The Death of Shatadhanva and the Jewel's Recovery

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.57.1)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच विज्ञातार्थोऽपि गोविन्दो दग्धानाकर्ण्य पाण्डवान् । कुन्तीं च कुल्यकरणे सहरामो ययौ कुरून् ॥ 57.1 ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca vijñātārtho ’pi govindo dagdhān ākarṇya pāṇḍavān kuntīṁ ca kulya-karaṇe saha-rāmo yayau kurūn

Shri Badarayani (Shukadeva) said: Though Govinda was fully aware of the true situation, upon hearing that the Pandavas and Kunti had been burned to death, He set out for the Kuru kingdom together with Balarama, to fulfill the obligations of kinship.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.57.2)

भीष्मं कृपं सविदुरं गान्धारीं द्रोणमेव च । तुल्यदुःखौ च सङ्गम्य हा कष्टमिति होचतुः ॥ 57.2 ॥

bhīṣmaṁ kṛpaṁ sa viduraṁ gāndhārīṁ droṇam eva ca tulya-duḥkhau ca saṅgamya hā kaṣṭam iti hocatuḥ

Meeting with Bhishma, Kripa, Vidura, Gandhari and Drona, who were equally grief-stricken, the two Lords cried out, 'Alas, how distressing this is!'

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.57.3)

लब्ध्वैतदन्तरं राजन् शतधन्वानमूचतुः । अक्रूरकृतवर्माणौ मनिः कस्मान्न गृह्यते ॥ 57.3 ॥

labdhvaitad antaraṁ rājan śatadhanvānam ūcatuḥ akrūra-kṛtavarmāṇau maniḥ kasmān na gṛhyate

Finding this opportunity, O King, Akrura and Kritavarma said to Shatadhanva: 'Why should the jewel not be seized?

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.57.4)

योऽस्मभ्यं सम्प्रतिश्रुत्य कन्यारत्नं विगर्ह्य नः । कृष्णायादान्न सत्राजित् कस्माद् भ्रातरमन्वियात् ॥ 57.4 ॥

yo ’smabhyaṁ sampratiśrutya kanyā-ratnaṁ vigarhya naḥ kṛṣṇāyādān na satrājit kasmād bhrātaram anviyāt

'He who had promised us his jewel-like daughter, but spurning us, gave her instead to Krishna — why should Satrajit not follow his brother in death?'

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.57.5)

एवं भिन्नमतिस्ताभ्यां सत्राजितमसत्तमः । शयानमवधील्लोभात् स पापः क्षीणजीवितः ॥ 57.5 ॥

evaṁ bhinna-matis tābhyāṁ satrājitam asattamaḥ śayānam avadhīl lobhāt sa pāpaḥ kṣīṇa jīvitaḥ

His mind thus swayed by the two of them, the most wicked Shatadhanva, out of greed, killed the sleeping Satrajit; that sinful man thereby shortened his own life.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.57.6)

स्त्रीणां विक्रोशमानानां क्रन्दन्तीनामनाथवत् । हत्वा पशून् सौनिकवन्मणिमादाय जग्मिवान् ॥ 57.6 ॥

strīṇāṁ vikrośamānānāṁ krandantīnām anātha-vat hatvā paśūn saunika-van maṇim ādāya jagmivān

While the women wailed and wept helplessly, like the unprotected, he killed as a butcher kills cattle, and, taking the jewel, departed.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.57.7)

सत्यभामा च पितरं हतं वीक्ष्य शुचार्पिता । व्यलपत्तात तातेति हा हतास्मीति मुह्यती ॥ 57.7 ॥

satyabhāmā ca pitaraṁ hataṁ vīkṣya śucārpitā vyalapat tāta tāteti hā hatāsmīti muhyatī

Seeing her father slain, Satyabhama, overcome with grief, lamented, 'O father, O father!' crying 'Alas, I am ruined!' and fell senseless.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.57.8)

तैलद्रोण्यां मृतं प्रास्य जगाम गजसाह्वयम् । कृष्णाय विदितार्थाय तप्ताचख्यौ पितुर्वधम् ॥ 57.8 ॥

taila-droṇyāṁ mṛtaṁ prāsya jagāma gajasāhvayam kṛṣṇāya viditārthāya taptācakhyau pitur vadham

Placing the body in a vat of oil, she went to Hastinapura and, sorrowing, told Krishna — who already knew — of her father's murder.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.57.9)

