॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ सप्तपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः - ५७ ॥
|
Discourse LVII
Syamantaka stolen; Śatadhanvā killed and Akrūra recalled to Dvārakā (Preamble)
|
श्रीशुक उवाच ।
विज्ञातार्थोऽपि गोविन्दो दग्धानाकर्ण्य पाण्डवान् ।
कुन्तीं च कुल्यकरणे सह रामो ययौ कुरून् ॥ १॥
भीष्मं कृपं सविदुरं गान्धारीं द्रोणमेव च ।
तुल्यदुःखौ च सङ्गम्य हा कष्टमिति होचतुः ॥ २॥
|
Śrī Śuka began again : Hearing about the sons of Pāṇḍu and Kuntī having been burnt (to death in a house of lac built for them and subsequently set on fire by Duryodhana), although the truth (about their having escaped unscathed in good time before the house was set on fire) was fully known to Him (omniscient as He was), Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Protector of cows) proceeded to (Hastināpura, the capital of) the kingdom of the Kurus, accompanied by Balarāma, for a friendly inquiry after their family affairs (by way of condolence). (1)
Meeting Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, Vidura and Gāndhārī (wife of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra) as well as Droṇa, and equally sharing their grief, so the tradition goes, the Lord said, "Ah, what a pity !" (2) (1-2)
|
|
लब्ध्वैतदन्तरं राजन् शतधन्वानमूचतुः ।
अक्रूरकृतवर्माणौ मणिः कस्मान्न गृह्यते ॥ ३॥
योऽस्मभ्यं सम्प्रतिश्रुत्य कन्यारत्नं विगर्ह्य नः ।
कृष्णायादान्न सत्राजित्कस्माद्भ्रातरमन्वियात् ॥ ४॥
एवं भिन्नमतिस्ताभ्यां सत्राजितमसत्तमः ।
शयानमवधील्लोभात्स पापः क्षीणजीवितः ॥ ५॥
स्त्रीणां विक्रोशमानानां क्रन्दन्तीनामनाथवत् ।
हत्वा पशून् सौनिकवन्मणिमादाय जग्मिवान् ॥ ६॥
|
Seizing this opportunity (afforded by the absence of Śrī Kṛṣṇa), O king, Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā (another leading Vādava and a devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who hated Satrājit for his having calumniated Śrī Kṛṣṇa) said to Śatadhanvā (who had a malice prepense), "Why should not the gem be taken possession of (at this opportune moment) ? (3)
Why should not Satrājit—who having solemnly promised us his jewel of a daughter, yet disregarding us, gave it away to Śrī Kṛṣṇa—(be made to) follow (the fate of) Prasena (his brother) ?" (4)
His mind having thus been poisoned by them, that vile and most wicked fellow, whose life had (now) been spent, murdered Satrājit (in cold blood) out of greed while he was asleep. (5)
Having made short work of Satrājit (even) as a butcher would slaughter animals, and taking the gem in the midst of the womenfolk who were (all) screaming and wailing as though masterless, Śatadhanvā withdrew. (6) (3-6)
|
|
सत्यभामा च पितरं हतं वीक्ष्य शुचार्पिता ।
व्यलपत्तात तातेति हा हतास्मीति मुह्यती ॥ ७॥
तैलद्रोण्यां मृतं प्रास्य जगाम गजसाह्वयम् ।
कृष्णाय विदितार्थाय तप्ताऽऽचख्यौ पितुर्वधम् ॥ ८॥
तदाकर्ण्येश्वरौ राजन्ननुसृत्य नृलोकताम् ।
अहो नः परमं कष्टमित्यस्राक्षौ विलेपतुः ॥ ९॥
आगत्य भगवांस्तस्मात्सभार्यः साग्रजः पुरम् ।
शतधन्वानमारेभे हन्तुं हर्तुं मणिं ततः ॥ १०॥
|
Overwhelmed with grief to behold her father slain, Satyabhāmā too piteously wailed saying "Ah father, dear father, I am undone!" and fainting (at intervals). (7)
Consigning the deceased to a trough full of oil (to guard against decomposition), the afflicted lady drove (all the way) to Hastināpura (the city bearing a name denoting the elephant) and reported to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who was (already) aware of the fact (omniscient as He was), the death of her father. (8)
Hearing the (sad) news and following the practice of the human world, O Parikṣit, the two almighty Brothers wailed with tears in Their eyes, exclaiming: "Alas, a great calamity has befallen us." (9)
