I70 CRADLE TALES OF HINDUISM
mango-blossoms filled the air, and red flowers covered the asoka-tree, and the long delicate buds of the leaf-almond were about to burst into tender green, on this very day, a large ram that had seemed to be feeding quietly in the meadow, saw Krishna coming, and, lowering its head, ran forward to butt Him with its horns. So large was the animal, and so vicious and determined his onset, that the Lord must have been killed on the spot, had He succeeded in touching Him. But that Divine Intelligence was never baffled. Even in the height of a frolic, He could not be found off guard. The young Cowherd waited till the great sheep had almost reached Him. Then, seizing him easily by the neck. He swung him round and round, and finally dashed him against a tree. Possibly the garments of those standing near were stained with the blood of the demon, or it may be that the fury of the hunter came upon them, and they "blooded" one another. How- ever this was, the night is yearly celebrated, by burning a rude image of the demon, put together with sticks and knots of grass. And water coloured with red powder is taken to represent the blood of Metrasur, and all the members of the family receive this, in blessing, on their heads ; and next day in the streets, it is thrown by the boys on the garments of passers-by. Thus is commemorated the rejoicing of the
