-
"Oh Elephant-Faced Deity, Obviator Of Difficulties, Of Exalted Fame
Resplendent,
Grant As A Boon, Pure Language, Wisdom, And Felicity
May be much
promoted.
Thou on whose two celestial feet the world is gazing, worshipping
both day and night,
O
Mother of the universe, grant unto me, remembering thee, true skill
and utterance."
The "Ocean of Love" gives a full account of the various incarnations
of Krishna, the favourite divinity of the Hindoos, and opens with
the scene of his birth. Kans, his uncle, has placed guards, in order
that the child may be killed at his first appearance, it having been
predicted that Kans himself is to fall by the hands of Krishna. The
Cashmerian artist - whose powers of colouring were his chief
recommendation - has depicted the moment when Vasadeo and Devakee,
the father and mother, viewing Krishna, with long-drawn sighs, both
begin to say, "If, by some means, we could send away this child, then
it would escape the guilty Kans." Vasadeo says, "Without destiny none
can preserve him; the writing of Fate, that only will be accomplished."
Destiny being propitious, the guards fall asleep upon their posts,
as shown in the accompanying design, and another child is substituted
for Krishna. He is afterwards brought up as a herdsman, and spends
his childhood among the milkmaids of Braj, upon whom he plays all
sorts of tricks. "One day the divine Krishna played upon the flute
in the forest, when, hearing the sound of the instrument, all the
young women of Braj arose in confusion, and hastened and assembled
in one place.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 231 of 303
Words from 62397 to 62660
of 82277