Returning (forthwith) from Hastināpura to Dwārakā alongwith His consort and elder Brother, the Lord made preparations to kill Śatadhanvā and recover the gem from him. (10) (7-10)
|
|
सोऽपि कृष्णोद्यमं ज्ञात्वा भीतः प्राणपरीप्सया ।
साहाय्ये कृतवर्माणमयाचत स चाब्रवीत् ॥ ११॥
नाहमीश्वरयोः कुर्यां हेलनं रामकृष्णयोः ।
को नु क्षेमाय कल्पेत तयोर्वृजिनमाचरन् ॥ १२॥
कंसः सहानुगोऽपीतो यद्द्वेषात्त्याजितः श्रिया ।
जरासन्धः सप्तदश संयुगान् विरथो गतः ॥ १३॥
प्रत्याख्यातः स चाक्रूरं पार्ष्णिग्राहमयाचत ।
सोऽप्याह को विरुध्येत विद्वानीश्वरयोर्बलम् ॥ १४॥
य इदं लीलया विश्वं सृजत्यवति हन्ति च ।
चेष्टां विश्वसृजो यस्य न विदुर्मोहिताजया ॥ १५॥
यः सप्तहायनः शैलमुत्पाट्यैकेन पाणिना ।
दधार लीलया बाल उच्छिलीन्ध्रमिवार्भकः ॥ १६॥
नमस्तस्मै भगवते कृष्णायाद्भुतकर्मणे ।
अनन्तायादिभूताय कूटस्थायात्मने नमः ॥ १७॥
प्रत्याख्यातः स तेनापि शतधन्वा महामणिम् ।
तस्मिन् न्यस्याश्वमारुह्य शतयोजनगं ययौ ॥ १८॥
|
Alarmed to know of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's plans (to kill him) and in his anxiety to save his life, Śatadhanvā too solicited Kṛtavarmā for help and the latter replied (as follows): (11)
"I dare not cross the two almighty Brothers. Having given offence to Them, who can as a matter of fact hope to live in peace? (12)
Karhsa was shorn of (all) his glory through enmity with Them and met his end alongwith his followers. (Nay,) Jarāsandha (the powerful ruler of Magadha and father-in-law of Karhsa) escaped (with life) at the end of (each of his) seventeen encounters (with Them), deprived (even) of his chariot." (13)
Having been refused help (in these words by Kṛtavarmā), he next sought Akrūra for help. Akrūra too replied, "Knowing the strength of the two divine Brothers, who will dare antagonize Them? (14)
Hail to the celebrated Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa of marvellous deeds, who creates, preserves and dissolves the universe by way of sport; nay, deluded by whose Māyā (His beginningless Energy), (even) the progenitors of the world cannot comprehend His activity; who, having uprooted a (whole) mountain (Govardhana) (even) as a seven-year-old boy, held it up in one hand with as much ease as an infant would pluck up and hold a mushroom; Hail to that immortal and immutable Self, the most ancient Being!" (15—17)
Refused help even by Akrūra, Śatadhanvā deposited the valuable gem with him and, riding a horse capable of traversing (in a single journey) one hundred Yojanas (eight hundred miles), left (Dwārakā). (18) (11-18)
|
|
गरुडध्वजमारुह्य रथं रामजनार्दनौ ।
अन्वयातां महावेगैरश्वै राजन् गुरुद्रुहम् ॥ १९॥
मिथिलायामुपवने विसृज्य पतितं हयम् ।
पद्भ्यामधावत्सन्त्रस्तः कृष्णोऽप्यन्वद्रवद्रुषा ॥ २०॥
पदातेर्भगवांस्तस्य पदातिस्तिग्मनेमिना ।
चक्रेण शिर उत्कृत्य वाससोर्व्यचिनोन्मणिम् ॥ २१॥
अलब्धमणिरागत्य कृष्ण आहाग्रजान्तिकम् ।
वृथा हतः शतधनुर्मणिस्तत्र न विद्यते ॥ २२॥
तत आह बलो नूनं स मणिः शतधन्वना ।
कस्मिंश्चित्पुरुषे न्यस्तस्तमन्वेष पुरं व्रज ॥ २३॥
अहं विदेहमिच्छामि द्रष्टुं प्रियतमं मम ।
इत्युक्त्वा मिथिलां राजन् विवेश यदुनन्दनः ॥ २४॥
तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय मैथिलः प्रीतमानसः ।
अर्हयामास विधिवदर्हणीयं समर्हणैः ॥ २५॥
उवास तस्यां कतिचिन्मिथिलायां समा विभुः ।
मानितः प्रीतियुक्तेन जनकेन महात्मना ।
ततोऽशिक्षद्गदां काले धार्तराष्ट्रः सुयोधनः ॥ २६॥
केशवो द्वारकामेत्य निधनं शतधन्वनः ।
अप्राप्तिं च मणेः प्राह प्रियायाः प्रियकृद्विभुः ॥ २७॥
ततः स कारयामास क्रिया बन्धोर्हतस्य वै ।
साकं सुहृद्भिर्भगवान् या याः स्युः साम्परायिकाः ॥ २८॥
|
