Source
Texts:
Satrâjit
Murdered, the Jewel Returned
Text
1
The son of
Vyâsa said: 'Though aware of what factually had
transpired went Krishna, hearing [of the rumor] that
the sons of Pându and queen Kuntî had burned to
death [in the house of lac], in order to answer to His
family obligations together with Balarâma to the Kuru
kingdom.
S'rî
Bâdarâyani said: Although Lord Govinda was fully
aware of what had actually occurred, when He heard reports
that the Pândavas and Queen Kuntî had burned to
death, He went with Lord Balarâma to the kingdom of
the Kurus to fulfill the family obligations expected of
Him.
Text
2
Meeting with
Bhîshma,
Kripa, Vidura, Gândhârî and Drona They
equally sorrowful said: 'Ah how painful this
is!'
The
two Lords met with Bhîshma, Kripa, Vidura,
Gândhârî and Drona. Showing sorrow equal
to theirs, They cried out, "Alas, how painful this
is!"
Text
3
Getting
the chance, o King, said Akrûra and [the Bhoja]
Kritavarmâ [meanwhile in Krishna's absence in
Dvârakâ] to S'atadhanvâ
['hundredbow', a bad character]: 'Why not take the
jewel?
Taking
advantage of this opportunity, O King, Akrûra and
Kritavarmâ went to S'atadhanvâ and said, "Why
not take the Syamantaka jewel?
Text
4
He
who promised each of us his gem of a daughter, gave her,
ignoring us, to Krishna; why then should Satrâjit not
follow his brother [in death, see 10.56:
13
and footnote*]?
"Satrâjit
promised his jewellike daughter to us but then gave her to
Krishna instead, contemptuously neglecting us. So why should
Satrâjit not follow his brother's path?"
Text
5
Thus
influenced by the two killed that most wicked man, in his
sinfulness shortening his lifespan, out of greed Satrâjit
as he was sleeping
[compare 1.17:
39].
His
mind thus influenced by their advice, wicked
S'atadhanvâ murdered Satrâjit in his sleep
simply out of greed. In this way the sinful
S'atadhanvâ shortened his own life span.
Text
6
While
the women helplessly cried calling for help took he, after
having killed like a butcher does animals, the jewel and took
he off.
As
the women of Satrâjit's palace screamed and helplessly
wept, S'atadhanvâ took the jewel and left, like a
butcher after he has killed some animals.
Text
7
Satyabhâmâ
after seeing her father killed, thrown in grief lamented: 'O
father, alas o father, with you being killed I am killed!' and
then fainted.
When
Satyabhâmâ saw her dead father, she was plunged
into grief. Lamenting "My father, my father! Oh, I am
killed!" she fell unconscious.
Text
8
Putting
the corpse in a large vessel of oil she went to
Hastinâpura to Krishna who [already] was aware of
the situation, and related sorrowfully the murder of her
father.
Queen
Satyabhâmâ put her father's corpse in a large
vat of oil and went to Hastinâpura, where she
sorrowfully told Lord Krishna, who was already aware of the
situation, about her father's murder.
Text
9
The
Lords hearing that, o King, imitating the human ways both
lamented, eyes full of tears: 'Oh what a tragedy fell upon
us!'
When
Lord Krishna and Lord Balarâma heard this news, O
King, They exclaimed, "Alas! This is the greatest tragedy
for Us! "Thus imitating the ways of human society, They
lamented, Their eyes brimming with tears.
Text
10
The
Supreme Lord returned from there to His capital with his His
wife and elder brother, prepared to kill S'atadhanvâ and
take the jewel from him.
The
Supreme Lord returned to His capital with His wife and elder
brother. After arriving in Dvârakâ, He readied
Himself to kill S'atadhanvâ and retrieve the jewel
from him.
Text
11
He,
learning that, in fear also readied himself to save his life
and entreated for assistance Kritavarmâ who told
him:
Upon
learning that Lord Krishna was preparing to kill him,
S'atadhanvâ was struck with fear. To save his life he
approached Kritavarmâ and begged him for help, but
Kritavarmâ replied as follows.
