The Syamantaka Gem

Verse 1 (vishnu.4.13.1)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । भजनभजमानदिव्यांधकदेवावृधमहाभोजवृष्णिसंज्ञास्सत्वतस्य पुत्रा बभूवुः । भजमानस्य निमिकृकणवृष्णयस्तथान्ये द्वैमात्राः शतजित्सहस्रजिदयुतजित्संज्ञास्त्रयः । देवावृधस्यापि बभ्रुः पुत्रोऽभवत् । तयोश्चायं श्लोको गीयते ।

śrīparāśara uvāca bhajanabhajamānadivyāṁdhakadevāvṛdhamahābhojavṛṣṇisaṁjñāssatvatasya putrā babhūvuḥ bhajamānasya nimikṛkaṇavṛṣṇayastathānye dvaimātrāḥ śatajitsahasrajidayutajitsaṁjñāstrayaḥ devāvṛdhasyāpi babhruḥ putro'bhavat tayoścāyaṁ śloko gīyate

Parashara said: Bhajin, Bhajamana, Divya, Andhaka, Devavridha, Mahabhoja and Vrishni were the sons of Satvata. From Bhajamana's two wives came Nimi, Krikana and Vrishni, and by another three wives came Shatajit, Sahasrajit and Ayutajit. Devavridha too had a son named Babhru. Of these two a verse is sung:

Verse 2 (vishnu.4.13.2)

यथैव शृणुमो दूरात्संपश्यामस्तथांतिकात् । बभ्रुः श्रेष्ठो मनुष्याणां देवैर्देवावृधस्समः । पुरुषाः षट् च षष्टिश्च सहस्राणि तथाऽष्ट ये । तेऽमृतत्वमनुप्राप्ता बभ्रोर्देवावृधादपि । महाभोजस्त्वतिधर्मात्मा तस्यान्वये भोजाः मृत्तिकावरपुरनिवासिनो मार्त्तिकावरा बभूवुः ।

yathaiva śṛṇumo dūrātsaṁpaśyāmastathāṁtikāt babhruḥ śreṣṭho manuṣyāṇāṁ devairdevāvṛdhassamaḥ puruṣāḥ ṣaṭ ca ṣaṣṭiśca sahasrāṇi tathā'ṣṭa ye te'mṛtatvamanuprāptā babhrordevāvṛdhādapi mahābhojastvatidharmātmā tasyānvaye bhojāḥ mṛttikāvarapuranivāsino mārttikāvarā babhūvuḥ

As we hear from afar, so we see up close — Babhru is foremost among men, and Devavridha is the equal of the gods. Sixty-six thousand and eight men attained immortality through Babhru and Devavridha. Mahabhoja was exceedingly righteous; in his line came the Bhojas known as Martikavatas, dwellers of the city of Mrittikavara.

Verse 3 (vishnu.4.13.3)

वृष्णे सुमित्रो युधाजिच्च पुत्रावभूताम् । ततश्चानमित्रः तथानमित्रान्निघ्नः । निघ्नस्य प्रसेन सत्राजितौ । तस्य च सत्राजितो भगवानादित्यः सखाऽभवत् ।

vṛṣṇe sumitro yudhājicca putrāvabhūtām tataścānamitraḥ tathānamitrānnighnaḥ nighnasya prasena satrājitau tasya ca satrājito bhagavānādityaḥ sakhā'bhavat

From Vrishni came two sons, Sumitra and Yudhajit. From him came Animitra, and from Animitra came Nighna. Nighna had two sons, Prasena and Satrajit. Lord Surya, the sun, was Satrajit's friend.

Verse 4 (vishnu.4.13.4)

