Canto Ten - Chapter 57

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: Although Govinda knew the truth, when He heard that the Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī had burned, He went with Rāma to the Kuru capital to fulfill the duties owed to relatives.

Meeting Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, Vidura, Gāndhārī, and Droṇa, the two Lords appeared to share their grief and exclaimed, 'Alas, how terrible!'

O King, taking advantage of Kṛṣṇa's absence, Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā said to Śatadhanvā, 'Why do you not take the jewel?

Satrājit promised us the jewel of a daughter and then insulted us by giving her to Kṛṣṇa. Why should he not follow his brother into death?

His mind thus corrupted by the two, that vilest and sinful man, his own life nearly spent, murdered Satrājit in his sleep out of greed.

While the women screamed and wailed helplessly, he killed Satrājit as a butcher slaughters an animal, took the jewel, and departed.

Seeing her father murdered, Satyabhāmā was overcome with grief. Fainting, she lamented, 'Father! Father! Alas, I am slain!'

She placed the corpse in a large vessel of oil and went to Hastināpura. In great distress she told Kṛṣṇa, who already knew the truth, of her father's murder.

Hearing the news, O King, the two Lords followed the ways of human society. Lamenting, 'Alas, this is our supreme misfortune,' They shed tears.

The Supreme Lord returned to His city with His wife and elder brother and prepared to kill Śatadhanvā and recover the jewel.

Learning of Their preparations, Śatadhanvā became afraid for his life and begged Kṛtavarmā for help. Kṛtavarmā replied:

I will not show contempt for the two Lords, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa. Who could attain well-being after wronging Them?

Kaṃsa and all his followers lost their prosperity and died because of hatred for Them, while Jarāsandha was left without a chariot after seventeen battles.

Rejected by him, Śatadhanvā asked Akrūra to guard his rear. Akrūra also replied, 'What wise man would oppose the power of the two Lords?

By mere play He creates, maintains, and destroys this universe, while even the universal creators, bewildered by His māyā, do not understand His activity.

At seven years of age, as a mere child, He uprooted a mountain with one hand and playfully held it aloft like a young boy holding a mushroom.

Obeisance to that Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, performer of wondrous deeds. Obeisance to the infinite, primeval source, the immutable Self.'

Rejected by him as well, Śatadhanvā entrusted the great jewel to Akrūra, mounted a horse capable of traveling one hundred yojanas, and fled.

O King, Rāma and Janārdana mounted a chariot bearing Garuḍa's banner and pursued the traitor to his master with extremely swift horses.

In a garden outside Mithilā, Śatadhanvā abandoned his fallen horse and fled on foot in terror. Kṛṣṇa angrily ran after him on foot.

Pursuing the man on foot, the Supreme Lord also went on foot and severed his head with His razor-edged disc. He then searched his clothing for the jewel.

Failing to find the jewel, Kṛṣṇa returned to His elder brother and said, 'Śatadhanvā has been killed in vain. The jewel is not here.'

Balarāma replied, 'Śatadhanvā must have left the jewel with someone. Go back to the city and search for that person.

I wish to see the king of Videha, who is very dear to Me.' After saying this, O King, the descendant of Yadu entered Mithilā.

Seeing Him, the delighted king of Mithilā immediately rose and duly honored the worshipful Lord with suitable offerings.

The mighty Lord remained in Mithilā for several years, honored with affection by the great-souled Janaka. At the proper time Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son Suyodhana learned club fighting from Him.

Returning to Dvārakā, mighty Keśava, who delights His beloved, told her of Śatadhanvā's death and of His failure to obtain the jewel.

Then, together with friends, the Supreme Lord had all the funeral rites performed that would benefit His slain relative in the next world.

Hearing that Śatadhanvā had been killed, Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā, who had instigated the crime, fled Dvārakā in terror.

While Akrūra was away, calamities afflicted the people of Dvārakā: bodily and mental suffering and repeated disturbances arising from providence and the elements.

Some people offer this explanation, dear King, forgetting what was stated before. How could ominous disturbances arise where the sage who is the Lord resides?

When the god withheld rain, the king of Kāśī gave his daughter Gāṇdinī to Śvaphalka after the latter arrived there. Rain then fell in Kāśī.

Akrūra, Śvaphalka's son, possessed the same power. Wherever he stayed, the god sent rain, and neither suffering nor epidemic occurred.

Hearing these words of the elders, Janārdana understood that this alone was not the true cause. He summoned Akrūra and spoke to him.

After honoring and greeting him and speaking pleasing words, the Lord, who perfectly knows every heart, smiled and said:

O lord of charity, Śatadhanvā entrusted the splendid Syamantaka jewel to you. We already knew this from the beginning.

Since Satrājit had no sons, his daughter's sons should receive his inheritance, offer him water and funeral cakes, and discharge his remaining debts.

Nevertheless, virtuous one, the jewel is difficult for others to bear, so let it remain with you. But My elder brother does not fully believe Me concerning it.

Most fortunate one, show the jewel and bring peace to our relatives. Your sacrifices, with golden altars, have continued without interruption even today.

Thus won over by conciliatory words, Śvaphalka's son produced the jewel, which he had concealed in his garment, and handed over the sun-brilliant gem.

The Lord showed the Syamantaka jewel to His relatives, thereby cleansing His own reputation, and then returned it once more to Akrūra.

Whoever reads, hears, or remembers this narration of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, rich in heroic power, destructive of sin, and wholly auspicious, casts off infamy and wrongdoing and attains peace.