Canto Ten - Chapter 56

Śrī Śuka said: To atone for his offense, Satrājit personally presented his daughter to Kṛṣṇa together with the Syamantaka jewel.

The King said: O brāhmaṇa, what offense did Satrājit commit against Kṛṣṇa? Where did he obtain the Syamantaka jewel, and why did he give his daughter to Hari?

Śrī Śuka said: Sūrya was the closest friend of his devotee Satrājit. Being pleased with him, the sun-god gladly gave him the jewel called Syamantaka.

Wearing the jewel around his neck and shining like the sun, Satrājit entered Dvārakā, O King, but because of his brilliance the people could not recognize him.

Seeing him from afar, their vision stolen by his radiance, the people supposed he was the sun-god and reported his arrival to the Supreme Lord, who was playing at dice.

O Nārāyaṇa, obeisance to You, bearer of conch, disc, and club! O Dāmodara, lotus-eyed Govinda, descendant of Yadu!

O Lord of the universe, the blazing sun is approaching, wishing to see You and stealing human sight with the circle of his fierce rays.

The foremost gods search for Your path throughout the three worlds. Having now discovered that You are hidden among the Yadus, the unborn sun-god is coming to see You, O Lord.

Śrī Śuka said: Hearing their innocent words, the lotus-eyed Lord laughed and said, 'That is not the sun-god. It is Satrājit, glowing because of his jewel.'

Satrājit entered his splendid home, where auspicious festivities had been arranged, and had brāhmaṇas install the jewel in the shrine.

O lord, each day the jewel produced eight bhāras of gold. Wherever it was properly worshiped, there was no famine, epidemic, calamity, snake affliction, disease, misfortune, or deception.

Śauri once asked him to give the jewel to the king of the Yadus, but greedy for wealth, Satrājit refused, failing to consider how grave it was to deny the request.

One day his brother Prasena placed the brilliant jewel around his neck, mounted a horse, and rode into the forest to hunt.

A lion killed Prasena and his horse and took the jewel. As the lion entered a mountain cave, Jāmbavān killed it, desiring the jewel.

Jāmbavān made the jewel a toy for his child inside the cave. When Prasena did not return, his brother Satrājit became distressed.

He said, 'My brother went to the forest wearing the jewel, and Kṛṣṇa has probably killed him.' Hearing this, the people whispered it from ear to ear.

When the Supreme Lord heard that this infamy had stained Him, He set out with the citizens along Prasena's trail to erase it.

In the forest the people saw Prasena and his horse killed by a lion, and upon the mountain they saw that lion killed by a bear.

Leaving the citizens outside, the Supreme Lord entered alone into the fearsome cave of the king of bears, which was covered by blinding darkness.

There He saw that the precious jewel had been made a child's toy. Resolving to take it, He stood near the infant.

Seeing the unprecedented man, the nurse cried out in fear. Hearing her, mighty Jāmbavān, foremost of the strong, rushed forth in anger.

Angrily mistaking the Lord for an ordinary man and unaware of His power, Jāmbavān fought with the Supreme Lord, his own master.

Both intent on victory, they fought a furious duel with weapons, stones, trees, and their bare arms, like two hawks contending over prey.

For twenty-eight days and nights without rest they struck one another with fists as hard as the crushing blows of thunderbolts.

The joints of Jāmbavān's limbs were crushed by the blows of Kṛṣṇa's fists. His strength exhausted and his body perspiring, he spoke to the Lord in profound amazement.

I know You to be the life, vitality, endurance, and strength of all beings. You are Viṣṇu, the primeval Person, all-powerful and the supreme ruler.

You are the creator of the creators of the universe and the substance of all that has been created. You are the controlling time of all who reckon time and the supreme Self of every self.

With the slight release of Your anger through sidelong glances, the ocean, agitated by crocodiles and timingilas, revealed the path. A bridge was built, Your spotless fame was made radiant, Laṅkā was burned, and the heads of the Rākṣasas, pierced by arrows, fell upon the earth.

O great King, when the king of bears had thus recognized His true identity, Acyuta, the Supreme Lord and son of Devakī, spoke to him.

The lotus-eyed Lord compassionately touched His devotee with His blessing hand and addressed him in a voice deep as thunderclouds.

O king of the bears, We entered this cave because of the jewel. With it We intend to clear away the false accusation against Us.

Thus addressed, Jāmbavān joyfully presented his maiden daughter Jāmbavatī to Kṛṣṇa, together with the jewel, as an offering of honor.

The citizens outside did not see Śauri emerge from the cave. After waiting twelve days, they returned sorrowfully to their city.

When they heard that Kṛṣṇa had not emerged from the cave, Devakī, Rukmiṇī, Ānakadundubhi, His friends, and His relatives lamented.

The distressed people of Dvārakā cursed Satrājit and worshiped Goddess Durgā called Candrabhāgā, praying to recover Kṛṣṇa.

Because they worshiped the goddess, she granted the blessing they sought. His purpose accomplished, Hari appeared with His new wife and delighted them.

When everyone saw Hṛṣīkeśa return with His wife and the jewel around His neck, as though He had come back from death, a great festival arose.

The Supreme Lord summoned Satrājit to the assembly in the king's presence, explained how He had recovered the jewel, and returned it to him.

Deeply ashamed, Satrājit accepted the jewel with his face lowered. Tormented by remorse for his offense, he returned home.

Reflecting constantly on that grave offense and troubled by his conflict with the powerful Lord, he wondered, 'How can I cleanse my own impurity, and how can Acyuta become pleased with me?'

What good deed can I perform so that people will not curse me as shortsighted, petty, foolish, and greedy for wealth?

I shall give Him my daughter, a jewel among women, as well as the jewel itself. This is the proper remedy; there is no other way to appease Him.

Having resolved upon this with clear intelligence, Satrājit personally presented his auspicious daughter and the jewel to Kṛṣṇa.

The Supreme Lord duly married Satyabhāmā, who was endowed with noble character, beauty, generosity, and every virtue and had been sought by many suitors.

The Supreme Lord said: We do not accept the jewel, O King. Let it remain with you, a devotee of the god. We shall share in its fruits.