Part 1d-e - Kṛṣṇa, the Legendary Character

According to the Matsyapurāṇa, Kṛṣṇa was born on the first amāvasyā of the year in the month of Vaiśākha.^[1] Because of his ascetism Vasudeva begot Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the Universe as his son in the womb of Devakī. It is narrated in this Purāṇa that, Śrīkṛṣṇa had four arms and lotus-like eyes. He was born in His lustrous Divine form seeing which Vasudeva requested him to hide that form as Kaṃsa killed the former sons of Vasudeva and was searching for the coming ones. Having heard such pitiful words of Vasudeva, Kṛṣṇa hid his divine form and advised the former to place him in the house of Nanda. Vasudeva did so and requested Nanda to look after the baby like his own child as this baby would protect the future of the Yādavas and bring prosperity to all.^[2] Whenever righteousness perishes Lord Viṣṇu incarnates Himself. Hence the lord was born in human form in the Vṛṣṇi clan in order to re-establish righteousness and to destroy asuras.^[3]

Kṛṣṇa and Syāmantakamani:

The Matsyapurāṇa describes the story of syāmantakamaṇi also. Prasena, a powerful king used to wear beautiful jewel syāmantaka on his chest. It was the best of all gems which was desired by Śrīkṛṣṇa also. Once, Prasena in course of his hunting entered into a cave where he met a wild bear inside it. Though bravely fought with that animal Prasena could not win over the animal and was killed consequently. The bear took the jewel from the dead king with him.

In the meantime the rumour that Kṛṣṇa killed Prasena for that jewel was circulated among people and Śaktisena who was also known as Satrājita, the brother of Prasena also believed the rumour. After some time, Śrīkṛṣṇa while out for hunting reached the very cave of that bear and found that the bear named Jāmbavān was the king of all bears. When Kṛṣṇa attacked Jāmbavān, the bear knowing him as the manifestation of Lord Viṣṇu showed great devotion to him and wanted to die on the hands of the later. He also requested Kṛṣṇa to accept his daughter and the syāmantaka gem too. Then Kṛṣṇa killed him with his sudarśanacakra. After that Kṛṣṇa in an assemblage presented the jewel to Satrājita and told that he was deeply saddened by the false allegation of murdering Prasena.^[4]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

, 46.14

[2]:

, 47.1-6

[3]:

, 47.11-12

[4]:

, 45.4-17