú was also at this time pasturing cows, sitting under the
shade of a fig tree. Having heard by chance the sound of their
singing, he came silently to the spot, and having concealed himself
began to look on. A sudden thought struck him, while he was looking
on, and having stolen all their clothes, he climbed up a “kudum” tree,
and placed them all in a bundle before him. In the meantime, the
cowherdesses looking on the bank for their clothes could not find
them. Being alarmed, they got up and began searching all round, and
saying to each other, “Not even a bird has come here; who can have
taken away our clothes?” Just then a cowherdess saw Krishnù sitting
hid on a “kudum” tree, with a crown on his head, a club in his hand,
marked with saffron on the forehead, in a yellow silk dress, with a
garland of flowers reaching to his feet, and preserving a strict
silence, with a bundle of clothes before him. She called out, “Behold
him! who has stolen our hearts and our clothes, seated on a ‘kudum’
tree with our bundles.” Hearing this, and seeing Krishnù, all the
women were ashamed, sitting down in the water, joining their hands and
bending their heads, they supplicated and entreated Krishnù, saying
“O compassionate to the poor! beloved destroyer of our griefs! O
Mohun! please give us our clothes.” Krishnù replied, “By the oath of
Nund, I will not give them thus; come out of the water one by one, and
you shall obtain your clothes.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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