तदाकर्ण्येश्वरौ राजन्ननुसृत्य नृलोकताम् । अहो नः परमं कष्टमित्यस्राक्षौ विलेपतुः ॥ 57.9 ॥

tad ākarṇyeśvarau rājann anusṛtya nṛ-lokatām aho naḥ paramaṁ kaṣṭam ity asrākṣau vilepatuḥ

Hearing this, O King, the two Lords, imitating the ways of ordinary men, cried, 'Alas, this is Our greatest sorrow!' and wept with tearful eyes.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.57.10)

आगत्य भगवांस्तस्मात् सभार्यः साग्रजः पुरम् । शतधन्वानमारेभे हन्तुं हर्तुं मणिं ततः ॥ 57.10 ॥

āgatya bhagavāṁs tasmāt sa-bhāryaḥ sāgrajaḥ puram śatadhanvānam ārebhe hantuṁ hartuṁ maṇiṁ tataḥ

The Lord then returned to His city with His wife and elder brother, and thereafter resolved to slay Shatadhanva and recover the jewel from him.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.57.11)

सोऽपि कृतोद्यमं ज्ञात्वा भीतः प्राणपरीप्सया । साहाय्ये कृतवर्माणमयाचत स चाब्रवीत् ॥ 57.11 ॥

so ’pi kṛtodyamaṁ jñātvā bhītaḥ prāṇa-parīpsayā sāhāyye kṛtavarmāṇam ayācata sa cābravīt

Learning of this resolve and fearing for his life, Shatadhanva begged Kritavarma for help; but he replied as follows.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.57.12)

नाहमीस्वरयोः कुर्यां हेलनं रामकृष्णयोः । को नु क्षेमाय कल्पेत तयोर्वृजिनमाचरन् ॥ 57.12 ॥

nāham īsvarayoḥ kuryāṁ helanaṁ rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ ko nu kṣemāya kalpeta tayor vṛjinam ācaran

[Kritavarma said:] 'I cannot commit offense against the two Lords, Balarama and Krishna. Who indeed could prosper by bringing trouble upon Them?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.57.13)

कंसः सहानुगोऽपीतो यद्द्वेषात्त्याजितः श्रिया । जरासन्धः सप्तदश संयुगाद् विरथो गतः ॥ 57.13 ॥

kaṁsaḥ sahānugo ’pīto yad-dveṣāt tyājitaḥ śriyā jarāsandhaḥ saptadaśa- saṁyugād viratho gataḥ

'Kamsa, along with his followers, perished, stripped of his fortune because of his enmity toward Them; and Jarasandha, after seventeen battles, was left without even a chariot.'

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.57.14)

प्रत्याख्यातः स चाक्रूरं पार्ष्णिग्राहमयाचत । सोऽप्याह को विरुध्येत विद्वानीश्वरयोर्बलम् ॥ 57.14 ॥

pratyākhyātaḥ sa cākrūraṁ pārṣṇi-grāham ayācata so ’py āha ko virudhyeta vidvān īśvarayor balam

Refused by him, Shatadhanva then begged Akrura for support as an ally; but he too replied, 'Who, knowing the strength of these two Lords, would stand against Them?

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.57.15)

य इदं लीलया विश्वं सृजत्यवति हन्ति च । चेष्टां विश्वसृजो यस्य न विदुर्मोहिताजया ॥ 57.15 ॥

ya idaṁ līlayā viśvaṁ sṛjaty avati hanti ca ceṣṭāṁ viśva-sṛjo yasya na vidur mohitājayā

'He who creates, sustains and destroys this universe merely as sport — even the creators of the universe, bewildered by His illusory power, cannot know His purpose.'

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.57.16)

यः सप्तहायनः शैलमुत्पाट्यैकेन पाणिना । दधार लीलया बाल उच्छिलीन्ध्रमिवार्भकः ॥ 57.16 ॥

yaḥ sapta-hāyanaḥ śailam utpāṭyaikena pāṇinā dadhāra līlayā bāla ucchilīndhram ivārbhakaḥ

'He who, at merely seven years of age, uprooted a mountain with one hand and held it aloft in play, as a child lifts up a mushroom.'

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.57.17)

नमस्तस्मै भगवते कृष्णायाद्भुतकर्मणे । अनन्तायादिभूताय कूटस्थायात्मने नमः ॥ 57.17 ॥

namas tasmai bhagavate kṛṣṇāyādbhuta-karmaṇe anantāyādi-bhūtāya kūṭa-sthāyātmane namaḥ

'Obeisances to that Bhagavan Krishna, whose deeds are wondrous; obeisances to the Infinite, the primeval source, the immovable ground of all, the Supreme Self.'

