Chapter 68 - Satyabhama’s Grief

1. Vaishampayana said:—O Bharata, Narayana once more affectionately addressed the chaste and beautiful Satyabhama who was thus suffering under the influence of jealousy and resentment, in the following manner.

2. The auspicious god said:—O lotus-eyed one! sorrow seems to burn through all my limbs (at seeing you in this plight). What is the cause that has renderd you so much aggrieved?.

3. O you beautiful in all your parts, if there is no harm and if it is proper for your affectionate husband to hear it, I entreat you, on my life, to reveal to me the cause of your grief.

4. Then Satyabhama seated with her countenance cast down towards the earth thus spoke to her husband, ever truthful in vows, in a voice choked with the vapour of grief. "

5. O lotus-eyed one, O destroyer of Kesin, O bestower of honor it was your ownself that established my honor and prosperity in days gone—and that honor and that prosperity have now become famous in the worlds.

6. That I am most beloved of you among all your wives—is what prompted me to raise my head with pride above all others, O God.

7. But, my maids have told me as they have heard it others say, that to-day I have been laughed at by my rival (co-wives) and by other people also.

8. I hear that the Parijata flower that Narada gave you, you have given to your dear one, totally neglecting my (poor) self.

9. That your love and your regard for her is supreme, you have given unmistakable expression to—by presenting her with that best of all precious things (the Parijata flower).

10. Narada also eulogised her in your presence, and you surely were also gratified having heard that eulogy bestowed on your dear wife.

11. But supposing Narada had some reason for praising her in your presence, why was it that the name of this unfortunate one was uttered in that connection?

12. O Lord, if I am to repent for having tasted the (sweet) liquor of your love, it is better I should have nothing to do with it? Be kindly pleased to accord me your permission.

13. O lotus-eyed one, I could not have believed even in my dream, that you hast honored some body else more than myself; but alas, it has come to pass in real life even before the eyes of others.

14. It may be that the sage Narada of incomparable powers has conceived a love for her (Rukshmini), but O lord, the cause of my grief in this, is your presence in the scene.

15. You have told me that people live for the sake of honor only,—so, thus dishonored, I do not desire to live any longer.

16. My source of protection has been turned to-day into my source of fear. He that used to protect me in every-thing does not do so to-day,

17. Alas, what course shall I pursue, O Lord, being thus abandoned by you! Surely renounced by you, I shall be reduced to the condition of the white lily^[1].

18. Have I done to day something disliked by the gods out of foolishness in consequence of which, O bestower of honour I have incurred your dislike, although I used to be your chosen one.

19. How could I who was your beloved wife, but now discarded, look upon this Raibataka Hills decked with the flowers of the spring?

20. Now that I have been the object of your hate, how could I, unfortunate one, venture to breathe the pure breeze (of this place) ringing with the sweet notes of the cuckoo and fraught with fragrance of the flowers.

21. How could I, who did sport on your lap inside the waters of this ocean, again glance at it, O lord, in this my unhappy condition?

22. You didst tell me in days gone by,—'O daughter of Satrajit, know that there is no wife of mine dearer to me than thyself'—What of that assurance! Or who cares to remember it^[2]!

23. My mother-in-law used to look upon me with much regard and pleasure—but unfortunate lady queen as she was,—she has been contemptuously treated by you.

23. O Lord, what then is the good of this your hidden and unmanifest love for me, if you dost not even deign to reckon me among your common wives?

25. O subduer of your foes, I did not know you hence-before to be so much of a cheat and a knave; but now I have come to know you as fickle, deceiving, and partial to my rival (co-wife)^[3].

26. I have read your innermost and secret thoughts, O thief, by your articulations and your features and signs, although you triest to conceal them from me; you knave, you partisan of my rival, it is your tongue only that is honeyed, but you art too guileful".

27. When the resentful daughter of Satrajit, influenced by jealousy had thus spoken, the god-like Krishna consoling her addressed her in the following manner. "

28. Say not so, O lotus-eyed one, you dearest ruler of my heart! what shall I tell you more my darling;—know me to be thine entirely.

29-30. There is no doubt that in order to please me the sage Narada of unimpeachable deeds gave that Parijata flower to her (Rukshmini) in my presence, merely out of generous feelings or regard for her; (but I did not give it with my own hands). O you of pure smiles, be consoled; forgive me this my first and only transgression.

31. If you desirest to have Parijata flowers, O resentful darling, I promise, O you of delicate waist, to give it to you—this I speak in all earnestness.

33. (What to speak of a single flower), I shall fetch that best of all trees namely the Parijata tree itself, from the gardens of paradise, and keep it in your mansion as long as you chosest."

33-34. Thus spoken to by Hari, that lady so deeply attached to him said:—"O infallible one, if you canst bring that tree down here, my resentment shall leave me,—and it shall then be to my great gratification. O Adhokshaja, for then I shall be the head and the best-honored among all your wives".

35. The divine slayer of Madhu—that incomparable being, the origin of the world, beyond the reach of decay, then said to her:—"so be it, then; this shall be my foremost concern".

36. Vaishampayana said:—O victor of large armies, thus spoken to by the auspicious Krishna, Satyabhama, who was held in high esteem by the pious and who was deeply attached to the slayer of Kamsa, became highly gratified.

37. The lord of the world, the the lord of all, the protector of all things, and the bestower of all desires on the good, then bathed himself and discharged all his necessary duties.