एकदा त्वंभोनिधितीरसंश्रयः सूर्यं सत्राजित्तुष्टाव तन्मनस्कतया च भास्वानभिष्टूयमानोऽग्रतस्तस्थौ । ततस्त्वस्पष्टमूर्त्तिधरं चैनमालोक्य सत्राजित्सूर्यमाह । यथैव व्योम्नि वह्निपिंडोपमं त्वामहमपश्यं तथैवाद्याग्रतो गतमप्यत्र भगवता किंचिन्न प्रसादीकृतं विशेषमुपलक्षयामीत्येवमुक्ते भगवता सूर्येण निजकंठादुन्मुच्य स्यमंतकं नाम महामणिवरमवतार्यैकान्ते न्यस्तम् ।

ekadā tvaṁbhonidhitīrasaṁśrayaḥ sūryaṁ satrājittuṣṭāva tanmanaskatayā ca bhāsvānabhiṣṭūyamāno'gratastasthau tatastvaspaṣṭamūrttidharaṁ cainamālokya satrājitsūryamāha yathaiva vyomni vahnipiṁḍopamaṁ tvāmahamapaśyaṁ tathaivādyāgrato gatamapyatra bhagavatā kiṁcinna prasādīkṛtaṁ viśeṣamupalakṣayāmītyevamukte bhagavatā sūryeṇa nijakaṁṭhādunmucya syamaṁtakaṁ nāma mahāmaṇivaramavatāryaikānte nyastam

Once, staying by the ocean's shore, Satrajit praised the sun; pleased by his devotion, the radiant Surya, thus extolled, stood before him. Seeing his form still indistinct in its blaze, Satrajit said to the sun: 'As I used to see you in the sky like a mere ball of fire, so today too, though you stand before me, I perceive that the Lord has shown me no special sight.' Hearing this, Lord Surya removed from his own neck the great gem named Syamantaka and set it aside.

Verse 5 (vishnu.4.13.5)

ततस्तमाताम्रोज्ज्वलं ह्रस्ववपुषमीषदापिंगलनयनमादित्यमद्रा क्षीत् । कृतप्रणिपातस्तवादिकं च सत्राजितमाह भगवानादित्यस्सहस्रदीधितिः वरमस्मत्तोभिमतं वृणीष्वेति । स च तदेव मणिरत्नमयाचत । स चापि तस्मै तद्दत्त्वा दीधितिपतिर्वियति स्वधिष्ण्यमारुरोह ।

tatastamātāmrojjvalaṁ hrasvavapuṣamīṣadāpiṁgalanayanamādityamadrā kṣīt kṛtapraṇipātastavādikaṁ ca satrājitamāha bhagavānādityassahasradīdhitiḥ varamasmattobhimataṁ vṛṇīṣveti sa ca tadeva maṇiratnamayācata sa cāpi tasmai taddattvā dīdhitipatirviyati svadhiṣṇyamāruroha

Then Satrajit beheld Aditya, coppery and radiant, of small stature, his eyes tinged faintly tawny. Having bowed and praised him, the thousand-rayed Lord Surya said to Satrajit, 'Choose from us a boon you desire.' He asked for that very jewel. Surya, giving it to him, ascended again to his own place in the sky.

Verse 6 (vishnu.4.13.6)

सत्राजितोऽप्यमलमणिरत्नसनाथकंठतया सूर्य इव तेजोभिरशेषदिगंतराण्युद्भासयन् द्वारकां विवेश । द्वारकावासी जनस्तु तमायांतमवेक्ष्य भगवंतमादिपुरुषं पुरुषोत्तममवनिभारावतरणायांशेन मानुषरूपधारिणं प्रणिपत्याह । भगवन् भवंतं द्रष्ट्रं नूनमयमादित्य आयातीत्युक्तो भगवानुवाच ।

satrājito'pyamalamaṇiratnasanāthakaṁṭhatayā sūrya iva tejobhiraśeṣadigaṁtarāṇyudbhāsayan dvārakāṁ viveśa dvārakāvāsī janastu tamāyāṁtamavekṣya bhagavaṁtamādipuruṣaṁ puruṣottamamavanibhārāvataraṇāyāṁśena mānuṣarūpadhāriṇaṁ praṇipatyāha bhagavan bhavaṁtaṁ draṣṭraṁ nūnamayamāditya āyātītyukto bhagavānuvāca

Satrajit too, his throat adorned with that flawless jewel, entered Dvaraka illumining every quarter with a splendor like the sun's own. Seeing him approach, the people of Dvaraka bowed to the Lord — the primeval Purushottama, who had taken human form in part to lighten the earth's burden — and said, 'Lord, surely this is Aditya coming to see you.' Hearing this, the Lord replied —

Verse 7 (vishnu.4.13.7)

