CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
The Syamantaka Jewel
This chapter describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa recovered the Syamantaka jewel to allay false accusations against Him and married the daughters of Jāmbavān and Satrājit. By enacting the pastime involving the Syamantaka jewel, the Lord demonstrated the futility of material wealth.
When Śukadeva Gosvāmī mentioned that King Satrājit offended Lord Kṛṣṇa on account of the Syamantaka jewel, King Parīkṣit became curious to hear the details of this incident. Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrated the story.
King Satrājit received the Syamantaka gem by the grace of his best well-wisher, the sun-god, Sūrya. After fastening the gem to a chain, which he then hung around his neck, Satrājit traveled to Dvārakā. The residents, thinking he was the sun-god himself, went to Kṛṣṇa and told Him that Lord Sūrya had come to take His audience. But Kṛṣṇa replied that the man who had come was not Sūrya but King Satrājit, who looked extremely effulgent because he was wearing the Syamantaka jewel.
In Dvārakā Satrājit installed the precious stone on a special altar in his home. Every day the gem produced a large quantity of gold, and it had the additional power of assuring that wherever it was properly worshiped no calamity could occur.
On one occasion Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa requested Satrājit to give the gem to the King of the Yadus, Ugrasena. But Satrājit refused, obsessed as he was with greed. Shortly thereafter Satrājit’s brother Prasena left the city to hunt on horseback, wearing the Syamantaka jewel on his neck. On the road a lion killed Prasena and took the jewel away to a mountain cave, where the king of the bears, Jāmbavān, happened to be living. Jāmbavān killed the lion and gave the jewel to his son to play with.
When King Satrājit’s brother did not return, the King presumed that Śrī Kṛṣṇa had killed him for the Syamantaka gem. Lord Kṛṣṇa heard about this rumor circulating among the general populace, and to clear His name He went with some of the citizens to find Prasena. Following his path, they eventually found his body and that of his horse lying on the road. Further on they saw the body of the lion Jāmbavān had killed. Lord Kṛṣṇa told the citizens to remain outside the cave while He went in to investigate.
The Lord entered Jāmbavān’s cave and saw the Syamantaka jewel lying next to a child. But when Kṛṣṇa tried to take the jewel, the child’s nurse cried out in alarm, bringing Jāmbavān quickly to the scene. Jāmbavān considered Kṛṣṇa an ordinary man and began fighting with Him. For twenty-eight days continuously the two fought, until finally Jāmbavān grew weak from the Lord’s blows. Now understanding that Kṛṣṇa was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Jāmbavān began to praise Him. The Lord touched Jāmbavān with His lotus hand, dispelling his fear, and then explained everything about the jewel. With great devotion Jāmbavān gladly presented the Syamantaka jewel to the Lord, together with his unmarried daughter, Jāmbavatī.
Meanwhile Lord Kṛṣṇa’s companions, having waited twelve days for Kṛṣṇa to come out of the cave, returned to Dvārakā despondent. All of Kṛṣṇa’s friends and family members became extremely sorrowful and began regularly worshiping Goddess Durgā to assure the Lord’s safe return. Even as they performed this worship, Lord Kṛṣṇa entered the city in the company of His new wife. He summoned Satrājit to the royal assembly and, after recounting to him the entire story of the Syamantaka jewel’s recovery, gave the jewel back to him. Satrājit accepted the jewel, but with great shame and remorse. He went back to his home, and there he decided to offer Lord Kṛṣṇa not only the jewel but also his daughter so as to atone for the offense he had committed against the Lord’s lotus feet. Śrī Kṛṣṇa accepted the hand of Satrājit’s daughter, Satyabhāmā, who was endowed with all divine qualities. But the jewel He refused, returning it to King Satrājit.
Devanagari
सत्राजित: स्वतनयां कृष्णाय कृतकिल्बिष: ।
स्यमन्तकेन मणिना स्वयमुद्यम्य दत्तवान् ॥ १ ॥
Text
satrājitaḥ sva-tanayāṁ
kṛṣṇāya kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ
syamantakena maṇinā
svayam udyamya dattavān
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; satrājitaḥ — King Satrājit; sva — his own; tanayām — daughter; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛta — having committed; kilbiṣaḥ — offense; syamantakena — known as Syamantaka; maṇinā — together with the jewel; svayam — personally; udyamya — striving; dattavān — he gave.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having offended Lord Kṛṣṇa, Satrājit tried as best he could to atone by presenting Him with his daughter and the Syamantaka jewel.
