JOURNAL 
or the 
ASIATIC SOCIETY. 
— ♦ — 
Part I.— HISTORY, LITERATURE, &e. 
No. IV.— 1872. 
The. Tirthas of Vrindd-vana and Gokula. — By F. S. Gkowsh, M. A., 
B. C. S. 
1. Vrinda'-vana. 
Some six miles above Mathurd is a point where the right hank of the 
Jamuna assumes the appearance of a peninsula, owing to the eccentricity of 
the stream, which first makes an abrupt turn to the north and then as sud- 
den a return upon its accustomed southern course, Here, washed on throe 
of its sides by the sacred Hood, stands the town of Brinda-ban, at the present 
day a rich and increasing municipality and for many centuries past one of 
the most holy places of the Hindus. A little higher up the stream, a similar 
promontory occurs, and in both cases the curious formation is traditionally 
ascribed to the resentment of Baladeva. He, it is said, forgetful one day of 
his habitual reserve, and emulous of his younger brother’s popular graces, 
led out the Gopis for a dance upon the sands. But he performed his part 
so badly, that tire Jamuna could not forbear from taunting him with his 
failure, and recommending him never again to exhibit so clumsy an imita- 
tion of Krishna’s agile movements. The stalwart god was much vexed at 
tins criticism and, taking up the heavy plough which he had but that mo- 
ment laid aside, he drew with it so deep a furrow from the shore that the 
unfortunate river perforce fell into it, was drawn helplessly away and has 
never since been able to recover its original channel. 
Such is the local rendering of the legend ; but in the PurSnas and other 
early Sanskrit authorities, the story is differently told, in this wise ; that as 
Balarama was roaming through the woods of Brinda-ban, he found concealed 
in the cleft of a kadamb tree some spirituous liquor, which he at once con- 
sumed with his usual avidity. Heated by intoxication he longed above all 
40 
