॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ षट्पञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः - ५६ ॥
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Discourse LVI
The story of the Syamantaka gem; Śrī Kṛṣṇa weds
Jāmbavatī and Satyabhāmā (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
सत्राजितः स्वतनयां कृष्णाय कृतकिल्बिषः ।
स्यमन्तकेन मणिना स्वयमुद्यम्य दत्तवान् ॥ १॥
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Śrī Śuka began again : Having done a wrong (to Śrī Kṛṣṇa), Satrājit gave away to Śrī Kṛṣṇa of his own accord after due exertion his daughter (Satyabhāmā) alongwith the Syamantaka gem. (1) (1)
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राजोवाच ।
सत्राजितः किमकरोद्ब्रह्मन् कृष्णस्य किल्बिषम् ।
स्यमन्तकः कुतस्तस्य कस्माद्दत्ता सुता हरेः ॥ २॥
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The king (Parikṣit) submitted : What wrong did Satrājit perpetrate against Śrī Kṛṣṇa, O holy one ? Wherefrom was the Syamantaka gem got by him and why did he give away his daughter to Śrī Hari ? (2) (2)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
आसीत्सत्राजितः सूर्यो भक्तस्य परमः सखा ।
प्रीतस्तस्मै मणिं प्रादात्सूर्यस्तुष्टः स्यमन्तकम् ॥ ३॥
स तं बिभ्रन् मणिं कण्ठे भ्राजमानो यथा रविः ।
प्रविष्टो द्वारकां राजंस्तेजसा नोपलक्षितः ॥ ४॥
तं विलोक्य जना दूरात्तेजसा मुष्टदृष्टयः ।
दीव्यतेऽक्षैर्भगवते शशंसुः सूर्यशङ्किताः ॥ ५॥
नारायण नमस्तेऽस्तु शङ्खचक्रगदाधर ।
दामोदरारविन्दाक्ष गोविन्द यदुनन्दन ॥ ६॥
एष आयाति सविता त्वां दिदृक्षुर्जगत्पते ।
मुष्णन् गभस्तिचक्रेण नृणां चक्षूंषि तिग्मगुः ॥ ७॥
नन्वन्विच्छन्ति ते मार्गं त्रिलोक्यां विबुधर्षभाः ।
ज्ञात्वाद्य गूढं यदुषु द्रष्टुं त्वां यात्यजः प्रभो ॥ ८॥
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Śrī Śuka replied : The sun-god, though adorable in the eyes of Satrājit, his devotee, behaved as a loving friend to him. Pleased with him, the sun-god bestowed on him the Syamantaka gem. (3)
Wearing that gem about his neck and shining as the sun (because of that gem), he entered Dwārakā (presumably from his place of worship in the outskirts of the city) but could not be identified, O king, through his (dazzling) brilliance. (4)
Gazing at him from a distance, their eyes blinded with his splendour, and suspecting him to be the sun-god, people reported his arrival to the Lord, who was playing at dice (as follows):—(5)
"Hail to You, O Nārāyaṇa, the Wielder of a conch, discus and mace ! O Lord, who (once) had a cord tied about Your abdomen (by mother Yaśodā by way of punishment), O lotus-eyed One, O Protector of cows, O Scion of Yadu ! (6)
Dazzling the eyes of men with his rays, here comes the glorious sun-god with intent to see You, O Lord of the universe ! (7)
Indeed the foremost of the gods (Brahmā and others) in the three worlds seek the way to You (but fail to find You). Having come to know You as living incognito at present among the Yadus, the sun-god (who is self-existent) comes to see You, O Lord." (8) (3-8)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
निशम्य बालवचनं प्रहस्याम्बुजलोचनः ।
प्राह नासौ रविर्देवः सत्राजिन्मणिना ज्वलन् ॥ ९॥
सत्राजित्स्वगृहं श्रीमत्कृतकौतुकमङ्गलम् ।
प्रविश्य देवसदने मणिं विप्रैर्न्यवेशयत् ॥ १०॥
दिने दिने स्वर्णभारानष्टौ स सृजति प्रभो ।
दुर्भिक्षमार्यरिष्टानि सर्पाधिव्याधयोऽशुभाः ।
न सन्ति मायिनस्तत्र यत्रास्तेऽभ्यर्चितो मणिः ॥ ११॥
स याचितो मणिं क्वापि यदुराजाय शौरिणा ।
नैवार्थकामुकः प्रादाद्याच्ञाभङ्गमतर्कयन् ॥ १२॥
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Śrī Śuka continued : Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the lotus-eyed One) heartily laughed to hear the report of those unknowing persons and observed, "He is not the sun-god, it is (only) Satrājit glowing with his gem." (9)
Entering in state his own splendid residence, which had been consecrated as a mark of festivity, Satrājit caused the gem to be (duly) installed by Brāhmaṇas in the apartment intended for gods. (10)