Mounting Their car with a flag bearing the device of Garuḍa (the king of birds) and drawn by four horses possessing extraordinary speed, O king, Balarāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa (who is solicited by all men) drove in pursuit of Śatadhanvā (the slayer of Their father-in-law). (19)
Leaving the horse, that dropped down (exhausted) in an orchard in the outskirts of Mithilā (the capital of the Janakas), Śatadhanvā took to his heels, greatly alarmed; and Śrī Kṛṣṇa too chased him in rage. (20)
Lopping off his head with His sharp-edged discus, the Lord, (also) moving on foot in fairness to the enemy, who was going on foot, looked for the gem in his upper and lower garments. (21)
Śrī Kṛṣṇa, by whom the gem could not be found (with the slain), returned (to Their car) and said to His elder Brother (Balarāma), "In vain has Śatadhanvā been killed (by Me); for the gem is not with him!" (22)
Thereupon Balarāma replied, "Surely that gem must have been deposited by Śatadhanvā with somebody (at Dwārakā). (Therefore) return to Dwārakā (and) trace him. (23)
I (for my part) long to see the king of the Videha territory, my most beloved friend." Observing thus, Balarāma (a scion of Yadu) entered Mithilā, O Parikṣit! (24)
Delighted at heart to see him, the king of Mithilā rose all of a sudden (from his seat) and worshipped Balarāma (who was worthy of adoration) according to the scriptural ordinance with appropriate presents. (25)
Honoured by the high-souled Janaka, who was full of love (for him), Balarāma (who was of an independent mind) sojourned in the aforesaid city for a number of years. (Later on) at the opportune time Suyodhana, the (eldest) son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (and the leader of the Kauravas), learnt the use of a mace at his feet. (26)
Reaching Dwārakā (on the other side), Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa related to Satyabhāmā (His beloved spouse) the story of His having slain Śatadhanvā and (nevertheless) of His not finding the gem (with him), anxious as He was to please her (with that comforting news). (27)
Then, with the co-operation of His kinsmen, the aforesaid Lord caused to be performed in an appropriate manner all the obsequies that were conducive to the welfare in the other world of His murdered father-in-law. (28) (19-28)
|
|
अक्रूरः कृतवर्मा च श्रुत्वा शतधनोर्वधम् ।
व्यूषतुर्भयवित्रस्तौ द्वारकायाः प्रयोजकौ ॥ २९॥
अक्रूरे प्रोषितेऽरिष्टान्यासन् वै द्वारकौकसाम् ।
शारीरा मानसास्तापा मुहुर्दैविकभौतिकाः ॥ ३०॥
इत्यङ्गोपदिशन्त्येके विस्मृत्य प्रागुदाहृतम् ।
मुनिवासनिवासे किं घटेतारिष्टदर्शनम् ॥ ३१॥
देवेऽवर्षति काशीशः श्वफल्कायागताय वै ।
स्वसुतां गान्दिनीं प्रादात्ततोऽवर्षत्स्म काशिषु ॥ ३२॥
तत्सुतस्तत्प्रभावोऽसावक्रूरो यत्र यत्र ह ।
देवोऽभिवर्षते तत्र नोपतापा न मारिकाः ॥ ३३॥
इति वृद्धवचः श्रुत्वा नैतावदिह कारणम् ।
इति मत्वा समानाय्य प्राहाक्रूरं जनार्दनः ॥ ३४॥
पूजयित्वाभिभाष्यैनं कथयित्वा प्रियाः कथाः ।
विज्ञाताखिलचित्तज्ञः स्मयमान उवाच ह ॥ ३५॥
ननु दानपते न्यस्तस्त्वय्यास्ते शतधन्वना ।
स्यमन्तको मणिः श्रीमान् विदितः पूर्वमेव नः ॥ ३६॥
सत्राजितोऽनपत्यत्वाद्गृह्णीयुर्दुहितुः सुताः ।
दायं निनीयापः पिण्डान् विमुच्यर्णं च शेषितम् ॥ ३७॥
तथापि दुर्धरस्त्वन्यैस्त्वय्यास्तां सुव्रते मणिः ।
किन्तु मामग्रजः सम्यङ्न प्रत्येति मणिं प्रति ॥ ३८॥
दर्शयस्व महाभाग बन्धूनां शान्तिमावह ।
अव्युच्छिन्ना मखास्तेऽद्य वर्तन्ते रुक्मवेदयः ॥ ३९॥
एवं सामभिरालब्धः श्वफल्कतनयो मणिम् ।
आदाय वाससाच्छन्नं ददौ सूर्यसमप्रभम् ॥ ४०॥
स्यमन्तकं दर्शयित्वा ज्ञातिभ्यो रज आत्मनः ।
विमृज्य मणिना भूयस्तस्मै प्रत्यर्पयत्प्रभुः ॥ ४१॥
|
Sore stricken with fear to hear the news of Śatadhanvā having been slain (by the Lord), Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā, that had instigated Śatadhanvā (to murder Satrājit and take away his gem), went out of Dwārakā (to escape His wrath). (29)