Devanagari
सत्राजित: किमकरोद् ब्रह्मन् कृष्णस्य किल्बिष: ।
स्यमन्तक: कुतस्तस्य कस्माद् दत्ता सुता हरे: ॥ २ ॥
Text
satrājitaḥ kim akarod
brahman kṛṣṇasya kilbiṣaḥ
syamantakaḥ kutas tasya
kasmād dattā sutā hareḥ
Synonyms
śrī-rājā — the King (Parīkṣit Mahārāja); uvāca — said; satrājitaḥ — Satrājit; kim — what; akarot — committed; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; kṛṣṇasya — against Lord Kṛṣṇa; kilbiṣaḥ — offense; syamantakaḥ — the Syamantaka jewel; kutaḥ — from where; tasya — his; kasmāt — why; dattā — given; sutā — his daughter; hareḥ — to Lord Hari.
Translation
Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired: O brāhmaṇa, what did King Satrājit do to offend Lord Kṛṣṇa? Where did he get the Syamantaka jewel, and why did he give his daughter to the Supreme Lord?
Devanagari
आसीत् सत्राजित: सूर्यो भक्तस्य परम: सखा ।
प्रीतस्तस्मै मणिं प्रादात् स च तुष्ट: स्यमन्तकम् ॥ ३ ॥
Text
āsīt satrājitaḥ sūryo
bhaktasya paramaḥ sakhā
prītas tasmai maṇiṁ prādāt
sa ca tuṣṭaḥ syamantakam
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; āsīt — was; satrājitaḥ — of Satrājit; sūryaḥ — the sun-god; bhaktasya — who was his devotee; paramaḥ — the best; sakhā — well-wishing friend; prītaḥ — affectionate; tasmai — to him; maṇim — the jewel; prādāt — gave; saḥ — he; ca — and; tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; syamantakam — named Syamantaka.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Sūrya, the sun-god, felt great affection for his devotee Satrājit. Acting as his greatest friend, the demigod gave him the jewel called Syamantaka as a token of his satisfaction.
Devanagari
प्रविष्टो द्वारकां राजन् तेजसा नोपलक्षित: ॥ ४ ॥
Text
bhrājamāno yathā raviḥ
praviṣṭo dvārakāṁ rājan
tejasā nopalakṣitaḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — he, King Satrājit; tam — that; bibhrat — wearing; maṇim — jewel; kaṇṭhe — on his neck; bhrājamānaḥ — shining brilliantly; yathā — like; raviḥ — the sun; praviṣṭaḥ — having entered; dvārakām — the city of Dvārakā; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); tejasā — because of the effulgence; na — not; upalakṣitaḥ — recognized.
Translation
Wearing the jewel on his neck, Satrājit entered Dvārakā. He shone as brightly as the sun itself, O King, and thus he went unrecognized because of the jewel’s effulgence.
Devanagari
दीव्यतेऽक्षैर्भगवते शशंसु: सूर्यशङ्किता: ॥ ५ ॥
Text
tejasā muṣṭa-dṛṣṭayaḥ
dīvyate ’kṣair bhagavate
śaśaṁsuḥ sūrya-śaṅkitāḥ
Synonyms
tam — him; vilokya — seeing; janāḥ — the people; dūrāt — from some distance; tejasā — by his effulgence; muṣṭa — stolen; dṛṣṭayaḥ — their ability to see; dīvyate — who was playing; akṣaiḥ — with dice; bhagavate — to the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; śaśaṁsuḥ — they reported; sūrya — the sun-god; śaṅkitāḥ — presuming him.
Translation
As the people looked at Satrājit from a distance, his brilliance blinded them. They presumed he was the sun-god, Sūrya, and went to tell Lord Kṛṣṇa, who was at that time playing at dice.
Devanagari
दामोदरारविन्दाक्ष गोविन्द यदुनन्दन ॥ ६ ॥
Text
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara
dāmodarāravindākṣa
govinda yadu-nandana
Synonyms
Translation
[The residents of Dvārakā said:] Obeisances unto You, O Nārāyaṇa, O holder of the conch, disc and club, O lotus-eyed Dāmodara, O Govinda, O cherished descendant of Yadu!
