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The Gopa boys and the cows being very thirsty drank the water of that pool and met with instant death. Krishna cast his amrita pouring looks at them and they got up, being restored to life. They looked at each other, very much surprised. To purge the river, Krishna got upon a Kadamba tree and jumped into the pool of water. Kaliya fiercely attacked him and stung him to the quick. The serpent then twined round Krishna. The cows wept, the Gopa boys became senseless. There were evil portents in Vrinda- vana. Nanda and other Gopas came out in search of Krishna. They saw him in the grasp of the powerful serpent and made loud wail- ings. A moment after, seeing how they all grieved for him, Krishna eluded the grasp of the serpent and moved dancing round him. The serpent, somewhat fatigued, also kept moving with its overspread hoods, fixing its looks on Krishna. Krishna then got upon the hoods one thousand in number, one hundred being the chief, and danced on them putting down the hood that tried to raise itself. It was a lovely sight and the Devas sang in joy and rained flowers. The serpent king was overpowered. He vomited blood. His body was broken. In his heart of hearts, he sought the protection of Narayana. The serpent girls also glorified Krishna and prayed for their husband’ life. Krishna said:—"Go hence O serpent, dwell in the sea. Men and cows shall use the water of the river. You left Ramanaka Dvipa for fear of Garuda. But now as your heads bear the marks of my feet, Garuda shall not touch you." Kaliya left the Yamuna with his wives and the water of that river has been pure ever since. The people of Vrindavana embraced Krishna and shed tears of joy. They were all so much put out that they stopped that night on the river bank. At midnight, a fire broke out from a castor plantation and it surrounded the people on all sides. The Gopas and Gopis cried out: "O Krishna, O Rama, we are yours. Krishna! Save us from this fire. We are not afraid of our lives, but it will pain us to part from Thy Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 289 feet." Krishna ate up the whole fire. PRALAMBA. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 18. It was summer. But Vrindavana was cool with its shade, its water- spouts and its river. Rama and Krishna were tending the cattle with their compan- ions. An Asura named Pralamba disguised himself as a Gopa boy and mixed with the other boys. The All-knowing Krishna found him but he feigned friendship, with the object of killing the Asura. Kr- ishna proposed two parties for play. The defeated party had to carry the members of the victorious party on their backs. Krishna became the leader of one party and Rama that of the other. The party of Krishna were routed near the Bhandiraka forest. Krishna carried Sridamana on his back, Bhadrasena carried Vrishabha and Pralamba carried Balarama. Pralamba ran with Balarama beyond the mark. Balarama suspected something evil. Then composing himself, he hit a blow on the head of the Asura and Pralamba lay down dead. THE FOREST CONFLAGRATION. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 19. The cattle strayed away from the Bhandarika forest, when sud- denly there was a fire. They ran bellowing into a forest of rushes. The Gopa boys went in search of them and found them from a dis- tance. Krishna called them out and they responded to the call. At the time a general conflagration in the forest overtook the cows and the Gopa boys and they helplessly turned to Krishna. Krishna asked the boys to close their eyes. They did so, but when they looked again they found themselves once more in the Bhandarika forest. Seeing this Yoga power in Sri Krishna, they knew him to be a God. The older Gopas and Gopis, hearing all the wonderful deeds of Rama and Krishna, knew them to be Devas. 290 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana THE RAINY SEASON. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 20. The rainy season followed summer. There was joy and plenty. (For a graphic and highly poetical description of the rainy season please refer to the original. The details of the description are some- what important from the esoteric standpoint and the Season itself is suggestive as to a new era in spiritual development.) THE AUTUMN. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 20. The AUTUMN came and it was all calm, clear and transparent. The clouds disappeared. The water became pure. The wind be- came gentle. With the advent of lotus-bearing Autumn, the waters regained their tranquillity, even as distracted Yogins the calm of their minds by fresh resort to Yoga. The Autumn removed the clouds from the skies, promiscuous living from the animals, mud from the soil and dirt from the water—even as Bhakti in Krishna does away with the impurities attaching to the four Asramas. The clouds gave up rainy moisture and looked beautifully white, even like Munis who give up all desires. The hills sometimes gave pure water from their sides and sometimes not, as wise men pour forth the nectar of their wisdom sometimes and not often. The animals that frequent shallow water did not know that the water was subsiding, as deluded men living in family circles do not realise the daily expiry of their lives. And they suffered like sensuous men from the rays of the Autumn sun. Day by day the soil gave up its muddiness as the wise give up their Mine-ness and the creepers got over their immaturity as the wise get over their I-ness. The Sea became calm as a Muni no longer distracted by Vedic performances. The farmers stored up waters in the paddy fields by making strong embankments, even as Yogins store up Prana by withdrawing it from the Indriyas. The moon gave relief from the inflictions of sun-burning, even as wisdom relieves the misery caused by connection with the body, and as the sight of Sri Krishna removes all the sorrows of the Gopis. The clear skies gave a brilliant view of the stars, as the mind purified by Satva makes manifest the conclu- Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 291 sions of the Mimansa Darsanas. The full moon shone above with all the stars as Sri Krishna shone on earth with the circle of Yadus. SRI KRISHNA AND THE GOPIS. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 21. Krishna roamed in the fresh forest with the cattle and his com- panions. He played upon the flute and the Gopis forgot themselves in hearing his music. They saw before their mind’s eye the danc- ing Krishna filling the holes of the flute with nectar flowing from his lips, the peacock feather on his head, Karnikara flower on his ears, his cloth yellow like gold and the Vaijayanti garland round his neck. Some exclaimed:—"What better could the eyes feed upon than the lovely faces of Rama and Krishna, with the flutes touching their lips and their smiling glances." Some said:—"How beautiful they look with garlands of mango twigs, peacock feather and blue lotus. In the assembly of Gopas, they look like heroes on the theatrical stage." Others said:—"What did that bamboo piece of a flute do that it should drink so hard the nectar flowing from Krishna’s lips, the spe- cial possession of the Gopis, that nothing should remain but the taste thereof. The water that nourished it is thrilling with joy and the plant of which it is a shoot is shedding joysome tears." Some said:—"Look, O companions! how lovely does Vrindavana look from the touch of Sri Krishna’s lotus feet! Look there, the pea- cock madly dances to the tune of the flute and other animals stand dumb on the summit of the hills and witness the scene. There is no spot on the earth like Vrindavana." Others said:—"How blessed are these female deer that In the com- pany of their husbands hear the music of the flute and make an of- fering of their loving looks!" Other Gopis said:—"So tempting is this form of Krishna and so alluring is the music of his flute that even Deva girls become lost to themselves. Look, how the cows drink that music with ears erect. And even the calves stand with their mothers’ milk in their mouths, eagerly listening to that sound. Those birds are no worse than Rishis, for they sit high on trees whence they can have a full view of Krishna 292 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana and with eyes closed they silently hear the sweet music of the flute. Even the rivers shew the love transformation of their hearts by their whirls and they stop their course to embrace the feet of Krishna with their raised billows serving as hands and offering lotus flowers at those feet. The clouds give shadow and they shed dewy flowers on Krishna. Most fortunate is Govardhana, for Krishna drives cattle on its sides and it makes its offerings of edibles and drink." The Gopis became full of Krishna (Tanmaya). THE STEALING OF CLOTHES. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 22. In the first month of the DEWY SEASON (Agrahayana), the girls of Vrindavana worshipped Katyayani (a name of the Goddess Durga, wife of Siva). The observances lasted for a month. The girls prayed to Katyayani that they might get Krishna for their husband. They bathed early in the morning every day in the river Yamuna. One day they left their clothes on the bank and went down into the river to bathe. Krishna took away their clothes. He asked the girls to come up and take them. They did so and the clothes were returned. Krishna then addressing the Gopis said: "O virtuous girls, I know your resolve. It is to worship me. I also approve of it and you must succeed. The desires of those that are absorbed in me do not bear Karmic fruits. For fried or burnt paddy does not germinate. Go back to Vraja. Your object in worshipping Katyayani is gained. These nights (i.e. on nights to come. Sridhara) you shall enjoy with me." KRISHNA AND VEDIC YAJNA (SUMMER AGAIN.) SKANDHA X. CHAP. 23. Krishna went over to a distant forest driving cattle with his com- panions. The summer sun was fierce and the trees gave shade.