भगवान्नायमादित्यः सत्राजितोऽयमादित्यदत्तस्यमंतकाख्यं महामणिरत्नं बिभ्रदत्रोपयाति । तदेनं विस्त्रब्धाः पश्यतेत्युक्तास्ते तथैव ददृशुः । स च तं स्यमंतकमणिमात्मनिवेशने चक्रे । प्रतिदिनं तन्मणिरत्नमष्टौ कनकभारान्स्त्रवति ।

bhagavānnāyamādityaḥ satrājito'yamādityadattasyamaṁtakākhyaṁ mahāmaṇiratnaṁ bibhradatropayāti tadenaṁ vistrabdhāḥ paśyatetyuktāste tathaiva dadṛśuḥ sa ca taṁ syamaṁtakamaṇimātmaniveśane cakre pratidinaṁ tanmaṇiratnamaṣṭau kanakabhārānstravati

'This is not Aditya, my lord — this is Satrajit, coming here wearing the great jewel called Syamantaka given him by Aditya. Look upon him without doubt,' he said, and so they saw. Satrajit installed that great gem in his own house. Each day that jewel poured forth eight loads of gold.

Verse 8 (vishnu.4.13.8)

तत्प्रभावाच्च सकलस्यैव राष्ट्रस्योपसर्गानावृष्टिव्यालाग्नितो यद्दुर्भिक्षादिभयं न भवति । अच्युतोऽपि तद्दिव्यं रत्नमुग्रसेनस्य भूपतेर्योग्यमेतदिति लिप्सां चक्रे गोत्रभेदभयाच्छक्तोपि न जहार । सत्राजिदप्यच्युतो मामेतद्याचयिष्यतीत्यवगम्य रत्नलोभाद्भ्रात्रे प्रसेनाय तद्रत्नमदात् ।

tatprabhāvācca sakalasyaiva rāṣṭrasyopasargānāvṛṣṭivyālāgnito yaddurbhikṣādibhayaṁ na bhavati acyuto'pi taddivyaṁ ratnamugrasenasya bhūpateryogyametaditi lipsāṁ cakre gotrabhedabhayācchaktopi na jahāra satrājidapyacyuto māmetadyācayiṣyatītyavagamya ratnalobhādbhrātre prasenāya tadratnamadāt

By its power the whole realm was free from the fears of famine caused by drought, snakes, fire and the like. The Lord Krishna too thought this divine jewel was fit for King Ugrasena, and wished to obtain it; yet fearing a rift within his own clan, though capable, he did not seize it by force. Satrajit, for his part, fearing out of sheer greed for the jewel that Achyuta might ask him for it, gave the jewel instead to his brother Prasena.

Verse 9 (vishnu.4.13.9)

तच्च शुचिना ध्रियमाणमशेषमेव सुवर्णस्रवादिकं गुणजातमुत्पादयति अन्यथा धारयंतमेव हंतीत्यजानन्नसावपि प्रसेनस्तेन कंठसक्तेन स्यमंतकेनाश्वमारुह्याटव्यां मृगयामगच्छत् । तत्र च सिंहाद्वधमवाप । साश्वं च तं निहत्य सिंहोप्यमलमणिरत्नमास्याग्रेणादाय गंतुमभ्युद्यतः ऋक्षाधिपतिना जांबवता दृष्टो घातितश्च ।

tacca śucinā dhriyamāṇamaśeṣameva suvarṇasravādikaṁ guṇajātamutpādayati anyathā dhārayaṁtameva haṁtītyajānannasāvapi prasenastena kaṁṭhasaktena syamaṁtakenāśvamāruhyāṭavyāṁ mṛgayāmagacchat tatra ca siṁhādvadhamavāpa sāśvaṁ ca taṁ nihatya siṁhopyamalamaṇiratnamāsyāgreṇādāya gaṁtumabhyudyataḥ ṛkṣādhipatinā jāṁbavatā dṛṣṭo ghātitaśca

That jewel, when worn by a pure man, produced showers of gold and every blessing — but otherwise, whoever wore it, it killed. Unaware of this, Prasena, the Syamantaka bound at his throat, rode out on horseback to hunt in the forest. There he met his death at a lion's claws. Having slain him along with his horse, the lion was about to carry off the flawless gem in its mouth when Jambavan, king of the bears, saw it and killed the lion in turn.