38. O king that lord then remembered that best of sages namely Narada who, as soon as he was remembered, came there having performed his ablutions in the waters of the mighty main.

39. O ruler of men! then that refuge of the pious, Krishna, attended by Satyabhama, duly worshipped Narada who had reached there (according to a fiat of his will).

40. The daughter of Satrajit herself washed the feet of that sage;and the lord Krishna himself then poured the water from a golden pitcher.

41. When the sage had seated himself comfortably, that preceptor of the worlds the high-souled Keshava offered him with all respect and carefulness a dish of rice boiled in milk (or delicious edibles).

42. The highly intelligent sage, that best of all orators then partook of the dish with great regard and relish thus hospitably offered him by the creator of the worlds.

43. O lord! satisfied with the hearty meal, Narada having rinsed his mouth, bestowed many a blessing on Keshava, who also accepted them with much gratification of the mind.

44. Thereafter Narada stretching his wet right hand thus spoke to the divinely beautiful daughter of Satrajit, who was then bowing down to him:—"

45. Be you as faithful and devoted to your husband, for all future periods, as you are even now, O queen! Be you also attended with special good fortune in future through the powers of my religious observances".

46. Thus spoken to by that foremost of sages, that most beloved wife of Hari, Satyabhama rose up, O king (from her bending attitude) filled with immense delight.

47. Thereafter Krishna that most intelligent personage of immeasurable powers, ate the remnants of the sage’s dish having at first obtained his permission.

48. O Bharata, Satyabhama also finishing there all necessary rites gladly entered her inner appartments with the permission of her illustrious husband.

49. Then after a while at the command of Krishna she again came out, and having saluted the high-souled sage with her head, seated herself by Krishna’s side.

50. Thus having (comfortably) sat for a while, Narada said to Krishna:—"O Adhokshaja, with your leave I now intend to go to the regions of Sakra.

51. The gods, the Gandharbhas and the Apsaras there will this day sing songs of praise to that primary divinity Ishana, having at first bowed down to him in homage true.

52. In the residence of Indra, O lord, every month there take place such worship and homage-giving to that god of gods (Siva), and Gandharbha dances in his honor.

53. That god of gods accompanied by his wife Uma, and attended by his followers, witnesseth unseen those festivities celebrated with much reverence by that foremost of immortals, the destroyer of mountains.

54. I was invited there yesterday; I only came here, O highly effulgent one, to present you with that flower of the beautiful Parijata, that king of all trees.

55. This flower of that best of all trees, though it is a luxury to be enjoyed only by the gods, I brought it, O lord, for your enjoyment only.

56. O lotus-eyed one! that tree is very dear to Saci (Indra’s wife), and duly worshipped by her every day, it brings her a chain of (unending) prosperity.

57. Pleased with the religious observances of Aditi, the illustrious Kasyapa created the great Parijata tree in order to enable her to accomplish the vow known as Punyaka.

58. In days gone by the highly powerful Kasyapa that receptacle of all powers begot by austerities, having been much gratified with the services of Aditi, desired to bestow a boon on her.

59-61. Thereupon that very fortunate lady said:—'O foremost of sages, confer on me such a boon by virtue of which I may be decorated with all kinds of ornaments at my will, that I may have the qualities of singing and dancing at my command and that, O mighty possessor of ascetic wealth, I may ever remain youthful; confer on me the boon that I may be always free from all impurities and sorrow, and that I may be ever devoted to my husband and to the performance of religious deeds'.

62. "Thereupon for pleasing his wife Aditi, he created the Parijata tree covered with ever-fragrant flowers capable of bestowing all desires.

63. The tree had three branches to be always seen and it gladdened the heart of all onlookers. All sorts of flowers are to be seen on this mighty tree.

64. Some beautiful damsels deck themselves with flowers like these; some again beautify themselves with parti-coloured ones, and others with jems and jewels (that also grow on this tree).

65. Taking out the essense of the Mandara tree, Kasyapa created this one; and therefore this best of trees has reached the height of excellence (has been reckoned as the foremost of all trees).

66. The blessed Aditi then binding Kasyapa to that tree gave him over to me, in order to accomplish the Punyaka vow and earn prosperity and good fortune therefrom.

67. Aditi gave Kasyapa over to me with his neck bound to the Parijata tree with a garland of flowers, for the fulfilment of her Punyaka vow.

68. That possessor of ascetic wealth was afterwards released by me on payment of proper ransom. Similarly Indra was given to me by his wife for the furtherance of her prosperity.

69. In this way Soma was given away by Rohini, and Kuvera, the lord of wealth by Riddhi. Thus there is no doubt that the Parijata tree is capable of conferring much prosperity.

70. It is called Parijata as it grows on the other side (Para) of the river Vishnupadi—and this is styled the Mandara for it bears the Mandara flower.

71. As men did say—'What tree is this?'—not exactly knowing what it was, this mighty tree is called Kobidara. The excellent tree that produces this excellent flower is known by the several names, Mandara, Kobidara and Parijata".

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The white lily withers away with the dawn of day, when the beams of the moon cease fall on it. Kumadbati may have another meaning. There was a queen of a certain king Aja of that name, who died before her husband.

[2]:

Another interpretation has been put on this part of the Sloka, namely, "who would remain by me when I am gone—!" This seems to be far fetched.

[3]:

An attempt has been made in the commentary of Sridhara to attribute an allegorical meaning to this Sloka, which tries to establish the identity of Krishna with the God-head. This though ingeneous, is not suited to the context.