Chapter 57 - Murder of Satājit for Syamantaka

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: The Story of Syamantaka—Murder of Satājit for Syamantaka—Akrūra allowed to retain it]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Hearing the report of Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī having been burnt (in the house of lac at Vāraṇāvata^[1]), Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Ruler of Senses, though knowing the reality (about their escape to safety), went with Balarāma to the Kuru country (to its capital Hastināpura) as a formal condolence visit to relatives.

2. It is traditionally reported that as co-sharers in their grief, he met Bhīṣma, Kṛpa along with Vidura, Gāndhārī as well as Droṇa and exclaimed: ‘Alas! What a pity!’

3. Taking advantage of this opportunity (of Kṛṣṇa’s absence). Akrūra^[2] and Kṛtavarmā instigated Śatadhanvā^[3], “Why should not the gem Syamantaka be seized (now, as Kṛṣṇa is away)?

4. Satrājit who, having positively promised us his beautiful, jewel-like daughter, set us at nought and gave her in marriage to Kṛṣṇa. Why should not such a fellow follow his brother (to the land of death)?”

5. His mind being thus thoroughly perverted and prejudiced, the wicked-most, sinful fellow with his span of life diminished (and was about to be terminated soon), murdered Satrājit out of greed, while he was asleep.

6. While the women (in the family) were screaming and wailing loudly and helplessly, he, like a butcher knifing a beast, finished with Satrājit and absconded, taking with him the gem Syamantaka.

7. Beholding her father thus slain, Satyabhāmā was stricken with grief and bewailed, ‘Oh father! father I am undone’ And she fainted.

8. Depositing that dead body in a trough full of oil (to prevent its decomposition), she rushed to Hastināpura. Tormented as she was, she reported the matter of her father’s assassination to Kṛṣṇa who (being omniscient) already knew the facts (of the case).

9. Hearing that (tragic incident) Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, both the Lords.of the world, following the (customary) way of human beings bewailed, ‘Alas, what a calamity has befallen us!’, with eyes flowing with tears.

10. From Hastināpura, the Lord with his consort and elder brother returned forthwith to his capital and started to adapt measures to slay Śatadhanvā and recover the gem from him.

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds:]

10.1. At this juncture, there arrived from the capital^[4] of the Pāñcāla country, an emissary deputed by king Yajñasena (Drupada) announcing the self-choice (Svayaṃvara) type of marriage of his princess Yajñasenī (Draupadī).

10.2. Being invited there along with his brother, Śrī Kṛṣṇa went to (Kāmpilya), the capital of Pāñcālas and saw there the teen-aged sons of Pāṇḍu.

10.3-4. Those princes were perfectly disguised as Brāhmaṇas and were not seen before. Accompanying them, after they had achieved their ambition through the exhibition of their prowess by hitting the mark (the test for winning Draupadī’s hand), he arrived at a potter’s residence. He paid respects to his paternal aunt (Kuntī) and took leave of prince Yudhiṣṭhira.

10.4(A). And hastened back to Dvārakā to slay Śatadhanvā.

11. Knowing the punitive measures adopted by Kṛṣṇa, Śatadhanvā got afraid and being anxious to save his life, he begged of Kṛtavarmā’s help. But he (Kṛtavarmā) replied:

12. “I will not offend Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, the Lords of the universe. Who can hope to live in peace after committing an offence against them?

13. The great warrior Kaṃsa was forsaken by the goddess of wealth and prosperity due to his hatred of them, and had to leave this world along with his followers, while Jarāsandha had to take to flight in (each of the) seventeen expeditions losing even his own chariot”

14. Being thus refused help (by Kṛtavarmā), he entreated Akrūra for help. But he too replied: “What person knowing the might of these two Lords of the world, can dare to oppose them?

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds:]

15. A. God Siva whose abode is mount Kailāsa, used to bow down to Hari with his head He (Hari) has vanquished Hamsa and Ḍimbhaka who have become arrogant and overbearing due to boons (got by them), in the battle. The great poisonous serpent (Kāliya) was expelled by him from the pool (in the Yamunā).

16. It is out of sport that he creates, maintains and destroys this Universe. People deluded by his Māyā (the Unborn) do not comprehend the activities of the Creator of the Universe.

17. As a boy of seven years, he uprooted a mountain and held it up on one hand easily, as in play, like a child holding an umbrella-like mushroom.

18. Salutations to the Glorious Lord Kṛṣṇa of miraculous deeds. I bow down to the Infinite Lord, the Prime Cause of the universe, the Indwelling Soul of all.”

19. Thus refused help by Akrūra, Śatadhanvā deposited the great jewel with him and mounting a horse (or a mare) capable of going hundred yojanas a day, he took to flight.

20. Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa rode in their chariots carrying the flag with the emblem of Garuḍa, pursued with very swift horses, the murderer of his father-in-law, Oh king.

21. Śatadhanvā left his horse that dropped down (dead through fatigue), in a park of Mithilā. Being afraid, he began to run on foot, Kṛṣṇa also, out of rage, followed him on foot.

22. The glorious Lord who pursued on foot beheaded him with his Sudarśana disk of very sharp edge, and he searched his upper and lower clothes for the Symantaka jewel.

23. Not finding the jewel on his person, Kṛṣṇa returned and spoke to his elder brother, “Śatadhanvā has been killed in vain, for the jewel is not on his person.”

24. Then advised Balarama. “The jewel has been certainly deposited by Śatadhanvā with some person (at Dvārakā). You return to the capital and trace him (the person possessing the jewel).

25. I wish to see king Videha, my dearest friend.” Speaking thus, Balarāma, the delight of Yadus, entered the city of Mithilā, Oh king!