Verse 10 (vishnu.4.13.10)

जांबवानप्यमलमणिरत्नमादाय स्वबिलं प्रविवेश । सुकुमारसंज्ञाय बालकाय च क्रीडनकमकरोत् । अनागच्छति तस्मिन्प्रसेने कृष्णो मणिरत्नमभिलषितवान्स च प्राप्तनान्नूनमेतदस्य कर्मेत्यखिल एव यदुलोकः परस्परं कर्णाकर्ण्याऽकथयत् ।

jāṁbavānapyamalamaṇiratnamādāya svabilaṁ praviveśa sukumārasaṁjñāya bālakāya ca krīḍanakamakarot anāgacchati tasminprasene kṛṣṇo maṇiratnamabhilaṣitavānsa ca prāptanānnūnametadasya karmetyakhila eva yadulokaḥ parasparaṁ karṇākarṇyā'kathayat

Jambavan too took the flawless jewel into his cave and gave it as a plaything to a child named Sukumaraka. When Prasena failed to return, Krishna desired that jewel; and the whole Yadu people whispered among themselves, 'Surely this is his doing.'

Verse 11 (vishnu.4.13.11)

विदितलोकापवादवृत्तांतश्च भगवान् सर्वयदुसैन्यपरिवारपरिवृतः प्रसेनाश्वपदवीमनुससार । ददर्श चाश्वसमवेतं प्रसेनं सिंहेन विनिहतम् । अखिलजनमध्ये सिंहपददर्शनकृतपरिशुद्धः सिंहपदमनुससार । ऋक्षपतिनिहतं च सिंहमप्यल्पे भूमिभागे दृष्ट्वा ततश्च तद्रत्नगौरवादृक्षस्यापि पदान्यनुययौ ।

viditalokāpavādavṛttāṁtaśca bhagavān sarvayadusainyaparivāraparivṛtaḥ prasenāśvapadavīmanusasāra dadarśa cāśvasamavetaṁ prasenaṁ siṁhena vinihatam akhilajanamadhye siṁhapadadarśanakṛtapariśuddhaḥ siṁhapadamanusasāra ṛkṣapatinihataṁ ca siṁhamapyalpe bhūmibhāge dṛṣṭvā tataśca tadratnagauravādṛkṣasyāpi padānyanuyayau

Learning of this public accusation, the Lord set out with the whole Yadu army along the trail of Prasena's horse. They found Prasena, with his horse, slain by a lion. Clearing himself before all by tracing the lion's own tracks, he followed them; and a short way on, seeing the lion itself slain by a bear, he then followed the bear's tracks too, for the jewel's sake.

Verse 12 (vishnu.4.13.12)

गिरितटे च सकलमेव तद्यदुसैन्यमवस्थाप्य तत्पदानुसारी ऋक्षबिलं प्रविवेश । अन्तः प्रविष्टश्च धात्र्याः सुकुमारकमुल्लालयन्त्या वाणीं शुश्राव । अत्र श्लोकः। सिंहः प्रसेनमवधीत्सिंहो जाम्बवता हतः । सुकुमारकमा रोदीस्तव ह्येष स्यमंतकः ।

giritaṭe ca sakalameva tadyadusainyamavasthāpya tatpadānusārī ṛkṣabilaṁ praviveśa antaḥ praviṣṭaśca dhātryāḥ sukumārakamullālayantyā vāṇīṁ śuśrāva atra ślokaḥ siṁhaḥ prasenamavadhītsiṁho jāmbavatā hataḥ sukumārakamā rodīstava hyeṣa syamaṁtakaḥ

Leaving the entire Yadu army at the mountain's foot, he followed the tracks and entered the bear's cave. As he went within, he heard the voice of a nurse soothing little Sukumaraka. Here a verse is recited: 'The lion killed Prasena, Jambavan killed the lion; weep not, dear Sukumaraka, this Syamantaka is now yours.'

