THE LIFE OF CREESHNA. 



PART THE THIRD. 





JL WENTY thousand and eight hundred rajahs of eminence, who 

 had been taken by Jarasandha, as men take beasts of the chase, 

 were now released from confinement. They had long indulged se- 

 cret, but vain, hopes that their children and friends would have 

 come to their aid ; but, finding none able to help them, they had at 

 last looked up to Creeshna, whose name and miracles they had 

 heard of while in prison, as their only resource. On obtaining their 

 liberty they immediately recognized their benefactor from the de- 

 scription they had heard of his person, viz. the Incarnate, conspi- 

 cuous with Geda, and Chakra, and Kernel, with a brilliant Koon- 

 del in his ear, and valuable chains of pearl around his neck, a 

 yellow robe circling his waist, and a crown of peacock's feathers 

 on his head ; and, all squalid as they were and overrun with un- 

 seemly hair, they threw themselves at his feet, uttering the most 

 lively expressions of gratitude, and calling him, amongst other 

 titles, Madhoo.* Creeshna expressed himself perfectly satisfied 

 with their repentance from the errors of their former pride before 

 their misfortunes, assuring them that he had more regard for those 

 who turned their minds towards him after wicked conduct, than even for 



* Madhoo means slayer of Madhoo Ditya. See Mahabbarat, 13 perb. p. 474. Halhed. 