The gem, O lord, yielded from day to day gold weighing eight Bhāras (equivalent to three maunds and five seers approximately). Famine, pestilence and (other) calamities, serpents, mental worries and bodily ailments and other evils and rogues no longer exist where the gem stands worshipped. (11)
Though solicited once by Śrī Kṛṣṇa (who thought that the king was the fittest person to possess such a wonderful gem), Satrājit, covetous as he was of wealth, did not hand it over to Ugrasena (the ruler of the Yadus), not foreseeing the (evil) consequences of rejecting the request (of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person). (12) (9-12)
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तमेकदा मणिं कण्ठे प्रतिमुच्य महाप्रभम् ।
प्रसेनो हयमारुह्य मृगयां व्यचरद्वने ॥ १३॥
प्रसेनं सहयं हत्वा मणिमाच्छिद्य केसरी ।
गिरिं विशन् जाम्बवता निहतो मणिमिच्छता ॥ १४॥
सोऽपि चक्रे कुमारस्य मणिं क्रीडनकं बिले ।
अपश्यन् भ्रातरं भ्राता सत्राजित्पर्यतप्यत ॥ १५॥
प्रायः कृष्णेन निहतो मणिग्रीवो वनं गतः ।
भ्राता ममेति तच्छ्रुत्वा कर्णे कर्णेऽजपन् जनाः ॥ १६॥
भगवांस्तदुपश्रुत्य दुर्यशो लिप्तमात्मनि ।
मार्ष्टुं प्रसेनपदवीमन्वपद्यत नागरैः ॥ १७॥
हतं प्रसेनमश्वं च वीक्ष्य केसरिणा वने ।
तं चाद्रिपृष्ठे निहतं ऋक्षेण ददृशुर्जनाः ॥ १८॥
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Wearing that gem of surpassing lustre about his neck, one day, Prasena (brother of Satrājit) went about a hunting on horseback in the forest. (13)
Having killed Prasena, horse and all, and snatched the gem (out of curiosity because of its uncommon lustre), a lion was, while entering its mountainous cave, made short work of by Jāmbavān (the celebrated king of bears of Rāmāyaṇa fame), who wished to have it. (14)
The latter for his part used the gem as a plaything for his boy. Not finding his brother (back), Satrājit, the other brother, felt very miserable. (15)
(He said to his own people,) "Surely my brother, who had gone to the forest with the gem about his neck, has been killed by Śrī Kṛṣṇa !" Hearing that, people (of a malicious disposition) spread the rumour in a whisper from ear to ear. (16)
When the Lord learnt this, He followed the tracks (of the horse carrying) Prasena alongwith some citizens (of Dwārakā) in order to wipe off the imputation cast on Him. (17)
Discovering (first) Prasena as well as his horse killed in the forest by a lion, people further saw the lion (itself) killed on the mountain side by a bear. (18) (13-18)
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ऋक्षराजबिलं भीममन्धेन तमसाऽऽवृतम् ।
एको विवेश भगवानवस्थाप्य बहिः प्रजाः ॥ १९॥
तत्र दृष्ट्वा मणिप्रेष्ठं बालक्रीडनकं कृतम् ।
हर्तुं कृतमतिस्तस्मिन्नवतस्थेऽर्भकान्तिके ॥ २०॥
तमपूर्वं नरं दृष्ट्वा धात्री चुक्रोश भीतवत् ।
तच्छ्रुत्वाभ्यद्रवत्क्रुद्धो जाम्बवान् बलिनां वरः ॥ २१॥
स वै भगवता तेन युयुधे स्वामिनाऽऽत्मनः ।
पुरुषं प्राकृतं मत्वा कुपितो नानुभाववित् ॥ २२॥
द्वन्द्वयुद्धं सुतुमुलमुभयोर्विजिगीषतोः ।
आयुधाश्मद्रुमैर्दोर्भिः क्रव्यार्थे श्येनयोरिव ॥ २३॥
आसीत्तदष्टाविंशाहमितरेतरमुष्टिभिः ।
वज्रनिष्पेषपरुषैरविश्रममहर्निशम् ॥ २४॥
कृष्णमुष्टिविनिष्पातनिष्पिष्टाङ्गोरुबन्धनः ।
क्षीणसत्त्वः स्विन्नगात्रस्तमाहातीव विस्मितः ॥ २५॥
जाने त्वां सर्वभूतानां प्राण ओजः सहो बलम् ।
विष्णुं पुराणपुरुषं प्रभविष्णुमधीश्वरम् ॥ २६॥
त्वं हि विश्वसृजां स्रष्टा सृज्यानामपि यच्च सत् ।
कालः कलयतामीशः पर आत्मा तथाऽऽत्मनाम् ॥ २७॥
यस्येषदुत्कलितरोषकटाक्षमोक्षै-
र्वर्त्मादिशत्क्षुभितनक्रतिमिङ्गिलोऽब्धिः ।
सेतुः कृतः स्वयश उज्ज्वलिता च लङ्का
रक्षः शिरांसि भुवि पेतुरिषुक्षतानि ॥ २८॥
इति विज्ञातविज्ञानं ऋक्षराजानमच्युतः ।
व्याजहार महाराज भगवान् देवकीसुतः ॥ २९॥
अभिमृश्यारविन्दाक्षः पाणिना शङ्करेण तम् ।
कृपया परया भक्तं प्रेमगम्भीरया गिरा ॥ ३०॥
मणिहेतोरिह प्राप्ता वयमृक्षपते बिलम् ।
मिथ्याभिशापं प्रमृजन्नात्मनो मणिनामुना ॥ ३१॥
इत्युक्तः स्वां दुहितरं कन्यां जाम्बवतीं मुदा ।
अर्हणार्थं स मणिना कृष्णायोपजहार ह ॥ ३२॥
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The Lord stationed the people outside and entered alone the fearful cave of Jāmbavān (the king of bears), covered with thick darkness. (19)
Espying there the excellent gem converted into a toy for an infant, and resolved to carry it away, the Lord waited there by side of the babe. (20)
