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could now hope to see him no more, since he also was removed to 

 DAvaraka. Ram made himself acceptable to all, both old and young, 

 and particularly endeavoured to comfort and console the Gopias, 

 who were quite overpowered with joy at again beholding him, and 

 began to talk altogether concerning Creeshna, and at once to blame 

 and lament his absence ; then they asked after the children of the 

 eight Nayega and of the 16,000 Rajaguees, and wished them all 

 manner of happiness. Others desired to know if those 16,000 were 

 all dutiful and obedient wives ? and thus by degrees they worked 

 themselves into an agony of passion, and all wept and wailed ex- 

 ceedingly. Balhadur endeavoured to pacify them ; and, at last, 

 seeing there was no remedy but patience, and that he consoled 

 them to the utmost in his power in the name of Creeshna, they 

 began to be more tranquil. Balhadur stayed there the two months 

 of spring, and one morning he went to the banks of the Jumna, 

 the Gopias accompanying him. The soft wind blowing cool and 

 perfumed from the water, and its flowers playing a prelude to 

 desire, Balhadur, sometimes bathing in the stream and sometimes 

 recumbent on the bank, enjoyed all sorts of pleasure and delight 

 with the Gopias. Varuna, the Devata, now brought him a musi- 

 cal instrument, and Ram and all the Gopias became intoxicated 

 with the melody Avhich issued from that jungle ; they indulged in 

 violent fits of laughter, the effect of excessive pleasure, and sang 

 without any fear or restraint, till at length, what with singing, 

 dancing, and a thousand sportive gambols, they were all in a pro- 

 fuse perspiration, and it shone upon their cheeks like drops of 

 dew on the flowers. Ram, in his fit of intoxication, stretched out 

 his hand to the Jumna several times, and called upon the River to 

 come personally to him. After waiting some time, and receiving 

 no answer from the water, he grew angry, and said, " Jumna, 

 thou wilt presently appear when I shall have cut thee into seven 