Text
12-13:
'I
cannot be of any offense with the Lords Râma and Krishna;
how can he who causes Them trouble indeed be of good fortune?
Kamsa and his followers in their hatred of waging against lost
their wealth and lives and Jarâsandha from seventeen
battles became bereft [even] of his
chariot!'
[Kritavarmâ
said:] I dare not offend the Supreme Lords, Krishna and
Balarâma. Indeed, how can one who troubles Them expect
any good fortune? Kamsa and all his followers lost both
their wealth and their lives because of enmity toward Them,
and after battling Them seventeen times Jarâsandha was
left without even a chariot.
Text
14
He, turned
down, next begged Akrûra for help but he also said: 'Who,
knowing the strength of the Lordships, can can
oppose?
His
appeal refused, S'atadhanvâ went to Akrûra and
begged him for protection. But Akrûra similarly told
him, "Who would oppose the two Personalities of Godhead if
he knew Their strength?
Text
15-17:
He who
maintains, creates and destroys this universe as a play; He
whose purpose is not even known to the secondary creators
[headed by Brahmâ] being bewildered by His
invincible potency [of mâyâ];
He
who playing as a child of seven years of age uprooted a
mountain that He held up with a single hand like a boy does a
mushroom [see 10.25];
Him, Krishna the
Supreme Lord to whose wondrous acts there is no end I do
worship; Him who as the source of all existence is the Supreme
Soul, the immovable center, I offer my
obeisances.'
"It
is the Supreme Lord who creates, maintains and destroys this
universe simply as His pastime. The cosmic creators cannot
even understand His purpose, bewildered as they are by His
illusory Mâyâ.
"As a
child of seven, Krishna uprooted an entire mountain and held
it aloft as easily as a young boy picks up a
mushroom.
"I offer
my obeisances to that Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Krishna, whose every deed is amazing. He is the Supreme
Soul, the unlimited source and fixed center of all
existence."
Text
18
He,
S'atadhanvâ also by him refused, left the precious jewel
with him, mounted a horse that could cover a hundred yojanas
and departed.
His
appeal thus rejected by Akrûra also, S'atadhanvâ
placed the precious jewel in Akrûra's care and fled on
a horse that could travel one hundred yojanas [eight
hundred miles].
Text
19
Krishna and
Râma mounting the chariot with the emblem of Garuda
followed with the swiftest horses, o King, the murderer of
Their guru [Their father-in-law as a
teacher].
My
dear King, Krishna and Balarâma mounted Krishna's
chariot, which flew the flag of Garuda and was yoked with
tremendously swift horses, and pursued Their elder's
murderer.
Text
20
In a
Mithilâ suburban park abandoning his horse that had
fallen, ran he on foot terrified with a furious Krishna
speeding after him likewise.
In
a garden on the outskirts of Mithilâ, the horse
S'atadhanvâ was riding collapsed. Terrified, he
abandoned the horse and began to flee on foot, with Krishna
in angry pursuit.
Text
21
With him on the
run severed the Lord on foot with the sharp edged disc his
head, and searched He his upper and lower garments for the
stone.
As
S'atadhanvâ fled on foot, the Supreme Lord, also going
on foot, cut off his head with His sharp-edged disc. The
Lord then searched S'atadhanvâ's upper and lower
garments for the Syamantaka jewel.
Text
22
Not finding the
gem said Krishna approaching His elder brother getting near:
'S'atadhanvâ was killed uselessly, the jewel is not with
him.'
Not
finding the jewel, Lord Krishna went to His elder brother
and said, "We have killed S'atadhanvâ uselessly. The
jewel isn't here."
Text
23
Balarâma
then said: 'S'atadhanvâ must have left the rock with some
person, so go [back] to the city
[of
Dvârakâ] and
search him out.
To
this Lord Balarâma replied, "Indeed, S'atadhanvâ
must have placed the jewel in the care of someone. You
should return to Our city and find that person.
Text
24
l
wish to see the king of Videha [the later Janaka, see
9.10:11]
most dear to Me', and thus having spoken entered the descendant
of Yadu, o King, Mithilâ [the capital of
Videha].