Verse 13 (vishnu.4.13.13)

इत्याकर्ण्योपलब्धस्यमंतकोदन्तःप्रविष्टः कुमारक्रीडनकीकृतं च धात्र्या हस्ते तेजोभिर्जाज्वल्यमानं स्यमंतकं ददर्श । तं च स्यमंतकाभिलषितचक्षुषमपूर्वपुरुषमागतं समवेक्ष्य धात्री त्राहित्राहीति व्याजहार । तदार्त्तरवश्रवणानंतरं चामर्षपूर्णहृदयः स जांबवानाजगाम ।

ityākarṇyopalabdhasyamaṁtakodantaḥpraviṣṭaḥ kumārakrīḍanakīkṛtaṁ ca dhātryā haste tejobhirjājvalyamānaṁ syamaṁtakaṁ dadarśa taṁ ca syamaṁtakābhilaṣitacakṣuṣamapūrvapuruṣamāgataṁ samavekṣya dhātrī trāhitrāhīti vyājahāra tadārttaravaśravaṇānaṁtaraṁ cāmarṣapūrṇahṛdayaḥ sa jāṁbavānājagāma

Hearing this and having thus learned of the Syamantaka, he went in further, and saw the gem, made into the child's toy, blazing with light in the nurse's hand. Seeing this unfamiliar man come with his eyes fixed upon the Syamantaka, the nurse cried out, 'Save us, save us!' At that outcry Jambavan, his heart filled with fury, arrived at once.

Verse 14 (vishnu.4.13.14)

तयोश्च परस्परमुद्धतामर्षयोर्युद्धमेकविंशतिदिनान्यभवत् । ते च यदुसैनिकास्तत्र सप्ताष्टादिनानि तन्निष्क्रांतिमुदीक्षमाणास्तस्थुः । अनिष्क्रमणे च मधुरिपुरसाववश्यमत्र बिलेऽत्यंतं नाशमवाप्तो भविष्यत्यन्यथा तस्य जीवतः कथमेतावंति दिनानि शत्रुजये व्याक्षेपो भविष्यतीति कृताध्यवसाया द्वारकामागम्य हतः कृष्ण इति कथयामासुः ।

tayośca parasparamuddhatāmarṣayoryuddhamekaviṁśatidinānyabhavat te ca yadusainikāstatra saptāṣṭādināni tanniṣkrāṁtimudīkṣamāṇāstasthuḥ aniṣkramaṇe ca madhuripurasāvavaśyamatra bile'tyaṁtaṁ nāśamavāpto bhaviṣyatyanyathā tasya jīvataḥ kathametāvaṁti dināni śatrujaye vyākṣepo bhaviṣyatīti kṛtādhyavasāyā dvārakāmāgamya hataḥ kṛṣṇa iti kathayāmāsuḥ

Between the two of them a battle raged in mounting fury for twenty-one days. The Yadu men waited outside for seven or eight days, expecting him to emerge. When Madhuripu (Krishna) did not come out, they concluded he must surely have perished within the cave — for otherwise, they reasoned, why would he, alive, allow so long a delay in his triumph over the enemy — and returning to Dvaraka, they declared, 'Krishna is dead.'

Verse 15 (vishnu.4.13.15)

तद्बांधवाश्च तत्कालोचितमखिलमुत्तरक्रियाकलापं चक्रुः । ततश्चास्य युद्ध्यमानस्यातिश्रद्धादत्तविशिष्टोपपात्रयुक्तान्नतोयादिना श्रीकृष्णस्य बलप्राणपुष्टिरभूत् । इतरस्यानुदिनमतिगुरुपुरुषभेद्यमानस्य अतिनिष्ठुरप्रहारपातपीडिताखिलावयवस्य निराहारतया बलहानिरभूत् ।

tadbāṁdhavāśca tatkālocitamakhilamuttarakriyākalāpaṁ cakruḥ tataścāsya yuddhyamānasyātiśraddhādattaviśiṣṭopapātrayuktānnatoyādinā śrīkṛṣṇasya balaprāṇapuṣṭirabhūt itarasyānudinamatigurupuruṣabhedyamānasya atiniṣṭhuraprahārapātapīḍitākhilāvayavasya nirāhāratayā balahānirabhūt

His kinsmen performed all the funeral rites befitting the occasion. Meanwhile, from the food and water offered in choice vessels by the nurse out of her deep devotion, Krishna, still locked in battle, kept his strength and life sustained. Jambavan, by contrast, wounded daily by so mighty an adversary, his whole body battered by savage blows, grew weaker for want of food.