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.57.18)

प्रत्याख्यातः स तेनापि शतधन्वा महामणिम् । तस्मिन् न्यस्याश्वमारुह्य शतयोजनगं ययौ ॥ 57.18 ॥

pratyākhyātaḥ sa tenāpi śatadhanvā mahā-maṇim tasmin nyasyāśvam āruhya śata-yojana-gaṁ yayau

Refused by him as well, Shatadhanva left the great jewel in Akrura's keeping and, mounting a horse capable of covering a hundred yojanas, fled.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.57.19)

गरुडध्वजमारुह्य रथं रामजनार्दनौ । अन्वयातां महावेगैरश्वै राजन् गुरुद्रुहम् ॥ 57.19 ॥

garuḍa-dhvajam āruhya rathaṁ rāma-janārdanau anvayātāṁ mahā-vegair aśvai rājan guru-druham

Mounting the chariot bearing the emblem of Garuda, Balarama and Janardana, O King, pursued the offender against their kinsman with swift-running horses.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.57.20)

मिथिलायामुपवने विसृज्य पतितं हयम् । पद्भ्यामधावत् सन्त्रस्तः कृष्णोऽप्यन्वद्रवद् रुषा ॥ 57.20 ॥

mithilāyām upavane visṛjya patitaṁ hayam padbhyām adhāvat santrastaḥ kṛṣṇo ’py anvadravad ruṣā

In a garden on the outskirts of Mithila his horse collapsed and fell; terrified, he ran onward on foot, and Krishna, in fury, pursued him too.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.57.21)

पदातेर्भगवांस्तस्य पदातिस्तिग्मनेमिना । चक्रेण शिर उत्कृत्य वाससोर्व्यचिनोन्मणिम् ॥ 57.21 ॥

padāter bhagavāṁs tasya padātis tigma-neminā cakreṇa śira utkṛtya vāsasor vyacinon maṇim

Following that man on foot, the Lord, also on foot, severed his head with His sharp-rimmed disc, and then searched within his garments for the jewel.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.57.22)

अलब्धमणिरागत्य कृष्ण आहाग्रजान्तिकम् । वृथा हतः शतधनुर्मणिस्तत्र न विद्यते ॥ 57.22 ॥

alabdha-maṇir āgatya kṛṣṇa āhāgrajāntikam vṛthā hataḥ śatadhanur maṇis tatra na vidyate

Not finding the jewel, Krishna came to His elder brother and said, 'Shatadhanva has been killed in vain — the jewel is not with him.'

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.57.23)

तत आह बलो नूनं स मणिः शतधन्वना । कस्मिंश्चित् पुरुषे न्यस्तस्तमन्वेष पुरं व्रज ॥ 57.23 ॥

tata āha balo nūnaṁ sa maṇiḥ śatadhanvanā kasmiṁścit puruṣe nyastas tam anveṣa puraṁ vraja

Then Bala said: 'Surely Shatadhanva must have left that jewel in the care of someone else; go back to the city and search him out.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.57.24)

अहं वैदेहमिच्छामि द्रष्टुं प्रियतमं मम । इत्युक्त्वा मिथिलां राजन् विवेश यदुनन्दनः ॥ 57.24 ॥

ahaṁ vaideham icchāmi draṣṭuṁ priyatamaṁ mama ity uktvā mithilāṁ rājan viveśa yada-nandanaḥ

'I wish to see the King of Videha, who is most dear to Me.' So saying, O King, the beloved son of Yadu entered Mithila.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.57.25)

तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय मैथिलः प्रीतमानसः । अर्हयामास विधिवदर्हणीयं समर्हणैः ॥ 57.25 ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya maithilaḥ prīta-mānasaḥ arhayāṁ āsa vidhi-vad arhaṇīyaṁ samarhaṇaiḥ

Seeing Him, the King of Mithila rose at once, his heart full of affection; he worshiped Him with due rites, offering every proper honor to the worshipable Lord.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.57.26)

उवास तस्यां कतिचिन्मिथिलायां समा विभुः । मानितः प्रीतियुक्तेन जनकेन महात्मना । ततोऽशिक्षद् गदां काले धार्तराष्ट्रः सुयोधनः ॥ 57.26 ॥

uvāsa tasyāṁ katicin mithilāyāṁ samā vibhuḥ mānitaḥ prīti-yuktena janakena mahātmanā tato ’śikṣad gadāṁ kāle dhārtarāṣṭraḥ suyodhanaḥ