"I
wish to visit King Videha, who is most dear to Me." O King,
having said this, Lord Balarâma, the beloved
descendant of Yadu, entered the city of
Mithilâ.
Text
25
Seeing Him the
king of Mithilâ immediately rose with a mind ful of love
and honored Him being worshipable, as was prescribed with all
there was to it.
The
King of Mithilâ immediately rose from his seat when he
saw Lord Balarâma approaching. With great love the
King honored the supremely worshipable Lord by offering Him
elaborate worship, as stipulated by scriptural
injunctions.
Text
26
There in
Mithilâ did He, the Mighty One, honored by the
affectionate Janaka, the great soul, live for several years for
the time teaching Duryodhana to wield the club.
The
almighty Lord Balarâma stayed in Mithilâ for
several years, honored by His affectionate devotee Janaka
Mahârâja. During that time
Dhritarâshthra's son Duryodhana learned from
Balarâma the art of fighting with a club.
Text
27
Kes'ava the
All-powerful getting to Dvârakâ, told to the
comfort of His beloved [the grieving
Satyabhâmâ] of the demise of S'atadhanvâ
and the failure to get hold of the jewel.
Lord
Kes'ava arrived in Dvârakâ and described the
demise of S'atadhanvâ and His own failure to find the
Syamantaka jewel. He spoke in a way that would please His
beloved, Satyabhâmâ.
Text
28
He, the Supreme
Lord together with all the well-wishers one may so have at the
end of one's life, then made sure to have the obsequies
performed for the deceased relative
[Satrâjit].
Lord
Krishna then had the various funeral rites performed for His
deceased relative, Satrâjit. The Lord attended the
funeral along with well-wishers of the family.
Text
29
The
ones responsible, Akrûra and Kritavarmâ, hearing of
the killing of S'atadhanava, seized by fear went into exile
from Dvârakâ.
When
Akrûra and Kritavarmâ, who had originally
incited S'atadhanvâ to commit his crime, heard that he
had been killed, they fled Dvârakâ in terror and
took up residence elsewhere.
Text
30
With
Akrûra in exile ill omens arose indeed for the residents
of Dvârakâ that gave them by higher powers
[natural disasters included] and other living beings
[compare 1.14;
1.17:
19],
constantly trouble in body and mind.
In
Akrûra's absence ill omens arose in
Dvârakâ, and the citizens began to suffer
continually from physical and mental distresses, as well as
from disturbances caused by higher powers and by creatures
of the earth.
Text
31
Thus,
my dear, were some in conjecture forgetting what of old had
been described by the sages as following His residence; how
could with His presence any calamity arise?
Some
men proposed [that the troubles were due to
Akrûra's absence], but they had forgotten the
glories of the Supreme Lord, which they themselves had so
often described. Indeed, how can calamities occur in a place
where the Personality of Godhead, the residence of all the
sages, resides?
Text
32
[They
said:] 'When Indra withheld the rains gave the king of
Benares [Kâs'î, see also 9.17:
4] his
daughter Gândinî to S'vaphalka [Akrûra's
father, 9.24:
15] who
came to him, after which it then indeed did rain in
Kâs'î.
[The
elders said:] Previously, when Lord Indra had withheld
rain from Kâsî [Benares], the king of
that city gave his daughter Gândinî to
S'vaphalka, who was then visiting him. It soon rained in the
kingdom of Kâs'î.
Text
33
Wherever
indeed he, Akrûra, his son, having his [fathers]
powers stays, will lord Indra shower rains and will there be no
painful disturbances or untimely deaths.'
Wherever
his equally powerful son Akrûra stays, Lord Indra will
provide sufficient rain. Indeed, that place will be free of
miseries and untimely deaths.
Text
34
Hearing
of the elders these words ordered Janârdana, with the
thought that this was not the only cause of the matters at hand
[***],
that Akrûra should be brought back.
Hearing
these words from the elders, Lord Janârdana, though
aware that the absence of Akrûra was not the only
cause of the evil omens, had him summoned back to
Dvârakâ and spoke to him.