Verse 16 (vishnu.4.13.16)

निर्जितश्च भगवता जांबवान्प्रणिपत्य व्याजहार । सुरासुरगंधर्वयक्षराक्षसादिभिरप्यखिलैर्भवान्न जेतुं शक्यः किमुतावनिगोचरैरल्पवीर्यैर्नरैर्नरावयवभूतैश्च तिर्यग्योन्यनुसृतिभिः किं पुनरस्मद्विधैरवश्यं भवताऽस्मत्स्वामिना रामेणेव नारायणस्य सकलजगत्परायणस्यांशेन भगवता भवितव्यमित्युक्तस्तस्मै भगवानखिलावनिभारावतरणार्थमवतरणमाचचक्षे ।

nirjitaśca bhagavatā jāṁbavānpraṇipatya vyājahāra surāsuragaṁdharvayakṣarākṣasādibhirapyakhilairbhavānna jetuṁ śakyaḥ kimutāvanigocarairalpavīryairnarairnarāvayavabhūtaiśca tiryagyonyanusṛtibhiḥ kiṁ punarasmadvidhairavaśyaṁ bhavatā'smatsvāminā rāmeṇeva nārāyaṇasya sakalajagatparāyaṇasyāṁśena bhagavatā bhavitavyamityuktastasmai bhagavānakhilāvanibhārāvataraṇārthamavataraṇamācacakṣe

Defeated by the Lord, Jambavan bowed and said, 'You cannot be conquered even by all the asuras, gods, gandharvas, yakshas and rakshasas together — what then of feeble men wandering the earth, or of beings caught in beastly wombs though human in limb, and what indeed of one such as I? Surely you must be, like Rama before, the very Lord, a portion of Narayana, refuge of the whole universe.' So addressed, the Lord told him the purpose of his descent — to lighten the whole burden of the earth.

Verse 17 (vishnu.4.13.17)

प्रीत्यभिव्यंजितकरतलस्पर्शनेन चैनमपगतयुद्धखेदं चकार । स च प्रणिपत्य पुनरप्येनं प्रसाद्य जांबवतीं नाम कन्यां गृहागतायार्घ्यभूतां ग्राहयामास । स्यमंतकमणिरत्नमपि प्रणिपत्य तस्मै प्रददौ । अच्युतोप्यतिप्रणतात्तस्मादग्राह्यमपि तन्मणिरत्नमात्मसंशोधनाय जग्राह ।

prītyabhivyaṁjitakaratalasparśanena cainamapagatayuddhakhedaṁ cakāra sa ca praṇipatya punarapyenaṁ prasādya jāṁbavatīṁ nāma kanyāṁ gṛhāgatāyārghyabhūtāṁ grāhayāmāsa syamaṁtakamaṇiratnamapi praṇipatya tasmai pradadau acyutopyatipraṇatāttasmādagrāhyamapi tanmaṇiratnamātmasaṁśodhanāya jagrāha

Full of love, he soothed him with the touch of his palm and dispelled the weariness of battle. Jambavan, bowing once more and seeking his favor, gave him in marriage his daughter Jambavati, as a guest-offering fit for one arrived at his home. He also bowed and gave him the Syamantaka jewel. Achyuta, though it was not proper for him to accept it, took the jewel from so humble a devotee, that his own name might be cleared.

Verse 18 (vishnu.4.13.18)

सह जांबवत्या स द्वारकामाजगाम । भगवदागमनोद्भूतहर्षोत्कर्षस्य द्वारकावासिजनस्य कृष्णावलोकनात्तत्क्षणमेवातिपरिणतवयसोपि नवयौवनमिवाभवत् । दिष्ट्यादिष्ट्येति सकलयादवाः स्त्रियश्च सभाजयामासुः । भगवानपि यथानुभूतमशेष यादवसमाजे यथावदाचचक्षे ।

saha jāṁbavatyā sa dvārakāmājagāma bhagavadāgamanodbhūtaharṣotkarṣasya dvārakāvāsijanasya kṛṣṇāvalokanāttatkṣaṇamevātipariṇatavayasopi navayauvanamivābhavat diṣṭyādiṣṭyeti sakalayādavāḥ striyaśca sabhājayāmāsuḥ bhagavānapi yathānubhūtamaśeṣa yādavasamāje yathāvadācacakṣe

With Jambavati he returned to Dvaraka. Such was the joy at the Lord's arrival that the people of Dvaraka, on seeing Krishna, felt as though even the very aged had regained youth in that instant. 'Blessed, blessed indeed!' cried all the Yadavas and their womenfolk, honoring him. The Lord too related, exactly as he had experienced it, the whole matter to the assembled Yadus.