Akrūra having gone abroad, portentous phenomena foreboding misfortune appeared before (the eyes of) the residents of Dwārakā and agonies, (both) physical and mental, (nay,) those brought about by divine agencies and those caused by other living beings overtook them again and again ever since. (30)
So declare some historians (Vaiśampāyana and others), forgetting what has been stated (by me) before, O dear Parikṣit! Is it (ever) possible that evil portents should be seen in the (very) home of the Lord who is the (one) Abode of ascetics (that are capable of counteracting all evils by their holy presence)? (31)
"(Once upon a time) when Indra (the god of rain) did not pour seasonal showers (in his kingdom), the ruler of Kāśi (the modern Vārāṇasi) gave away with due ceremony to Śwaphalka (the father of Akrūra), (recently) arrived (at his capital), his own daughter, Gāndinī (by name); thereupon Indra sent down showers in the kingdom of Kāśi. (32)
Wherever stays the said Akrūra, Śwaphalka's son, who has inherited his father's virtue, they say, Indra pours showers all round; neither calamities nor epidemics appear there." (33)
Hearing the above-quoted words of the elders and though recognizing that the absence of Akrūra was not the only cause of the evil portents, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa (who is solicited by all men) had Akrūra duly brought back (to Dwārakā) and spoke to him. (34)
The Lord, who was not only omniscient but knew the mind (of all too), received him with respect, admonished him and addressed sweet words to him and (then) smilingly said, so the tradition goes:—(35)
"That the glorious Syamantaka gem surely lay deposited with you by (the deceased) Śatadhanvā was already known to us, O master of charities! (36)
Satrājit having left no male issue, (it is but meet that) the sons of his daughter (Satyabhāmā) should offer oblations of water and rice (to the spirit of the deceased) and, paying off his debts, should inherit the rest of his property. (37)
Yet let the gem—which cannot be easily maintained by others—remain with you, strict in the observance of religious vows. My elder brother (Balarāma), however, does not (fully) trust me in the matter of the gem (and suspects that it has been got removed by me). (38)
(Therefore, pray,) show it (tous) and (thereby) bring relief to your relations (Balarāma, Satyabhāmā and Jāmbavati). (I know) your sacrificial performances are going on unceasingly these days on altars of gold (thereby betraying the existence of the Syamantaka gem with you: for you could not otherwise get so much gold). (39)
Won over by gentle words in this way, Akrūra (Śwaphalka's son) brought and delivered the gem, which was brilliant as the sun, wrapped in a piece of cloth. (40)
Having shown the Syamantaka to His kinsmen (Balarāma and others) and rubbed off through the gem the blame resting on Himself, the Lord then gave it back to Akrūra. (41) (29-41)
|
|
यस्त्वेतद्भगवत ईश्वरस्य विष्णो-
र्वीर्याढ्यं वृजिनहरं सुमङ्गलं च ।
आख्यानं पठति शृणोत्यनुस्मरेद्वा
दुष्कीर्तिं दुरितमपोह्य याति शान्तिम् ॥ ४२॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे स्यमन्तको-
पाख्याने सप्तपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः ॥ ५७॥
|
He who simply reads, listens to or ponders this most blessed story replete with the exploits of the all-powerful Lord Viṣṇu—a story which destroys all sin—gets rid of his evil reputation and sin and attains (lasting) peace. (42)
Thus ends the fifty-seventh 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 Paramahariṣa-Sarhhitā. (42)
|