The nurse shrieked as though afraid to see that wonderful human being (but really on perceiving the latter's intention to carry the gem away). Enraged to hear the scream, Jāmbavān, the foremost of the mighty, rushed to meet Him. (21)
Thinking Him to be an ordinary mortal and failing to perceive His greatness (divinity), Jāmbavān, full of rage, actually fought with the said almighty Lord, his own Master. (22)
A most tumultuous duel ensued between the two, keen as they were to overthrow each other, like a pair of hawks contending for a piece of flesh, and fought with weapons (such as a mace), rocks, trees and (bare) arms and (finally) struck each other with their fists—which fell as severely as the strokes of lightning. The combat raged day and night without a pause for (as many as) twenty-eight days. (23-24)
Having his many joints and muscles pounded with the strokes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's fists and his strength and courage (too) depleted and limbs perspiring (all over), Jāmbavān spoke to Him (thus), highly astonished (at this unexpected discomfiture, which he had never experienced before):—(25)
"I (now) conclude You to be (none else than) the all-powerful Viṣṇu, the most ancient Person, the suzerain Lord, (nay), the life-energy, the organic power, the strength of mind as well as the bodily strength of all created beings. (26)
Indeed You are the Creator (even) of Brahmā and others (the progenitors of the universe), as well as the Reality that underlies (as the material cause of) even created substances (such as the Mahat-tattva), the Ruler, in the form of the Time-Spirit, of those that control and destroy others, the supreme Self of (all) embodied souls. (27)
(I now understand) You are the same Lord Rāmacandra (my Master) to whom the ocean with its crocodiles and whales thrown into agitation by Your casting sidelong glances, marked with anger slightly kindled (by its refractoriness), allowed passage, yet by whom a bridge was constructed (at its own entreaty) as an embodiment of His own glory, (nay,) by whom (the fortress and city of) Laṅkā (the capital of Rāvaṇa, His arch-enemy) was set on fire, and severed by whose (unfailing) arrows the heads of ogres fell to the ground!" (28)
To His devotee, Jāmbavān (the king of bears), by whom His identity—which is all-consciousness (and bliss)—was thus directly perceived, O great king, the lotus-eyed Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Son of Devaki) spoke (as follows) in a voice deep with emotion, stroking him with His soothing hand out of supreme compassion:—(29-30)
"For the sake of this gem did we (the leading citizens of Dwārakā headed by Myself) arrive at (the mouth of) your cave, O chief of bears; whereas I came here (inside the cave) with a view to wiping off the false imputation against Me through that gem." (31)
Thus addressed (by Śrī Kṛṣṇa), he (Jāmbavān) joyfully gave away by way of worship his own daughter, Jāmbavati, alongwith the gem: so the tradition goes. (32) (19-32)
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अदृष्ट्वा निर्गमं शौरेः प्रविष्टस्य बिलं जनाः ।
प्रतीक्ष्य द्वादशाहानि दुःखिताः स्वपुरं ययुः ॥ ३३॥
निशम्य देवकी देवी रुक्मिण्यानकदुन्दुभिः ।
सुहृदो ज्ञातयोऽशोचन् बिलात्कृष्णमनिर्गतम् ॥ ३४॥
सत्राजितं शपन्तस्ते दुःखिता द्वारकौकसः ।
उपतस्थुर्महामायां दुर्गां कृष्णोपलब्धये ॥ ३५॥
तेषां तु देव्युपस्थानात्प्रत्यादिष्टाशिषा स च ।
प्रादुर्बभूव सिद्धार्थः सदारो हर्षयन् हरिः ॥ ३६॥
उपलभ्य हृषीकेशं मृतं पुनरिवागतम् ।
सह पत्न्या मणिग्रीवं सर्वे जातमहोत्सवाः ॥ ३७॥
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Not finding Śrī Kṛṣṇa (a scion of Śūrasena) return (ever) since He entered the cave and disappeared into it, the people (that had accompanied Him to its mouth and had been left behind by Him there) returned to their city (Dwārakā), full of grief, having waited (there) for (as many as) twelve days. (33)