Devanagari
मुष्णन् गभस्तिचक्रेण नृणां चक्षूंषि तिग्मगु: ॥ ७ ॥
Text
tvāṁ didṛkṣur jagat-pate
muṣṇan gabhasti-cakreṇa
nṛṇāṁ cakṣūṁṣi tigma-guḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Savitā has come to see You, O Lord of the universe. He is blinding everyone’s eyes with his intensely effulgent rays.
Devanagari
ज्ञात्वाद्य गूढं यदुषु द्रष्टुं त्वां यात्यज: प्रभो ॥ ८ ॥
Text
trī-lokyāṁ vibudharṣabhāḥ
jñātvādya gūḍhaṁ yaduṣu
draṣṭuṁ tvāṁ yāty ajaḥ prabho
Synonyms
nanu — certainly; anvicchanti — they seek out; te — Your; mārgam — path; tri-lokyām — in all the three worlds; vibudha — of the wise demigods; ṛṣabhāḥ — the most exalted; yñātvā — knowing; adya — now; gūḍham — disguised; yaduṣu — among the Yadus; draṣṭum — to see; tvām — You; yāti — comes; ajaḥ — the unborn (sun-god); prabho — O Lord.
Translation
The most exalted demigods in the three worlds are certainly anxious to seek You out, O Lord, now that You have hidden Yourself among the Yadu dynasty. Thus the unborn sun-god has come to see You here.
Devanagari
निशम्य बालवचनं प्रहस्याम्बुजलोचन: ।
प्राह नासौ रविर्देव: सत्राजिन्मणिना ज्वलन् ॥ ९ ॥
Text
niśamya bāla-vacanaṁ
prahasyāmbuja-locanaḥ
prāha nāsau ravir devaḥ
satrājin maṇinā jvalan
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; niśamya — hearing; bāla — childish; vacanam — these words; prahasya — smiling broadly; ambuja — lotuslike; locanaḥ — He whose eyes; prāha — said; na — not; asau — this person; raviḥ devaḥ — the sun-god; satrājit — King Satrājit; maṇinā — because of his jewel; jvalan — glowing.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Hearing these innocent words, the lotus-eyed Lord smiled broadly and said, “This is not the sun-god, Ravi, but rather Satrājit, who is glowing because of his jewel.”
Devanagari
प्रविश्य देवसदने मणिं विप्रैर्न्यवेशयत् ॥ १० ॥
Text
kṛta-kautuka-maṅgalam
praviśya deva-sadane
maṇiṁ viprair nyaveśayat
Synonyms
Translation
King Satrājit entered his opulent home, festively executing auspicious rituals. He had qualified brāhmaṇas install the Syamantaka jewel in the house’s temple room.
Devanagari
दुर्भिक्षमार्यरिष्टानि सर्पाधिव्याधयोऽशुभा: ।
न सन्ति मायिनस्तत्र यत्रास्तेऽभ्यर्चितो मणि: ॥ ११ ॥
Text
aṣṭau sa sṛjati prabho
durbhikṣa-māry-ariṣṭāni
sarpādhi-vyādhayo ’śubhāḥ
na santi māyinas tatra
yatrāste ’bhyarcito maṇiḥ
Synonyms
dine dine — day after day; svarṇa — of gold; bhārān — bhāras (a measure of weight); aṣṭau — eight; saḥ — it; sṛjati — would produce; prabho — O master (Parīkṣit Mahārāja); durbhikṣa — famine; māri — untimely deaths; ariṣṭāni — catastrophes; sarpa — snake (bites); ādhi — mental disorders; vyādhayaḥ — diseases; aśubhāḥ — inauspicious; na santi — there are none; māyinaḥ — cheaters; tatra — there; yatra — where; āste — it is present; abhyarcitaḥ — properly worshiped; maṇiḥ — the gem.
Translation
Each day the gem would produce eight bhāras of gold, my dear Prabhu, and the place in which it was kept and properly worshiped would be free of calamities such as famine or untimely death, and also of evils like snake bites, mental and physical disorders and the presence of deceitful persons.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī gives the following śāstric reference concerning the bhāra:
guñjāḥ pañca paṇaṁ paṇān
aṣṭau dharaṇam aṣṭau ca
karṣaṁ tāṁś caturaḥ palam
tulāṁ pala-śataṁ prāhur
bhāraḥ syād viṁśatis tulāḥ
“Four rice grains are called one guñjā; five guñjās, one paṇa; eight paṇas, one karṣa; four karṣas, one pala; and one hundred palas, one tulā. Twenty tulās make up one bhāra.” Since there are about 3,700 grains of rice in an ounce, the Syamantaka jewel was producing approximately 170 pounds of gold every day.
