Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/564

 528 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [ Chap. | We have already spoken of how Krisna goes in the disguise of a physician knowing Radha to be ill and on the pretext of feeling her pulse touches her hand, and is overjoyed. He sees her in the guise of a holy nun, and blesses her, before all present, while with side-long glances conveys to her secretly his deep love. Many similar devices are described. One day, Subala, one of the friends and companions of Krisna dressed as a girl, went to Radha privately and told her that Krishna was reminded of her at the sight of a champaka flower and it being day time he was not able to see her, and a fit of unconsciousness had came over him. On hearing this she immediately exchanged clothes with Subala and looking like a pretty shepherd-boy, with the shepherd’s crook in her hand, went to the pastoral grove leaving Subala in the house, dis- guised as a girl. There she saw Krisna lying on the earth unconscious and took him in her arms. At her touch his senses came back to him; but without looking at her he said “O Subala, tell me where is my Radha, the soul of my soul ?’’ Radha said “Look at me, I am your devoted servant. You do not recognise me!” and Krishna in raptures held her to his breast. = story But Radha is a princess. Occasionally an idea of the ‘ pearl-eplant Of her own position in contrast with that of a village-shepherd is not unnatural in her. One day the shepherds thought, if the cows were adorned with necklaces of pearls, how grand they would look! They applied to Krisha, who, sent Sudama, a fellow-shepherd, to Radha, asking her for a pearl. One pearl would be enough, he said. He would sow it in the ground and by his power create pearl-