GOKUL. 
185 
veri, who sadly neglected the management of the 
land and of the herds and flocks, in consequence of 
their attention being constantly attracted by the 
very beautiful women who inhabited this part of the 
country. The father having tried chastisement re- 
peatedly and in vain, complained of his misfortune 
to the principal Brahmin of the place, a very ve- 
nerable and wise man, named Nared ; and this holy 
person undertook to reprove them for their want of duty 
and to punish them if they heeded him not. Having 
formed this resolution, Nared accompanied the farmer 
to the fields to seek for his sons, and found them 
reclining upon a flowery bank by the side of the Jumna, 
each extolling the perfections of the beauty who had 
gained the ascendant in his affections. The re- 
verend Brahmin hesitated not to remonstrate angrily 
with them concerning their idleness, and endeavoured 
to impress upon them that being already betrothed to 
damsels whom they had not seen, they were guilty 
of great imprudence in suffering their affections to 
be enslaved by girls who were so greatly their in- 
feriors in degree, and whose beauty was beheld by 
every passer by, since it is the custom of the lower 
orders to walk unveiled. The reprobate youths, in- 
stead of receiving with respect and submission the 
reproof of the holy man, laughed aloud at this lecture, 
and bid him go preach to the cows; at which 
indignity the Brahmin became so justly incensed 
that he hesitated not to inflict upon them such a 
R 3 