Devanagari
नैवार्थकामुक: प्रादाद् याच्ञाभङ्गमतर्कयन् ॥ १२ ॥
Text
yadu-rājāya śauriṇā
naivārtha-kāmukaḥ prādād
yācñā-bhaṅgam atarkayan
Synonyms
saḥ — he, Satrājit; yācitaḥ — requested; maṇim — the gem; kva api — on one occasion; yadu-rājāya — for the king of the Yadus, Ugrasena; śauriṇā — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; na — not; eva — indeed; artha — after wealth; kāmukaḥ — greedy; prādāt — gave; yācñā — of the request; bhaṅgam — the transgression; atarkayan — not considering.
Translation
On one occasion Lord Kṛṣṇa requested Satrājit to give the jewel to the Yadu king, Ugrasena, but Satrājit was so greedy that he refused. He gave no thought to the seriousness of the offense he committed by denying the Lord’s request.
Devanagari
प्रसेनो हयमारुह्य मृगायां व्यचरद् वने ॥ १३ ॥
Text
pratimucya mahā-prabham
praseno hayam āruhya
mṛgāyāṁ vyacarad vane
Synonyms
Translation
Once Satrājit’s brother, Prasena, having hung the brilliant jewel about his neck, mounted a horse and went hunting in the forest.
Purport
The inauspicious result of Satrājit’s refusal of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s request is about to manifest.
Devanagari
गिरिं विशन् जाम्बवता निहतो मणिमिच्छता ॥ १४ ॥
Text
maṇim ācchidya keśarī
giriṁ viśan jāmbavatā
nihato maṇim icchatā
Synonyms
Translation
A lion killed Prasena and his horse and took the jewel. But when the lion entered a mountain cave he was killed by Jāmbavān, who wanted the jewel.
Devanagari
अपश्यन् भ्रातरं भ्राता सत्राजित् पर्यतप्यत ॥ १५ ॥
Text
maṇiṁ krīḍanakaṁ bile
apaśyan bhrātaraṁ bhrātā
satrājit paryatapyata
Synonyms
Translation
Within the cave Jāmbavān let his young son have the Syamantaka jewel as a toy to play with. Meanwhile Satrājit, not seeing his brother return, became deeply troubled.
Devanagari
भ्राता ममेति तच्छ्रुत्वा कर्णे कर्णेऽजपन् जना: ॥ १६ ॥
Text
maṇi-grīvo vanaṁ gataḥ
bhrātā mameti tac chrutvā
karṇe karṇe ’japan janāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
He said, “Kṛṣṇa probably killed my brother, who went to the forest wearing the jewel on his neck.” The general populace heard this accusation and began whispering it in one another’s ears.
Devanagari
मार्ष्टुं प्रसेनपदवीमन्वपद्यत नागरै: ॥ १७ ॥
Text
duryaśo liptam ātmani
mārṣṭuṁ prasena-padavīm
anvapadyata nāgaraiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
When Lord Kṛṣṇa heard this rumor, He wanted to remove the stain on His reputation. So He took some of Dvārakā’s citizens with Him and set out to retrace Prasena’s path.
Devanagari
तं चाद्रिपृष्ठे निहतमृक्षेण ददृशुर्जना: ॥ १८ ॥
Text
vīkṣya keśariṇā vane
taṁ cādri-pṛṣṭhe nihatam
ṛkṣeṇa dadṛśur janāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
In the forest they found Prasena and his horse, both killed by the lion. Further on they found the lion dead on a mountainside, slain by Ṛkṣa [Jāmbavān].
Devanagari
एको विवेश भगवानवस्थाप्य बहि: प्रजा: ॥ १९ ॥
Text
andhena tamasāvṛtam
eko viveśa bhagavān
avasthāpya bahiḥ prajāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord stationed His subjects outside the terrifying, pitch-dark cave of the king of the bears, and then He entered alone.
Devanagari
हर्तुं कृतमतिस्तस्मिन्नवतस्थेऽर्भकान्तिके ॥ २० ॥
Text
bāla-krīḍanakaṁ kṛtam
hartuṁ kṛta-matis tasminn
avatasthe ’rbhakāntike
Synonyms
Translation
There Lord Kṛṣṇa saw that the most precious of jewels had been made into a child’s plaything. Determined to take it away, He approached the child.