Text
35-36
Greeting
him with respect and honor and pleasantly discussing topics,
smiled He, fully aware of everything that went on in his heart,
and said: 'We of course, o master of charity, are already known
with the fact that you indeed at present hold the opulent
syamantaka-jewel that S'atadhanvâ put under your
care.
Lord
Krishna honored Akrûra, greeted him confidentially and
spoke pleasant words with him. Then the Lord, who was fully
aware of Akrûra's heart by virtue of His being the
knower of everything, smiled and addressed him: "O master of
charity, surely the opulent Syamantaka jewel was left in
your care by S'atadhanvâ and is still with you.
Indeed, We have known this all along.
Text
37
Since
Satrâjit had no sons is it his daughter's sons [she
and her sons] who after presenting water, offerings and
having cleared his remaining debts, should receive his
inheritance.
"Since
Satrâjit had no sons, his daughter's sons should
receive his inheritance. They should pay for memorial
offerings of waler and pinda, clear their grandfather's
outstanding debts and keep the remainder of the inheritance
for themselves.
Text
38-39
Nevertheless
should the jewel, as it is impossible to hold by others, remain
with you, o trustworthy keeper of the vows. However, My brother
does not completely believe Me concerning the gem. Please, to
bring peace to My relatives, show it Us now, o most fortunate
soul who with your altars of gold uninterrupted continues with
your sacrifices.
"Nevertheless,
the jewel should remain in your care, O trustworthy
Akrûra, because no one else can keep it safely. But
please show the jewel just once, since My elder brother does
not fully believe what I have told Him about it. In this
way, O most fortunate one, you will pacify My relatives.
[Everyone knows you have the jewel, for] you are now
continually performing sacrifices on altars of gold."
Text
40
Thus
won over by the conciliatory words took the son of S'vaphalka
the gem hidden in his garment and gave he it, shining as
brilliant as the sun.
Thus
shamed by Lord Krishna's conciliatory words, the son of
S'vaphalka brought out the jewel from where he had concealed
it in his clothing and gave it to the Lord. The brilliant
gem shone like the sun.
Text
41
After
showing Syamantaka to His relatives, [and thus] doing
away with the emotions [of the accusations held] with
Him, offered the Master it back to him again.
After
the almighty Lord had shown the Syamantaka jewel to His
relatives, thus dispelling the false accusations against
Him, He returned it to Akrûra.
Text
42
Whoever
recites, hears or remembers this narration which indeed, rich
with the prowess of the Supreme Controller Vishnu, most
auspiciously removes the reactions to sin, will attain peace
and drive away his badness and bad reputation.
This
narration, rich with descriptions of the prowess of Lord
S'rî Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
removes sinful reactions and bestows all auspiciousness.
Anyone who recites, hears or remembers it will drive away
his own infamy and sins and attain peace.
* Being
pure devotees, they could not actually be unhappy about this
match, nor could they become jealous rivals of the Lord.
Therefore they had an ulterior motive in behaving like His
rivals. So there are speculations in the paramparâ about
Akrûra's being cursed for his taking Krishna away from
Gokula [zie 10.39]
or Kritavarmâ's being a member of Kamsa's family, or that
the two might have been angry with the victim for his spoiling
Krishna's good name slandering that He would have killed his
brother.
**
According to S'rîla S'rîdhara Svâmî,
reasoning after verse 32 and 35-36, took Akrûra the
Syamantaka jewel and went to reside in the city of Benares,
where he became known as Dânapati, "the master of
charity." There he executed elaborate fire sacrifices on gold
altars with assemblies of qualified priests.
***
Also in this there are speculations on why there could have
been this trouble despite of the Lord His gracious presence.
Some suggest that Krishna would give the bad times because of
being compromised by Akrûra taking the jewel elsewhere in
competion to His rule, at the other hand it is not unusual that
murder in a community to the rule of God and Krishna gives that
community a bad time, as one also can observe generally taking
place after major wars as evidenced in the Bhâgavatam
describing the bad times when Krishna Himself departed for His
abode after the great Kuru-war [1.14].
