Chapter 56 - Kṛṣṇa’s marriage with Jāmbavatī and Satyabhāmā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: The story of Syamantaka jewel—Kṛṣṇa’s marriage with Jāmbavatī and Satyabhāmā]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Satrājita^[1] who had committed an offence against Kṛṣṇa, gave, of his own accord and making some special effort for it, his own daughter in marriage to Kṛṣṇa offering therewith the Syamantaka jewel (as an atonement for the offence).

King Parīkṣit enquired:

2. What offence did Satrājita commit against Kṛṣṇa, Oh Brāhmaṇa sage? Whence did he get the Syamantaka gem? Why did he offer his daughter in marriage to Hari?

Śrī Śuka narrated:

3. The Sun-god was an intimate friend of his own devotee Satrājita. The Sun-god was so much affectionate to and pleased with Satrājita that he presented to him the Syamantaka gem.

4. Wearing that gem about his neck and effulgent like the Sun-god, he could hardly be visible and recognized due to its dazzling lustre, Oh king.

5. Beholding him even from a distance, people felt blinded with his brilliant splendour and believing him to be the Sun-god, reported it to the Lord who was playing at dice.

6. “Salutations to You, Oh Nārāyaṇa, the Wielder of the conch, discus and mace! Oh Lotus-eyed Dāmodara! Oh Govinda, the Delight of Yadus.

7. Blinding the eyes of men with his lustre, here comes the Sun-god of scorching rays, with a desire to pay visit to you, Oh Protector of the world.

8. Prominent gods really try to seek the way (to find you) in all the three worlds. Having come to know today that you live undisclosed among the Yadus, the birthless Sun-god has come to see you, Oh Lord.”

Śrī Suka said:

9. Hearing the report of the ignorant people, the Lotuseyed Kṛṣṇa laughed loudly and remarked: He is not the Sungod but Satrājit dazzling with the jewel (Syamantaka).

10. Satrājit entered his affluent, splendid mansion beautified with auspicious objects (for the celebration of his successful return with the gem) and got the jewel properly installed by Brāhmaṇas in the shrine of his family deities.

11. Oh King! Every day, the gem yielded eight bhāras^[2] of gold. Where the gem is installed and worshipped, there is no danger from famines, epidemics, calamities, serpents, diseases, inauspicious things or from rogues.

12. He was solicited by Kṛṣṇa on one occasion for the gem, for presenting to Ugrasena, the king of Yādavas. But being greedy of wealth, he did not comply regardless of the consequences of such refusal (to the Lord’s request).

13. One day, Prasena (the brother of Satrājit) wore that jewel of extra-ordinary lustre about his neck and mounting his horse, he went to the forest for hunting.

14. Having killed Prasena along with his horse, a lion snatched the gem from him (out of curiosity for the dazzling thing) and was entering his mountain cave when he was killed by Jāmbavat who desired to possess the gem.

15. In his den, he used it as a toy for his young son. Not finding his brother, Satrājit was greatly tormented.

16. (He expressed his suspicion:) “My brother is most probably murdered by Kṛṣṇa as he went out to the forest with the Syamantaka jewel round his neck”. Hearing that, people passed on the rumour in whispers from ear to ear.

17. Hearing that rumour, the Lord accompanied by some citizens followed the track of Prasena (Prasena’s horse) in order to wipe out the calumny imputed to him.

18. People saw that Prasena and his horse were killed by a lion in the forest and that the lion was killed by a bear on the side of the mountain.

19. Keeping outside the citizens (with instructions to wait), the Lord alone entered the den of the king of bears, though it was terrible and full of blinding darkness.

20. Seeing there that the excellent gem was used as a toy of a male child he determined to take it away and stayed there near the child.^[3]

21. Seeing that extra-ordinary person (not seen before) the nurse of the child screamed out as in fear. Hearing that, the enraged Jāmbavān who was the foremost among the mighty rushed at him, in rage.

22. Verily, in his indignation, he failed to understand Kṛṣṇa’s greatness, and regarding him as an ordinary person he fought with him, his own Master (Rāma in previous incarnation), the Supreme Lord.

23. Like two hawks fighting for a piece of meat, the combat between them was tumultuous as they tried to overthrow each other by weapons, rocks, trees and arms.

24. There was a continuous combat for twenty-eight days (and nights as well) hitting each other with fists, harsh like the strokes of thunderbolt.

25. Jāmbavān was extremely wonderstruck as his joints and limbs were crushed and dislocated by the blows of Kṛṣṇa’s fists and as his strength decreased and the body was full of perspiration. He addressed to him:

26. “(Now) I know You to be Lord Viṣṇu, the Ancient- most Person, the Creator of the Universe and the Controller thereof Who constitute the energy, the power of endurance (mental strength) and physical power of all beings.

27. You are really the Creator of the progenitors of the Universe; You are the Reality that underlies it (as the material cause of the created substances). You are the Time Spirit which controls and destroys the world. You are the Supreme Soul of all.