Devanagari
तच्छ्रुत्वाभ्यद्रवत् क्रुद्धो जाम्बवान् बलिनां वर: ॥ २१ ॥
Text
dhātrī cukrośa bhīta-vat
tac chrutvābhyadravat kruddho
jāmbavān balināṁ varaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The child’s nurse cried out in fear upon seeing that extraordinary person standing before them. Jāmbavān, strongest of the strong, heard her cries and angrily ran toward the Lord.
Devanagari
पुरुषं प्राकृतं मत्वा कुपितो नानुभाववित् ॥ २२ ॥
Text
yuyudhe svāmīnātmanaḥ
puruṣam prākṛtaṁ matvā
kupito nānubhāva-vit
Synonyms
Translation
Unaware of His true position and thinking Him an ordinary man, Jāmbavān angrily began fighting with the Supreme Lord, his master.
Purport
The words puruṣaṁ prākṛtaṁ matvā, “thinking Him a mundane person,” are very significant. So-called Vedic scholars, including most Western ones, enjoy translating the word puruṣam as “man” even when the word refers to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and thus their unauthorized translations of Vedic literature are tainted by their materialistic conceptions of the Godhead. However, here it is clearly stated that it was because Jāmbavān misunderstood the Lord’s position that he considered Him prākṛta-puruṣa, “a mundane person.” In other words, the Lord is actually puruṣottama, “the ultimate transcendental person.”
Devanagari
आयुधाश्मद्रुमैर्दोर्भि: क्रव्यार्थे श्येनयोरिव ॥ २३ ॥
Text
ubhayor vijigīṣatoḥ
āyudhāśma-drumair dorbhiḥ
kravyārthe śyenayor iva
Synonyms
dvandva — paired; yuddham — the fight; su-tumulam — very furious; ubhayoḥ — between the two of them; vijigīṣatoḥ — who both were striving to win; āyudha — with weapons; aśma — stones; drumaiḥ — and trees; dorbhiḥ — with their arms; kravya — carrion; arthe — for the sake; śyenayoḥ — between two hawks; iva — as if.
Translation
The two fought furiously in single combat, each determined to win. Contending against each other with various weapons and then with stones, tree trunks and finally their bare arms, they struggled like two hawks battling over a piece of flesh.
Devanagari
वज्रनिष्पेषपरुषैरविश्रममहर्निशम् ॥ २४ ॥
Text
itaretara-muṣṭibhiḥ
vajra-niṣpeṣa-paruṣair
aviśramam ahar-niśam
Synonyms
Translation
The fight went on without rest for twenty-eight days, the two opponents striking each other with their fists, which fell like the cracking blows of lightning.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the fight continued day and night without intermission.
Devanagari
क्षीणसत्त्व: स्विन्नगात्रस्तमाहातीव विस्मित: ॥ २५ ॥
Text
niṣpiṣṭāṅgoru bandhanaḥ
kṣīṇa-sattvaḥ svinna-gātras
tam āhātīva vismitaḥ
Synonyms
kṛṣṇa-muṣṭi — of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s fists; viniṣpāta — by the blows; niṣpiṣṭa — pummeled; aṅga — of whose body; uru — huge; bandhanaḥ — the muscles; kṣīṇa — diminished; sattvaḥ — whose strength; svinna — perspiring; gātraḥ — whose limbs; tam — to Him; āha — he spoke; atīva — extremely; vismitaḥ — astonished.
Translation
His bulging muscles pummeled by the blows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s fists, his strength faltering and his limbs perspiring, Jāmbavān, greatly astonished, finally spoke to the Lord.
Devanagari
विष्णुं पुराणपुरुषं प्रभविष्णुमधीश्वरम् ॥ २६ ॥
Text
prāṇa ojaḥ saho balam
viṣṇuṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ
prabhaviṣṇum adhīśvaram
Synonyms
jāne — I know; tvām — You (to be); sarva — of all; bhūtānām — living beings; prāṇaḥ — the life air; ojaḥ — the sensory strength; sahaḥ — the mental strength; balam — the physical strength; viṣṇum — Lord Viṣṇu; purāṇa — primeval; puruṣam — the Supreme Person; prabhaviṣṇum — all-powerful; adhīśvaram — the supreme controller.
