505 ON MOUNT CAUCASUS. 



placed round him many shepherdesses j the holy 

 man fixed his choice on one of them called Gopuli- 

 apsarasa : she retained his seed against her will, 

 and in due time was delivered of a boy at Gazni. 

 Here I shall observe, that this apsarasa, or celestial 

 nymph, having misbehaved at the court of Indra, 

 U'as doomed to live on earth, for a certain time, in 

 the character of a Gopdli or shepherdess. This pu- 

 nishment is often inflicted on them : and whilst on 

 earth they generally prostitute themselves to the 

 handsomest men ; but always destroy the embryo 

 3S soop as possible. In this however the Gopdh-ap- 

 sarasa did not succeed, because Garg a was of a su- 

 perior nature, being an incarnation of Maha'de'va. 

 The king of the Yavanas brought up the child in 

 his own place, and adopted him for his son : after 

 his death Ca'la-yavanad succeeded to the throne. 

 He longed after the ftrife of war, and having asked 

 the most respectable Brdhmens ; which were the 

 most powerful tribes in the country; Na'rada 

 pointed out to him the Vrfshnis and AiidhacaSy Cal- 

 YUN being joined by the Sdcas, Daradas^ Par adds, 

 Tangdns, Chafas, and all the petty tribes of rob- 

 bers, inhabiting the skirts of the snowy mountains, 

 advanced against Matliurd, Crishna having heard 

 of Maha'-deva's boon, was greatly alarmed ; and 

 attempted to enter into a negociation with Cal-yun, 

 but his overtures were rejected. He then convened 

 his friends and relations ; and having declared to 

 them in a few words, the critical situation they were 

 in; represented to them that they had to time to 

 lose, advised them to leave Mat'lmrd, and retire with 

 him to jPt^araca in Guijur-desa (near point Jigat), 

 He informed them also that Jara'-sandha (the 

 most powerful pringe in India at that time, and 

 whose daughter had married (CAi^sA) at the head of 

 the confederate kings, who had resolved to revenge 

 the death of Cans^, was advancing with an im- 

 mense 