28. You are verily my Lord Rāma, at whose side-glances which were slightly enkindled with wrath, the whole ocean full of alligators, whales and other aquatic animals got agitated and was made to give way to you; Who built a bridge across the sea as if it was a memorial of your glory; who burnt down the city of Laṅkā and by whose arrows, the heads of demons rolled on the ground.”

29-30. To his devotee, the king of bears who had thus realized the knowledge of his being the Supreme Spirit, Kṛṣṇa, that Imperishable glorious Lord, the lotus-eyed son of Devakī, touched (all over his body, out of compassion) with his bliss-bestowing hand (relieving all his fatigue, wounds and pain in the combat) and out of Supreme Mercy and Grace, spoke to him in a voice deep with affection.

31. “We (I and citizens of Dvārakā) arrived here at the entrance of your cave for the sake of the Syamantaka gem. (Though some of the false imputation of calumny is hereby removed), I have entered the den to wipe out completely the false accusation (of Prasena’s murder) against me, by means of (i.e. by producing) this gem.”

32. It is traditionally reported that thus addressed, Jāmbavān gladly offered his daughter Jāmbavatī in marriage to Kṛṣṇa, along with the Syamantaka gem, by way of worshipping him.

[Bhāgavata Candrikā’s Text adds:]

32(A). Lord Kṛṣṇa who is affectionate to his devotees, was worshipped (by Jāmbavān) with many other excellent precious stones. And the Lord instantly bestowed on him (or decided to confer upon him) the Supreme Emancipation from which there is no return to saṃsāra.

33. After Waiting (at the entrance of the cave) for twelve days and finding that Kṛṣṇa entered the cave but had not returned out of if, the people who accompanied him there, returned to their own city (Dvārakā) in grief.

34. When they heard the report that Kṛṣṇa had not issued out of the cave (for the last twelve days), Devakī (Kṛṣṇa’s mother), queen Rukmiṇī, Vasudeva (Kṛṣṇa’s father), his friends and kinsmen deeply grieved (his non-return).

35. Citizens of Dvārakā cursed Satrājit (for the disappearance of Kṛṣṇa). Deeply grieving, they devotedly worshipped the goddess Durgā (well-known by the name, Candrabhāgā),^[4] the Supreme Illusive potency of the Lord, for the safe return of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

36. (Possibly) due to the blessing of the goddess they received through their worship and prayers of the deity, Lord Hari manifested Himself along with his spouse (Jāmbavatī) and with his purpose (recovery of the Syamantaka gem) completely achieved, thus thrilling them with joy.

37. All of them were transported with ecstatic joy to find Kṛṣṇa as if returned to life after death and that too with a spouse and the Syamantaka gem about his neck.

38. Summoning Satrājit to the royal assembly, in the presence of the king (Ugrasena), the Lord narrated the story of the recovery of the gem and entrusted the gem to his (Satrā- jit’s) care.

39. Deeply feeling ashamed, he took that Symantaka jewel. Casting down his head and full of repentance for his guilt (of traducing the Lord), he returned home.

40. Constantly brooding over the sinful act (of caluminating an innocent person like Kṛṣṇa) and being agitated and. perplexed at his conflict with a powerful party, he pondered: “How can I wipe off this misdeed and misbehaviour? Or how will Lord Kṛṣṇa be propitiated and gracious unto me?

41. What course would lead to my well-being whereby people won’t censure me who am really short-sighted, mean, foolish and greedy of wealth.

42. I shall offer him my daughter who is a jewel among women, as well as that Syamantaka gem to him. This is the proper expedient, otherwise no peace can be brought about (between us) by any other way.”

43. As the tradition reports, by this reasoning process,he reached this decision. Taking personal initiative in the matter, Satrājit offered his daughter who was excellent in all respects as well as the Syamantaka jewel to him.

44. According to ritualistic formalities prescribed in the Śāstras the Lord married Satyabhāmā who was blessed with good disposition, charming beauty, generosity and other excellent virtues and had many suitors soliciting her hand.

45. (Declining the offer of the Syamantaka gem) the glorious Lord said, “We do not accept the Syamantaka gem. Let it be with you as you are the devotee of the Sun-god (the donor of the gift). We shall enjoy the yield of the gem (viz. gold. As you have no son. I am the legal heir for the gold, yielded everyday by the gem).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The word is spelt both ways: Satrājita and Satrājit. The translation retains the spelling adopted in the original Sk. text.

[2]:

Bhāvāratha Dīpikā quotes verses which show that one bhāra is equivalent to 8ooo Tolāś (1 Tolā = 11.66 grams).

[3]:

Subodhinī quotes a verse from Purāṇas as the nurses lullaby to the child, “The lion killed Prasena, the lion was killed by Jāmbavat. Oh. tender child, don’t cry. This Syamantaka is for you.”

[4]:

Bhāvāratha Dīpikā remarks: [candrabhāgāṃ nāma durgām] suggests that his Text most probably read Candrabhāgā for Mahāmāyā and was [upatasthus candrabhāgāṃ durgām] etc. instead of the current one.