Translation
[Jāmbavān said:] I know now that You are the life air and the sensory, mental and bodily strength of all living beings. You are Lord Viṣṇu, the original person, the supreme, all-powerful controller.
Devanagari
काल: कलयतामीश: पर आत्मा तथात्मनाम् ॥ २७ ॥
Text
sṛṣṭānām api yac ca sat
kālaḥ kalayatām īśaḥ
para ātmā tathātmanām
Synonyms
tvam — You; hi — indeed; viśva — of the universe; sṛjām — of the creators; sraṣṭā — the creator; sṛṣṭānām — of created entities; api — also; yat — which; ca — and; sat — underlying substance; kālaḥ — the subduer; kalayatām — of subduers; īśaḥ — the Supreme Lord; paraḥ ātmā — the Supreme Soul; tathā — also; ātmanām — of all souls.
Translation
You are the ultimate creator of all creators of the universe, and of everything created You are the underlying substance. You are the subduer of all subduers, the Supreme Lord and Supreme Soul of all souls.
Purport
As Lord Kapila states in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.42): mṛtyuś carati mad-bhayāt. “Death himself moves about out of fear of Me.”
Devanagari
र्वर्त्मादिशत् क्षुभितनक्रतिमिङ्गलोऽब्धि: ।
सेतु: कृत: स्वयश उज्ज्वलिता च लङ्का
रक्ष:शिरांसि भुवि पेतुरिषुक्षतानि ॥ २८ ॥
Text
vartmādiśat kṣubhita-nakra-timiṅgalo ’bdhiḥ
setuḥ kṛtaḥ sva-yaśa ujjvalitā ca laṅkā
rakṣaḥ-śirāṁsi bhuvi petur iṣu-kṣatāni
Synonyms
yasya — whose; īṣat — slightly; utkalita — manifested; roṣa — from the anger; kaṭā-akṣa — of sidelong glances; mokṣaiḥ — because of the release; vartma — a way; ādiśat — showed; kṣubhita — agitated; nakra — (in which) the crocodiles; timiṅgalaḥ — and huge timiṅgila fish; abdhiḥ — the ocean; setuḥ — a bridge; kṛtaḥ — made; sva — His own; yaśaḥ — fame; ujjvalitā — set ablaze; ca — and; laṅkā — the city of Laṅkā; rakṣaḥ — of the demon (Rāvaṇa); śirāṁsi — the heads; bhuvi — to the ground; petuḥ — fell; iṣu — by whose arrows; kṣatāni — cut off.
Translation
You are He who impelled the ocean to give way when His sidelong glances, slightly manifesting His anger, disturbed the crocodiles and timiṅgila fish within the watery depths. You are He who built a great bridge to establish His fame, who burned down the city of Laṅkā, and whose arrows severed the heads of Rāvaṇa, which then fell to the ground.
Devanagari
व्याजहार महाराज भगवान् देवकीसुत: ॥ २९ ॥
अभिमृश्यारविन्दाक्ष: पाणिना शंकरेण तम् ।
कृपया परया भक्तं मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ॥ ३० ॥
Text
ṛkṣa-rājānam acyutaḥ
vyājahāra mahā-rāja
bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ
pāṇinā śaṁ-kareṇa tam
kṛpayā parayā bhaktaṁ
megha-gambhīrayā girā
Synonyms
iti — thus; vijñāta-vijñānam — who had understood the truth; ṛkṣa — of the bears; rājānam — to the king; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; vyājahāra — spoke; mahā-rāja — O King (Parīkṣit); bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; devakī-suraḥ — the son of Devakī; abhimṛśya — touching; aravinda-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; pāṇinā — with His hand; śam — auspiciousness; kareṇa — which bestows; tam — to him; kṛpayā — with compassion; parayā — great; bhaktam — to His devotee; megha — like a cloud; gambhīrayā — deep; girā — in a voice.
Translation
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] O King, Lord Kṛṣṇa then addressed the king of the bears, who had understood the truth. The lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead, the son of Devakī, touched Jāmbavān with His hand, which bestows all blessings, and spoke to His devotee with sublime compassion, His grave voice deeply resounding like a cloud.
Devanagari
मिथ्याभिशापं प्रमृजन्नात्मनो मणिनामुना ॥ ३१ ॥
Text
vayam ṛkṣa-pate bilam
mithyābhiśāpaṁ pramṛjann
ātmano maṇināmunā
Synonyms
Translation
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] It is for this jewel, O lord of the bears, that we have come to your cave. I intend to use the jewel to disprove the false accusations against Me.