The mighty Lord dwelt there in Mithila for some years, honored by the affectionate, great-souled King Janaka; and it was during that time that Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, learned from Him the art of the mace.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.57.27)

केशवो द्वारकामेत्य निधनं शतधन्वनः । अप्राप्तिं च मणेः प्राह प्रियायाः प्रियकृद् विभुः ॥ 57.27 ॥

keśavo dvārakām etya nidhanaṁ śatadhanvanaḥ aprāptiṁ ca maṇeḥ prāha priyāyāḥ priya-kṛd vibhuḥ

Keshava, arriving in Dvaraka, told of Shatadhanva's death and of His failure to recover the jewel, the all-powerful Lord speaking in a way meant to please His beloved.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.57.28)

ततः स कारयामास क्रिया बन्धोर्हतस्य वै । साकं सुहृद्भिर्भगवान् या याः स्युः साम्परायिकीः ॥ 57.28 ॥

tataḥ sa kārayām āsa kriyā bandhor hatasya vai sākaṁ suhṛdbhir bhagavān yā yāḥ syuḥ sāmparāyikīḥ

Then the Lord, together with well-wishers, had all the funeral rites due at death performed for His slain kinsman.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.57.29)

अक्रूरः कृतवर्मा च श्रुत्वा शतधनोर्वधम् । व्यूषतुर्भयवित्रस्तौ द्वारकायाः प्रयोजकौ ॥ 57.29 ॥

akrūraḥ kṛtavarmā ca śrutvā śatadhanor vadham vyūṣatur bhaya-vitrastau dvārakāyāḥ prayojakau

Hearing of Shatadhanva's death, Akrura and Kritavarma, who had instigated him, fled Dvaraka in terror and stayed elsewhere.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.57.30)

अक्रूरे प्रोषितेऽरिष्टान्यासन् वै द्वारकौकसाम् । शारीरा मानसास्तापा मुहुर्दैविकभौतिकाः ॥ 57.30 ॥

akrūre proṣite ’riṣṭāny āsan vai dvārakaukasām śārīrā mānasās tāpā muhur daivika-bhautikāḥ

With Akrura away, ill omens repeatedly beset the people of Dvaraka — afflictions of body and mind, caused both by higher powers and by earthly creatures.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.57.31)

इत्यङ्गोपदिशन्त्येके विस्मृत्य प्रागुदाहृतम् । मुनिवासनिवासे किं घटेतारिष्टदर्शनम् ॥ 57.31 ॥

ity aṅgopadiśanty eke vismṛtya prāg udāhṛtam muni-vāsa-nivāse kiṁ ghaṭetāriṣṭa-darśanam

Thus, my dear King, some proposed this cause, forgetting what they themselves had earlier declared: how could misfortune ever arise where He who is the very abode of sages dwells?

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.57.32)

देवेऽवर्षति काशीशः श्वफल्कायागताय वै । स्वसुतां गान्दिनीं प्रादात् ततोऽवर्षत् स्म काशिषु ॥ 57.32 ॥

deve ’varṣati kāśīśaḥ śvaphalkāyāgatāya vai sva-sutāṁ gāṇdinīṁ prādāt tato ’varṣat sma kāśiṣu

[The elders said:] When the god of rain had withheld rain, the lord of Kashi gave his own daughter Gandini to Shvaphalka, who had come there; and then it rained in Kashi.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.57.33)

तत्सुतस्तत्प्रभावोऽसावक्रूरो यत्र यत्र ह । देवोऽभिवर्षते तत्र नोपतापा न मारीकाः ॥ 57.33 ॥

tat-sutas tat-prabhāvo ’sāv akrūro yatra yatra ha devo ’bhivarṣate tatra nopatāpā na mārīkāḥ

His son Akrura, possessed of that same power — wherever he stays, there the rain-god provides rain, and there is neither affliction nor untimely death.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.57.34)

इति वृद्धवचः श्रुत्वा नैतावदिह कारणम् । इति मत्वा समानाय्य प्राहाक्रूरं जनार्दनः ॥ 57.34 ॥

iti vṛddha-vacaḥ śrutvā naitāvad iha kāraṇam iti matvā samānāyya prāhākrūraṁ janārdanaḥ

Hearing these words of the elders, Janardana, though understanding this was not truly the whole cause, nonetheless had Akrura brought back and spoke to him.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.57.35)

