Chapter 39 - An Account of Akrura

1. Vaishampayana said:—Akrura had that peerless jewel which Krishna conferred on Satrajit, stolen by Shatadhanva.

2. Akrura always wished to have the beautiful Satyabhama.^[1] As soon as he got an opportunity he desired to possess that valuable jewel.

3. Thereupon, having slain Satrajit at the dead of night the highly powerful Shatadhanva took away the jewel and made a present of it to Akrura.

4. Taking that jewel he made Shatadhanva promise that he would never give out that the jewel was in his (Akrura’s) possession.

5. (He said):—"If Krishna attacks you I shall follow you. Forsooth the whole of Dvarka is now under my control."

6. On her father (Satrajit) being slain the illustrious Satyabhama, stricken with grief, got on a chariot and repaired to the city of Barawavata.

7. She then communicated to her husband what had been perpetrated by Shatadhanva of the Bhoja race. Then stricken with grief and standing by his side she began shedding tears.

8. Having performed the watering ceremony of the Pandavas burnt in the house of lac^[2] Krishna engaged Satwaki to perform their obsequial rites.

9. Thereupon hurrying on to the city of Dvarka the graceful slayer of Madhu^[3] said to his elder brother Haladhar^[4]"

10. Prasena has been killed by a lion and Satrajit has been slain by Shatadhanva. Therefore I am the master of the jewel Sywamantaka.

11. Therefore speedily get on your car, O mighty armed hero. After slaying the highly powerful Bhoja Svyamataka will be ours".

12. Thereupon there arose a terrible encounter between Krishna and Shatadhanva The latter saw Akrura on all sides.

13. Thereupon beholding both Krishna and Shatadhanva enraged Akrura, though capable, out of wickedness did not help the son of Hridika.

14. Thereat stricken with fear Shatadhanva took to his heels. With one mare he travelled over a distance of more than a hundred Yojanas^[5].

15. O king, Shatadanva, of the Bhoja race, had a mare that could go over a distance of a hundred Yojanas, by name Vijnatahridaya. With her he fought with Krishna.

16. Having travelled over a distance of a hundred Yojanas Shatadhanva found her motionless and seeing the increased motion of the car he left her off.

17. Thereupon, O descendant of Bharata, on account of the exhaustion and misery of that mare all his vital breaths went up to the sky. Then Krishna said to Rama.. "

18. Wait here, O you of large arms. I have seen the wretched plight of the mare. Going on foot I shall carry away the jewel Svyamantaka".

19. Thereupon, O king, going on foot, Acyuta (Krishna), highly skilled in the use of arms, killed Shatadhanva on the way to Mithila.

20. Having slain the highly powerful Bhoja king he did not see Svyamantaka. And seeing Krishna return Balarama said to him "Give me the jewel".

21. Krishna said:—"I have not got it." Thereat Rama was filled with anger. Repeatedly exclaiming "Fie on you, Fie on you," he replied to Janarddana. "

22. I forgive you because you are my brother. May you farewell. I go away. I have nothing to do with you or other Vrishnis of Dvarka."

23. Thereupon Rama, the subduer of enemies, entered the city of Mithila. He was then honored with all becoming presents after his heart by the king of Mithila.

24. In the interval the most intelligent Vabhru began to collect various articles for the performance of sacrifices.

25. The highly illustrious son of Gandini, on account of the jewel Svyamantaka, entered into the initiation-like coat of mail^[6] for protecting himself.

25. He devoted most excellent jewels and various other articles to the performance of sacrifices for sixty thousand years.

27. That sacrifice, of the high-souled Akrura consisting of food and various presents, was called the Akrura Yajna.

28. Thereupon repairing to the city of Mithila the king Duryodhana received from Balabhadra the most excellent instructions in the use of clubs.

29. Thereupon propitiating Balarama all the mighty car warriors of the Vrishni race and the high-souled Krishna brought him back to the city of Dvarka.

30-31. Then the foremost of men Akrura, with Andhakas, left Dvarka. Slaying the highly powerful Satrajit in battle with all his friends Krishna, in feat of dissension amongst his kinsmen, neglected him (Akrura). After the departure of Akrura Pakashasana^[7] did not pour rain.

32. When the whole country was devastated by draught the Kukuras and Andhakas began to propitiate Akrura.

33. When the liberal Akrura returned to Dvarka the thousand-eyed Indra began to discharge showers on the bank of the ocean.

34. O foremost of Kurus, in order to please Krishna the intelligent Akrura gave him in marriage his sister Sushila.

35-37. Guessing by his riches and liberality that Svyamantaka was with Akrura, Janarddana said to him in the midst of an assembly "O lord, the jewel is in your possession. Do you give it to me. O giver of honors;do not cheat me. O sinless one, the anger, that possessed me sixty years before, is now enkindled all on a sudden. A long time has elapsed. Give me the Jewel therefore."

38. Thereupon at the words of Krishna the high-minded Akrura, without experiencing the least pain, gave him the jewel in the midst of the assembled Satwatas.

39. Receiving from Akrura the jewel who gave it away with all simplicity, Hari, the repressor of enemies, returned it to him with a delighted heart.

40. Obtaining the jewel from Krishna’s hands and placing it on his breast, Akrura shone there like the sun.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The sentence is elliptical and requires a little elucidation. Akrura had in view of marrying Satyabhama. But when he found that she had been given away to Krishna he was mortified. He was then seeking for an opportunity of getting the jewel Svyamantaka.

[2]:

This refers to an incident in the Mahabharata. Duryodhana treacherously invited the Pandavas to a house of lac constructed for that purpose and set fire to it. They, however, being informed of it beforehand, escaped. Duryodhana, however, thought that they had been consumed and Krishna, to keep up an appearance, was performing the obsequial rites. [See Jatugrihadaha Parva.]

[3]:

The word in the text is Madhusudana, a name of Krishna. He was called so on account of his killing the demon king Madhu.

[4]:

A name of Balarama because he always used to carry a plough-share in battle.

[5]:

A measure of distance equal to four Kroras which at 8,000 cubits or 4,000 yards to the Krora or Kos will be exactly nine miles; other computations make the Yojana but about five miles, or even no more than four miles and a half.—Wilson.

[6]:

He initiated himself for the performance of sacrifices, for any one so doing is a proof against all misfortunes.

[7]:

A name of Indra, the god of rain. He obtained this appellation after slaying a demon by name Paka. The word literally means, "the chastiser of Paka."