Chapter 14 - How the Syamantaka Jewel was brought back?

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

1. Vidūratha, a prominent chariot-warrior was the son of Bhajamāna. The heroic Rājādhideva was the son of Vidūratha.

2-3. The following valiant sons were born to Rājādhideva viz.—Datta, Atidatta, Śoṇāśva, Śvetavāhana, Śami, Daṇḍaśarman, Dantaśatru and Śatrujit. Śravaṇā and Śraviṣṭhā were their sisters.

4. Pratichatra was the son of Śami. Svayambhoja was the son of Pratichatra. Hṛdīka was born to Svayambhoja.

5-6. All his sons possessed great valour. Kṛtavarmā was the eldest among them. Śatadhanvā was the middle one. The other sons were Devānta, Narānta, Vaitaraṇa, who was a physician, Sudānta, Atidānta, Nikāśya and Kāmadambhaka.

7-8. The wise Kambalabarhiṣā was the son of Devānta. He had two sons Asamaujas and Nāsamaujas. No son was born to Asamaujas. His brother gave his sons Sudaṃṣṭra, Sucāru and Kṛṣṇa to Asamaujas.

Thus Andhakas have been described.

9. Gāndhārī and Mādrī were the wives of Kroṣṭṛ. Gāndhārī gave birth to Anamitra of great might.

10. Mādrī gave birth to Yudhājit (known as) Devamīḍhuṣa. She gave birth to Anamitra who conquered the enemies and who was never defeated in battlefield.

11. Nighna was Anamitra’s son. Two sons were born to Nighna: Prasena and Satrājit. Both of them conquered the armies of enemies.

12. Prasena was a resident of Dvāravatī. He came to acquire a great Jewel, named Syamantaka^[1] from sun.

13-23. The sun was his close friend, a friend no less than his own vital breath. Once, as the night was about to pass off, the king, the most excellent one among the chariot-warriors, went to the banks of the river in his chariot in order to bathe and worship the deity. Even as he was praying to Sun-god the deity appeared in his presence. The lord revealed his physical form with the halo of brilliant refulgence. The king addressed the sun-god standing before him thus—“O lord of Luminaries I see you standing in front of me with your brilliant disc in the same manner as I see you in the firmament. What special significance has been accorded to me as a result of your being my associate?”

On hearing this, the lord took off the excellent jewel Syamantaka and kept it aside. Then the king saw him in his (bare) physical form. On seeing him he became pleased and chatted with him for a short while. Then Satrājit spoke to him as he rose up to go—“O lord, you illuminate the worlds continuously. Hence, it behoves you to give me this excellent jewel.”

Then the Sun gave him the Syamantaka jewel. The king tied it round his neck and entered the city. The people rushed at him shouting “Here goes the sun”. The king made his city and the harem wonder-struck. He gave that excellent Jewel to his brother Prasenajit lovingly.

24. The jewel exuded molten gold in the abode of Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas. The clouds showered rains at the proper season. There was no fear from sickness.

25. Lord Kṛṣṇa desired to get the excellent jewel from him.

28. The Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas had come to know that Kṛṣṇa had requested for the jewel. Hence they suspected him to be the cause of Prasena’s death.

29. Being suspected thus the righteous Kṛṣṇa who had not perpetrated that felony took the vow “I will fetch that jewel” and went to the forest.

30-33. He wandered all over the places where Prasena had been hunting. He got the footsteps of Prasena traced through trust-worthy persons.

Searching through the excellent mountains Ṛkṣavān and Vindhya he became tired. Then the lofty-minded Kṛṣṇa saw Prasena lying slain along with his horse but did not get that jewel. Then, not far off from the dead body of Prasena the lion was seen killed. A bear was indicated (as the culprit) by the footsteps. Following those footsteps lord Kṛṣṇa went to the abode of the bear.

34-35. In the cave he heard the words uttered by a woman. O brahmins, they had been uttered by the nurse who was holding the boy, the son of Jāmbavān and who was playing with the jewel. The words “Do not cry” had been uttered by her.

The Nurse said:

36. “The lion killed Prasena. The lion was killed by Jāmbavān. O gentle boy, do not cry. This Syamantaka is yours”.

37-38. Since the words were clear he hastened to the cave. He placed Yadus along with his brother Balarāma at the entrance to the cave. He himself entered the cave quickly. He saw Jāmbavān staying inside the cave.

39. Then he fought a hand-to-hand fight with Jāmbavān within the cave for twenty-one days.

40. After Kṛṣṇa had entered the cave (and did not come out for long) Balarāma and others returned to Dvāravatī and announced that Kṛṣṇa was slain.

41. Kṛṣṇa defeated Jāmbavān of great might and obtained Jāmbavatī the daughter of the king of bears, acclaimed (by all).

42. He took the Syamantaka jewel in order to clear himself (of false accusation). After consoling the king of bears he came out of the cave.

43-45. With humble attendants going ahead of him, Kṛṣṇa returned to Dvārakā. Bringing the jewel and clearing himself of the false charge he gave it to Satrājit in the open assembly of Sātvatas. Thus Kṛṣṇa the slayer of foes who had been falsely accused, redeemed the Syamantaka and cleared himself.

46. Three of them were well renowned. Bhaṅgakāra was the eldest. Others were the heroic Vātamati and Vasumedha. O excellent brahmins, his three daughters too were famous in the quarters.

47-50. Satyabhāmā was the most excellent among them. Others were Vratinī of steady holy rites and Prasvāpinī. He gave (Satyabhāmā) to Kṛṣṇa. The sons of Bhaṅgakāra were Sabhākṣa and Nāveya, the most excellent men. They were endowed with good qualities, well renowned and richly endued with handsome features. Yudhājit was born as the son of Mādrī and Vṛṣṇi (?). Śvaphalka and Śīgraka were born as the sons of Vṛṣṇi. Śvaphalka married the daughter of the king of Kāśi.

51. She was Gāndinī by name. Her father gave him many cows. The mighty son well known as Śrutavān was born of her.

52-59. Then the highly blessed Akrūra who distributed wealth in gift was born. (The other sons were)—Upamadgu, Madgu, Mudara, Arimardana, Ārikṣepa, Upekṣa, Arimejaya the slayer of foes, Dharmabhṛt, Dharma, Gṛdhrabhoja, Andhaka, Āvāha and Prativāha. There was a fair-complexioned daughter Sundarī. She was the crowned queen of Viśrutāśva. His daughter was Vasundharā who was endowed with beauty and blooming youth. She was the most charming among all Sātvatas; Akrūra begot of Ugrasenā two sons Vasudeva and Upadeva. They had divine refulgence and delighted the race. Citraka’s sons were—Pṛthu, Vipṛthu, Aśvagrīva, Aśvabāhu, Supārśvaka, Gaveṣaṇa, Ariṣṭanemi, Dharma, Dharmabhṛt, Subāhu and Bahubāhu. He had two daughters Śraviṣṭhā and Śravaṇā.

False accusations never befall him, nay they never touch him who understands false accusation of Kṛṣṇa that has been cited here.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Syamantaka. The details of this fabulous gem are found in this and the following chapter. It is not possible to identify this gem with the Kohinoor that adorns the British crown.