Hearing (from them) that Śrī Kṛṣṇa had not come out of the cave (till then), Devakī (Śrī Kṛṣṇa's mother), the divine Rukmiṇī (Śrī Kṛṣṇa's premier Spouse) and Vasudeva as well as His (other) relations and kinsmen grieved for Him. (34)
Cursing Satrājit, the aforesaid citizens of Dwārakā, stricken (as they were) with grief, worshipped (prayed to) Goddess Durgā (known by the name of Candrabhāgā), the Supreme Energy (of the Lord), for the (safe) return of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (35)
Thanks to their worship of (and prayers to) the Goddess and the benediction pronounced (by the Goddess) in response to their prayer, as a matter of fact, the said Śrī Hari appeared (all of a sudden) in their midst accompanied by His (new) bride (Jāmbavati), and gladdening them (all by His dramatic appearance), His purpose (in the shape of recovery of the Syamantaka gem) having been accomplished. (36)
All were filled with great joy to find Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Ruler of the senses), as though returned to life after death, with His (new) bride and with the gem about His neck. (37) (33-37)
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सत्राजितं समाहूय सभायां राजसन्निधौ ।
प्राप्तिं चाख्याय भगवान् मणिं तस्मै न्यवेदयत् ॥ ३८॥
स चातिव्रीडितो रत्नं गृहीत्वावाङ्मुखस्ततः ।
अनुतप्यमानो भवनमगमत्स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ ३९॥
सोऽनुध्यायंस्तदेवाघं बलवद्विग्रहाकुलः ।
कथं मृजाम्यात्मरजः प्रसीदेद्वाच्युतः कथम् ॥ ४०॥
किं कृत्वा साधु मह्यं स्यान्न शपेद्वा जनो यथा ।
अदीर्घदर्शनं क्षुद्रं मूढं द्रविणलोलुपम् ॥ ४१॥
दास्ये दुहितरं तस्मै स्त्रीरत्नं रत्नमेव च ।
उपायोऽयं समीचीनस्तस्य शान्तिर्न चान्यथा ॥ ४२॥
एवं व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या सत्राजित्स्वसुतां शुभाम् ।
मणिं च स्वयमुद्यम्य कृष्णायोपजहार ह ॥ ४३॥
तां सत्यभामां भगवानुपयेमे यथाविधि ।
बहुभिर्याचितां शीलरूपौदार्यगुणान्विताम् ॥ ४४॥
भगवानाह न मणिं प्रतीच्छामो वयं नृप ।
तवास्तां देवभक्तस्य वयं च फलभागिनः ॥ ४५॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवाते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे स्यमन्तको-
पाख्याने षट्पञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः ॥ ५६॥
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Duly summoning Satrājit into the royal presence at court and having told him how He had recovered the gem, the Lord handed it over to him. (38)
Full of great shame he took the gem and with his head cast down returned home thence, repenting for his sin (in the shape of flouting the divine command and calumniating the Lord). (39)
Brooding over that sinful act (of his) alone and feeling nervous over the unpleasantness, created with the mighty (Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His followers), he thought (within himself), "How shall I be able to wipe off my guilt and how could Śrī Kṛṣṇa be conciliated? (40)
What course will prove expedient for me or what should be done so that people may not curse me, short-sighted, mean, stupid and covetous of wealth as I am? (41)
I shall give away to him my daughter, a (veritable) jewel among women, as well as the (Syamantaka) jewel. This will be the proper remedy as there will be no end of quarrel otherwise." (42)
Having thus resolved by recourse to reason, and moving in the matter himself, Satrājit made a present to Śrī Kṛṣṇa of his own blessed daughter as well as of the gem: so the tradition goes. (43)
The Lord espoused according to the scriptural ordinance the said girl, Satyabhāmā (by name), (who was) solicited by many and (was) gifted with an amiable disposition, comely appearance, magnanimity and other (similar) virtues. (44)
The Lord (however) said (as follows), O protector of men, "We would not accept the gem; let it remain with you, a devotee of the sun-god (who conferred it on you). We shall only enjoy its fruit (in the shape of the abundant gold it yields everyday." (45)
Thus ends the fifty-sixth discourse, forming part of the story of Syamantaka, in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Sarhhitā. (38-56)
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