Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 2.djvu/148

 season did Creeshna bestow joy and satisfaction on all living creatures, and often as he touched his flute in the presence of the adoring gopias, one exclaimed, 'Happy animals, inhabiting Berjeben, who enjoy the sight of Creeshna!' Another said, 'O favoured stream of Jumna, and other transparent pools and fountains, whence Creeshna deigns to drink!' Another exclaimed, 'Melodious above all is the flute which resides for ever on his lip!' Another said, 'O happy trees of this wood, under whose thick shade Creeshna delights to slumber!' Another said, 'Honoured above all existing animals are these cattle which the Creator himself leads to pasture!' Thus did the gopias plunge into the fathomless ocean of love, and admire him who had on a yellow robe, a peacock's feather on his head, a brilliant rosary round his neck, and a flute on his lip; and they said to each other, 'How happy are we whom he condescends to love!' In short, by their purity of faith, and zeal of attachment, their hearts at length became illuminated, and they knew and comprehended that Creeshna was the Creator of the World."

The Bhagavat Purana gives this personal description:—"He (Akroon) saw also, standing by him, more distinctly, the form of Creeshna, of a black colour, wearing a yellow robe, beautiful to behold; with ruby lips, his neck smooth as white coral, his arms very long and slender, his breast high and bold, his waist of elegant proportion, his legs beautiful beyond expression, his foot like the lotus flower, and his nails red. He had a jewel of inestimable value in his crown, a chowder round his waist, a zennar upon his shoulder, a string of flowers round his neck, a splendid koondel in his ear, the kowstek-men on his arm, and the shankhe, chakra, geda, and kemel, in his hands."

The work containing the history of this god is very interesting: some of the songs are beautiful, especially those in honour of him who, to the Hindūs, brought peace and happiness upon earth. In many respects the history is thought by Maurice, in his "Indian Antiquities," to resemble that of our Saviour; on which subject more will be said as we consider another form of Krishn[)u], as the destroyer of the serpent.