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1872.] Balm Bajendralala Mitra — A Picnic in Ancient India. 
“ Having thus issued his orders to the sea, he commenced to play with 
Arjuna, while Satyabhama, incited by a wink of Krishna, began to throw 
water on Narada. Then Balarama, tottering with drink, with a-reat 
glee fell into the water, and beckoning the charming daughter of Bcvata by 
his side, took her by the hand. The sons of Krishna and the leading Bhai- 
mas, who belonged to the party of Kama, joyous and bent on pleasure, un- 
mindlul of their dresses and ornaments, and excited by drink, followed him into 
the sea. The Bhaimas belonging to the party of Krishna, headed by Nisha- 
tha and Ulmuka, arrayed in many-colourod garments and rich jewels and be- 
decked with garlands of parijiita flowers, with bodies painted with sandal wood 
paste and unguents, excited by wine, and carrying aquatic musical instruments 
in their hands, began to sing songs appropriate for the occasion. By order 
ot Krishna, hundreds of courtezans, led by the heavenly Apsaras, played various 
pleasing tunes on water and other instruments. Always bent on love, these 
damsels, proficient in the art of playing on musical instruments in use on the 
aerial Ganges,* played on the instrument called laladardduraf and sweetly 
sang to its accompaniment. With eyes glorious as lotus buds and with chaplets 
of lotuses on their crowns, these courtezans of paradise appeared resplendent as 
new-blown lotuses. The surface of the sea was covered by the reflection of hun- 
dreds of moon-like feminine faces, seeming as if by divine wish thousands of 
moons suddenly shot forth in the firmament. The cloud-like sea was relieved 
by these damsels like dazzling streaks of the charming mistresses of the 
thunderbolt, — even as the rain-bearing cloud of the sky is set off by lightning. 
Krishna and Narada, with all those who wero on their side, began to pelt 
water on Bala and his party ; and they in their turn did the same on the 
party of Krishna. The wives of Bala and Krishna, excited by libations of 
arrack, followed their example, and squirted water in great glee with 
syringes in their hands. Some of the Bhaima ladies, over-weighted by 
the load both of love and wine, with crimson eyes and masculine garbs 
entertained themselves before the other ladies, squirting water. Seeing 
that the fun was getting fast and furious, Krishna of the discus-hand 
desired them to restrain themselves within bounds ; but ho himself 
immediately joined in play with Narada and Fartha to the music of the 
water instruments. Though they were ardently engaged in their entertain- 
ment, still the moment Krishna expressed his wish, the Bhaima ladies at once 
desisted, and joyously commenced to dance for the gratification of their 
lovers. 
“ On the conclusion of the dance, the considerate lord Krishna rose from 
the water, and, presenting unguents to the learned sage, put them on himself 
The Bhaimas, seeing him rise from the water, followed his example, and, put- 
* It is supposed that thero is a counterpart of the terrene Ganges in the air 
t I cannot find any description of this instrument in treatises on Music. 