Devanagari
अर्हणार्थं स मणिना कृष्णायोपजहार ह ॥ ३२ ॥
Text
kanyāṁ jāmbavatīṁ mudā
arhaṇārtham sa maṇinā
kṛṣṇāyopajahāra ha
Synonyms
Translation
Thus addressed, Jāmbavān happily honored Lord Kṛṣṇa by offering Him his maiden daughter, Jāmbavatī, together with the jewel.
Devanagari
प्रतीक्ष्य द्वादशाहानि दु:खिता: स्वपुरं ययु: ॥ ३३ ॥
Text
praviṣṭasya bilaṁ janāḥ
pratīkṣya dvādaśāhāni
duḥkhitāḥ sva-puraṁ yayuḥ
Synonyms
Translation
After Lord Śauri had entered the cave, the people of Dvārakā who had accompanied Him had waited twelve days without seeing Him come out again. Finally they had given up and returned to their city in great sorrow.
Devanagari
सुहृदो ज्ञातयोऽशोचन् बिलात् कृष्णमनिर्गतम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Text
rakmiṇy ānakadundubhiḥ
suhṛdo jñātayo ’śocan
bilāt kṛṣṇam anirgatam
Synonyms
Translation
When Devakī, Rukmiṇī-devī, Vasudeva and the Lord’s other relatives and friends heard that He had not come out of the cave, they all lamented.
Devanagari
उपतस्थुश्चन्द्रभागां दुर्गां कृष्णोपलब्धये ॥ ३५ ॥
Text
duḥkhitā dvārakaukasaḥ
upatasthuś candrabhāgāṁ
durgāṁ kṛṣṇopalabdhaye
Synonyms
satrājitam — Satrājit; śapantaḥ — cursing; te — they; duḥkhitāḥ — sorrowful; dvārakā-okasaḥ — the residents of Dvārakā; upatasthuḥ — worshiped; candrabhāgām — Candrabhāgā; durgām — Durgā; kṛṣṇa-upalabdhaye — in order to obtain Kṛṣṇa.
Translation
Cursing Satrājit, the sorrowful residents of Dvārakā approached the Durgā deity named Candrabhāgā and prayed to her for Kṛṣṇa’s return.
Devanagari
प्रादुर्बभूव सिद्धार्थ: सदारो हर्षयन् हरि: ॥ ३६ ॥
Text
pratyādiṣṭāśiṣā sa ca
prādurbabhūva siddhārthaḥ
sa-dāro harṣayan hariḥ
Synonyms
teṣām — to them; tu — but; devī — of the demigoddess; upasthānāt — after the worship; pratyādiṣṭa — granted in response; āśiṣāḥ — benediction; saḥ — He; ca — and; prādurbabhūva — appeared; siddha — having achieved; arthaḥ — His purpose; sa-dāraḥ — together with His wife; harṣayan — creating joy; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Translation
When the citizens had finished worshiping the demigoddess, she spoke to them in response, promising to grant their request. Just then Lord Kṛṣṇa, who had achieved His purpose, appeared before them in the company of His new wife, filling them with joy.
Devanagari
सह पत्न्या मणिग्रीवं सर्वे जातमहोत्सवा: ॥ ३७ ॥
Text
mṛtaṁ punar ivāgatam
saha patnyā maṇi-grīvaṁ
sarve jāta-mahotsavāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Seeing Lord Hṛṣīkeśa return as if from death, accompanied by His new wife and wearing the Syamantaka jewel on His neck, all the people were roused to jubilation.
Purport
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Jāmbavān had placed the jewel on the Lord’s neck when he had presented his daughter in marriage.
Devanagari
प्राप्तिं चाख्याय भगवान् मणिं तस्मै न्यवेदयत् ॥ ३८ ॥
Text
sabhāyāṁ rāja-sannidhau
prāptiṁ cākhyāya bhagavān
maṇiṁ tasmai nyavedayat
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Kṛṣṇa summoned Satrājit to the royal assembly. There, in the presence of King Ugrasena, Kṛṣṇa announced the recovery of the jewel and then formally presented it to Satrājit.
