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Her father, however, erected a Soombere (a pavilion) for her, and 

 in the middle of the Soombere was placed a butt or target, and on 

 the top of the butt a fish, with this express condition, that whoever 

 should make his arrow hit the fish, by taking aim through a vessel 

 of water, should have her for a wife ; and all the rajahs and chiefs, 

 who came to court her, were introduced into the Soombere, and a 

 bow and arrow were put into their hands. Rajah Magende, and 

 Bheema, and Doorjoodhen, and Kerne, and others, exerted their 

 strongest efforts in vain. " Creeshna, the master of all hearts, 

 knew the secret wish of my heart, took his aim through the vase of 

 water, and easily hit the fish. When I put the Mooktee-Mala 

 round Creeshna's neck, all the others burnt with rage ; but Creeshna 

 lifted me into his carriage, and Darek drove us away with the ut- 

 most rapidity. His rivals followed us in chariots and on elephants, 

 and their fleetest horses ; but, on his very first attack, they all faced 

 about and fled. Thence Creeshna, like the sun bursting from 

 Oodachel to perform his western journey, went to Dwaraka, the 

 beauty of which is not now to be described. My father sent a mag- 

 nificent portion after me, but I do not presume to call myself his 

 wife ; I am one of his humble attendants and slaves." After this, 

 the other 16,000 wives related, one by one, the history of their cap- 

 tivity under Bhoom-Assoor, together with the death of that tyrant 

 by the hand of Creeshna, and added, that, from that time, they 

 were become the lowest of his slaves. 



Towards the close of Creeshna's sojourning among mortals, 

 Vasudeva and Devaci began fully to comprehend the divine cha- 

 racter of Creeshna, and acknowledged hiui"fbr the Creator, Pre- 

 server, and Destroyer, of the world ; for* before they had been 

 prevented from understanding by the power of Maya. After 

 Creeshna had one day satisfied Vasudeva on this head, he went 

 with Ram to see his mother Devaci, who received them with the 