26. Seeing him come unexpectedly, the king of Mithilā, being highly pleased in mind, immediately rose up to receive him, and worshipped duly his honourable guest with suitable presents and other articles of worship.

27. The powerful lord Balarāma spent some years in the city of Mithilā. He was duly honoured by the noble-souled Janaka with great affection. It was during that period that Suyodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, learnt the art of fighting with mace, at his feet.

28. Returning to Dvārakā, Lord Kṛṣṇa who wanted to please his beloved wife, reported the death of Śatadhanvā and also of his not finding the gem with him.

29. Thereupon, along with friends and well-wishers, the Lord caused to be performed all the obsequies of Satrājit his father-in-law who had been murdered.

30. Having heard the report of the slaying of Śatadhanvā, Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā, the instigators of the crime, were overwhelmed with fear and absconded (from Dvārakā).

31. When Akrūra left Dvārakā, there appeared evil portents to the citizens of Dvārakā and they frequently suffered from physical and mental troubles as well as troubles caused by gods and elements (Mahābhūtas), so goes the tradition.

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text Adds:]

30-A. Thereupon Śrī Kṛṣṇa inquired of old people of whom Ugrasena was prorñinent: “What is the reason that after such a long time, these ill omens and calamities are befalling us?”

32. Forgetting what I have spoken before, some chroniclers declare as above. But how is it possible that ominous portents will occur in the home-town of Lord Kṛṣṇa who is the abode of ascetics (capable of counteracting such evils by their very presence)?

33. Formerly, so the tradition goes, when the lord of rains did not send seasonal showers, the king of Kāśi gave his daughter Gāndinī in marriage to ŚvaphaLka (the father of Akrūra) who came there as a guest and there fell showers of rain in the kingdom of Kāśi.

34. His son Akrūra possesses the same (hereditory) miraculous powers. Wherever he stays, the rain-god sends showers at the proper season. No calamities or epidemics (like cholera) affect at that area.

35. Hearing the advice of the elders and considering that this (i.e. the departure of Akrūra) could be the cause (of these calamities, but the absence of the Syamantaka gem is the real cause), Śrī Kṛṣṇa managed to bring back Akrūra (to Dvārakā) and spoke to him.

36. Śrī Kṛṣṇa who knew the minds of all (understood that this great devotee does not covet to possess the Syamantaka gem, and must have certainly brought it with him) received him with deep respect, engaged him in delightful conversation, narrated to him some pleasantries and spoke with a smile:

37. “We already know that the brilliant gem Symantaka is in your possession since it was deposited with you by Śatadhanvā, Oh master of charities.

38. As Satrājita had no male issue.. (legally) the sons of his daughter Satyabhāmā should offer water oblations and lumps of rice (to the departed soul), pay off his debts and inherit the remaining property.

39. As you observe vows properly, let the Syamantaka gem, however, remain in your possession, as it is difficult for others to retain it. But my elder brother (Balarāma) does not believe that I do not possess the gem (he suspects that I have it with me).

40. Please show to our relatives (the Symantaka gem) and bring peace of mind to them, Oh highly fortunate Akrūra. (You cannot deny the possession of the gem as) now-a-days your sacrificial performances on altars of gold are going on continuously (without any interruption or break).”

41. Pursuaded with such sweet words, Akrūra, the son of Śvaphalka, brought the gem wrapped up in a piece of cloth and handed over to him that gem which was resplendent like the Sun.

42. Having made Akrūra to show the gem to his relatives and clansmen*, he wiped out the blame and suspicion imputed to him by (producing) the gem (from Akrūra) and the Lord returned that gem to Akrūra.

[Here Vj’s Text adds:] {after the *}

41.1. The ruler of the world cleared off the accusation levelled against Him and explained the details of the case to Balarāma who had been away so long and had returned for seeing the gem (and to convince himself personally).

41.2. But on seeing it, he regarded himself to be the proper person, to possess it and coveted to have it, Oh prominent Kaurava. Satyabhāmā considered herself to be (legally) the proper heir eligible (to possess) that hereditary property.

41.3. Without knowing the mind of Hari, she confidently wished to possess it. Even Jāmbavatī desired to get that gem as it was given as dowry by her father (as such her claim was legal).

41.4. Knowing all these (covetous) claims, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the consort of goddess Lakṣmī handed over again the gem to Akrūra.

43. He who reads, hears, contemplates this highly auspicious episode rich with the exploits of the glorious Lord Viṣṇu, the Ruler of the Universe—an episode which wipes out all sins—becomes free from evil reputation and sins, and attains ever-lasting peace.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide Mahābhārata Ādi. ch. I47.

[2]:

VT. takes pains to absolve Akrūra of his participation in the criminal conspiracy of murdering Satrājit. His explanation that being enraged at Satrājit’s accusation of Kṛṣṇa, Akrūra wanted to kill him, is not convincing—as Satrājit offered both Satyabhāmā and Syamantaka to Kṛṣṇa and it was Kṛṣṇa who of his own accord requested Satrājit to retain the jewel with him. When matters were amicably settled, to instigate Śatadhanvā to murder Satrājit is certainly not creditable. And his subsequent absconding with Syamantaka and the production of the gem when cornered by Kṛṣṇa, reflects against the character of this ‘one of the greatest devotees’ of Kṛṣṇa.

[3]:

One of the five sons of Hṛdika of the Yadu clan, and a brother of Kṛtavarmā (vide supra 9.29.27)

[4]:

viz. Kāmpilya, the capital of South Pāñcāla, the kingdom of Drupada. It is now known as Kampil, 28 miles N.E. of Fathegadh in Farrukkhabad District, U.P.—GDAMI p. 88.