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news from Mathura. A sense of modesty, added to intense grief 

 on account of Creeshna's absence, kept them for some time silent, 

 but at length they broke silence, and overwhelmed Oodhoo with the 

 multiplicity of their inquiries. Oodhoo, after many panegyrics on 

 their fidelity, delivered Creeshna's message to them, desiring them 

 not to mourn his absence, for, that there was no absence where 

 there was mental union, as was the case between him and them. 

 "Therefore, O Gopias! betake yourselves to Yug, or devotion; 

 for that is the point at which no such thing as absence takes place." 

 The Gopias, on hearing this, said to Oodhoo, " What manner of 

 conduct is this, or what justice does Creeshna use, to give Yug 

 (mental union) to us, and Bhook (corporeal union) to the women of 

 Mathura? Alas! there is no mention made of us in Creeshna's as- 

 semblies? Does he ever recollect that night in which we forsook 

 our husbands and children to share his beloved embrace? Will he 

 ever mitigate the torments of separation which we now suffer? As 

 for ourselves, we do not for a single moment forget those nights 

 wherein we obtained our hearts desire, and surely, O Oodhoo! you 

 will not fail to tell Creeshna of our inexpressible misery." Oodhoo 

 stayed some months in Bindreben, to console and comfort the Go- 

 pias, and satisfied them greatly by again and again repeating the 

 words of Creeshna, insomuch, that, to the people of Bindreben, 

 his stay appeared but for a moment. Transported with passion, 

 they shewed Oodhoo the places in the wood and by the water-side 

 where they had tasted happiness with Creeshna Oodhoo was in- 

 finitely pleased with their constancy, and assured them, in his turn, 

 that Creeshna never had so much love and attachment to Lakshma, 

 whose pure body is all one fragrance, and the bedam (almond) 

 beneath whose foot for ever blows, as for them: that Lakshma had 

 never known, even in a dream, that entire satisfaction which they 

 had enjoyed with him awake: that, for himself, he only wished God 