Devanagari
अनुतप्यमानो भवनमगमत् स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ ३९ ॥
Text
gṛhītvāvāṅ-mukhas tataḥ
anutapyamāno bhavanam
agamat svena pāpmanā
Synonyms
Translation
Hanging his head in great shame, Satrājit took the gem and returned home, all the while feeling remorse for his sinful behavior.
Devanagari
कथं मृजाम्यात्मरज: प्रसीदेद् वाच्युत: कथम् ॥ ४० ॥
किं कृत्वा साधु मह्यं स्यान्न शपेद् वा जनो यथा ।
अदीर्घदर्शनं क्षुद्रं मूढं द्रविणलोलुपम् ॥ ४१ ॥
दास्ये दुहितरं तस्मै स्त्रीरत्नं रत्नमेव च ।
उपायोऽयं समीचीनस्तस्य शान्तिर्न चान्यथा ॥ ४२ ॥
Text
balavad-vigrahākulaḥ
kathaṁ mṛjāmy ātma-rajaḥ
prasīded vācyutaḥ katham
na śaped vā jano yathā
adīrgha-darśanaṁ kṣudraṁ
mūḍhaṁ draviṇa-lolupam
strī-ratnaṁ ratnam eva ca
upāyo ’yaṁ samīcīnas
tasya śāntir na cānyathā
Synonyms
saḥ — he; anudhyāyan — pondering over; tat — that; eva — indeed; agham — offense; bala-vat — with those who are powerful; vigraha — about a conflict; ākulaḥ — worried; katham — how; mṛjāmi — will I cleanse; ātma — of myself; rajaḥ — the contamination; prasīdet — may become satisfied; vā — or; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; katham — how; kim — what; kṛtvā — doing; sādhu — good; mahyam — for me; syāt — there may be; na śapet — may not curse; vā — or; janaḥ — the people; yathā — so as; adīrgha — short-ranged; darśanam — whose vision; kṣudram — petty; mūḍham — befooled; draviṇa — after wealth; lolupam — avaricious; dāsye — I will give; duhitaram — my daughter; tasmai — to Him; strī — of women; ratnam — the jewel; ratnam — the jewel; eva ca — as well; upāyaḥ — means; ayam — this; samīcīnaḥ — effective; tasya — His; śāntiḥ — pacification; na — not; ca — and; anyathā — otherwise.
Translation
Pondering over his grievous offense and worried about the possibility of conflict with the Lord’s mighty devotees, King Satrājit thought, “How can I cleanse myself of my contamination, and how may Lord Acyuta become satisfied with me? What can I do to regain my good fortune and avoid being cursed by the populace for being so short-sighted, miserly, foolish and avaricious? I shall give my daughter, the jewel of all women, to the Lord, together with the Syamantaka jewel. That, indeed, is the only proper way to pacify Him.”
Devanagari
मणिं च स्वयमुद्यम्य कृष्णायोपजहार ह ॥ ४३ ॥
Text
satrājit sva-sutāṁ śubhām
maṇiṁ ca svayam udyamya
kṛṣṇāyopajahāra ha
Synonyms
Translation
Having thus intelligently made up his mind, King Satrājit personally arranged to present Lord Kṛṣṇa with his fair daughter and the Syamantaka jewel.
Devanagari
बहुभिर्याचितां शीलरूपौदार्यगुणान्विताम् ॥ ४४ ॥
Text
upayeme yathā-vidhi
bahubhir yācitāṁ śīla-
rūpaudārya-guṇānvitām
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord married Satyabhāmā in proper religious fashion. Possessed of excellent behavior, along with beauty, broad-mindedness and all other good qualities, she had been sought by many men.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that men such as Kṛtavarmā had sought the hand of Satyabhāmā.
Devanagari
तवास्तां देवभक्तस्य वयं च फलभागिन: ॥ ४५ ॥
Text
pratīcchāmo vayaṁ nṛpa
tavāstāṁ deva-bhaktasya
vayaṁ ca phala-bhāginaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead told Satrājit: We do not care to take this jewel back, O King. You are the sun-god’s devotee, so let it stay in your possession. Thus We will also enjoy its benefits.
Purport
Satrājit should have worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme God. Thus there is certainly a touch of irony in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s saying “After all, you are a devotee of the sun-god.” Furthermore, Kṛṣṇa had already acquired Satrājit’s greatest treasure, the pure and beautiful Satyabhāmā.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Fifty-sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Syamantaka Jewel.”