पूजयित्वाभिभाष्यैनं कथयित्वा प्रियाः कथाः । विज्ञाताखिलचित्तज्ञः स्मयमान उवाच ह ॥ 57.35 ॥

pūjayitvābhibhāṣyainaṁ kathayitvā priyāḥ kathāḥ vijñātākhila-citta jñaḥ smayamāna uvāca ha

Honoring him, greeting him, and speaking pleasant words with him, Krishna, who knew Akrura's heart completely, smiled and said.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.57.36)

ननु दानपते न्यस्तस्त्वय्यास्ते शतधन्वना । स्यमन्तको मनिः श्रीमान् विदितः पूर्वमेव नः ॥ 57.36 ॥

nanu dāna-pate nyastas tvayy āste śatadhanvanā syamantako maniḥ śrīmān viditaḥ pūrvam eva naḥ

'Surely, O lord of charity, the Syamantaka jewel was left with you by Shatadhanva and remains in your keeping — We have known this all along.'

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.57.37)

सत्राजितोऽनपत्यत्वाद् गृह्णीयुर्दुहितुः सुताः । दायं निनीयापः पिण्डान् विमुच्यर्णं च शेषितम् ॥ 57.37 ॥

satrājito ’napatyatvād gṛhṇīyur duhituḥ sutāḥ dāyaṁ ninīyāpaḥ piṇḍān vimucyarṇaṁ ca śeṣitam

'Since Satrajit had no son, his daughter's sons should rightfully take his inheritance — after offering the water and funeral cakes, clearing his debts, and keeping what remains.'

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.57.38)

तथापि दुर्धरस्त्वन्यैस्त्वय्यास्तां सुव्रते मणिः । किन्तु मामग्रजः सम्यङ्न प्रत्येति मणिं प्रति ॥ 57.38 ॥

tathāpi durdharas tv anyais tvayy āstāṁ su-vrate maṇiḥ kintu mām agrajaḥ samyaṅ na pratyeti maṇiṁ prati

'Yet the jewel is hard for anyone else to keep safely; let it remain with you, O trustworthy one — only My elder brother does not fully believe Me concerning it.'

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.57.39)

दर्शयस्व महाभाग बन्धूनां शान्तिमावह । अव्युच्छिन्ना मखास्तेऽद्य वर्तन्ते रुक्मवेदयः ॥ 57.39 ॥

darśayasva mahā-bhāga bandhūnāṁ śāntim āvaha avyucchinnā makhās te ’dya vartante rukma-vedayaḥ

'Please just show it once, O most fortunate one, and bring peace to My kinsmen — for even now your sacrifices continue unbroken upon altars of gold.'

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.57.40)

एवं सामभिरालब्धः श्वफल्कतनयो मणिम् । आदाय वाससाच्छन्नः ददौ सूर्यसमप्रभम् ॥ 57.40 ॥

evaṁ sāmabhir ālabdhaḥ śvaphalka-tanayo maṇim ādāya vāsasācchannaḥ dadau sūrya-sama-prabham

Thus won over by conciliatory words, Shvaphalka's son took out the jewel, which he had kept hidden in his garment, and gave it, radiant as the sun.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.57.41)

स्यमन्तकं दर्शयित्वा ज्ञातिभ्यो रज आत्मनः । विमृज्य मणिना भूयस्तस्मै प्रत्यर्पयत् प्रभुः ॥ 57.41 ॥

syamantakaṁ darśayitvā jñātibhyo raja ātmanaḥ vimṛjya maṇinā bhūyas tasmai pratyarpayat prabhuḥ

Having shown the Syamantaka jewel to His kinsmen, thereby wiping away the stain falsely cast upon Himself, the Lord gave it back once more to Akrura.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.57.42)

यस्त्वेतद् भगवत ईश्वरस्य विष्णो- र्वीर्याढ्यं वृजिनहरं सुमङ्गलं च । आख्यानं पठति शृणोत्यनुस्मरेद् वा दुष्कीर्तिं दुरितमपोह्य याति शान्तिम् ॥ 57.42 ॥

yas tv etad bhagavata īśvarasya viṣṇor vīryāḍhyaṁ vṛjina-haraṁ su-maṅgalaṁ ca ākhyānaṁ paṭhati śṛṇoty anusmared vā duṣkīrtiṁ duritam apohya yāti śāntim

Whoever recites, hears, or recalls this account — rich with the valor of Bhagavan Vishnu, the Supreme Controller, remover of sin and utterly auspicious — casts off ill repute and wrongdoing and attains peace.