Verse 19 (vishnu.4.13.19)

स्यमंतकं च सत्राजिताय दत्त्वा मिथ्याभिशस्तिपरिशुद्धिमवाप । जांबवतीं चांतःपुरे निवेशयामास । सत्राजितोपि मयास्याभूतमलिनमारोपितमिति जातसंत्रासात्स्वसुतां सत्यभामां भगवते भार्यार्थं ददौ । तां चाक्रूरकृतवर्मशतधन्वप्रमुखा यादवाः प्राग्वरयाम्बभूवुः ।

syamaṁtakaṁ ca satrājitāya dattvā mithyābhiśastipariśuddhimavāpa jāṁbavatīṁ cāṁtaḥpure niveśayāmāsa satrājitopi mayāsyābhūtamalinamāropitamiti jātasaṁtrāsātsvasutāṁ satyabhāmāṁ bhagavate bhāryārthaṁ dadau tāṁ cākrūrakṛtavarmaśatadhanvapramukhā yādavāḥ prāgvarayāmbabhūvuḥ

Returning the Syamantaka to Satrajit, he cleared himself of the false accusation laid upon him. Jambavati he had brought into the inner apartments. Satrajit too, terrified at the thought that he had needlessly slandered him, gave his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to the Lord — she whom Akrura, Kritavarma and Shatadhanva, among other Yadavas, had earlier sought for themselves.

Verse 20 (vishnu.4.13.20)

ततस्तत्प्रदानादवज्ञातमेवात्मानं मन्यमानाः सत्राजिते वैरानुबंधं चक्रुः । अक्रूरकृतवर्मप्रमुखाश्च शतधन्वानमूचुः । अयमतीव दुरात्मा सत्राजितो योऽस्माभिर्भवता च प्रार्थितोऽप्यात्मजामस्मान् भवंतं चाविगणय्य कृष्णाय दत्तवान् ।

tatastatpradānādavajñātamevātmānaṁ manyamānāḥ satrājite vairānubaṁdhaṁ cakruḥ akrūrakṛtavarmapramukhāśca śatadhanvānamūcuḥ ayamatīva durātmā satrājito yo'smābhirbhavatā ca prārthito'pyātmajāmasmān bhavaṁtaṁ cāvigaṇayya kṛṣṇāya dattavān

Feeling themselves slighted by that gift of marriage, they nursed enmity against Satrajit. Akrura, Kritavarma and the others said to Shatadhanva, 'This Satrajit is utterly wicked — though we all, and you too, sought his daughter, he disregarded us all and gave her to Krishna instead.'

Verse 21 (vishnu.4.13.21)

तदलमनेन जीवता घातयित्वैनं तन्महारत्नं स्यमंतकाख्यं त्वया किं न गृह्यते वयमभ्युपपत्स्यामो यद्यच्युतस्तवोपरि वैरानुबंधं करिष्यतीत्येवमुक्तस्तथेत्यसावप्याह । जतुगृहदग्धानां पांडुतनयानां विदितपरमार्थोऽपि भगवान् दुर्योधनप्रयत्नशैथिल्यकरणार्थं पार्थानुकूल्यकरणाय वारणावतं गतः ।

tadalamanena jīvatā ghātayitvainaṁ tanmahāratnaṁ syamaṁtakākhyaṁ tvayā kiṁ na gṛhyate vayamabhyupapatsyāmo yadyacyutastavopari vairānubaṁdhaṁ kariṣyatītyevamuktastathetyasāvapyāha jatugṛhadagdhānāṁ pāṁḍutanayānāṁ viditaparamārtho'pi bhagavān duryodhanaprayatnaśaithilyakaraṇārthaṁ pārthānukūlyakaraṇāya vāraṇāvataṁ gataḥ

'What use, then, is his continued life — why do you not kill him and take that great jewel for yourself? If Achyuta bears enmity toward you for it, we shall stand with you.' So urged, he said, 'So I shall do.' Meanwhile the Lord, though he well knew the truth about the Pandu-sons burnt in the house of lac, went to Varanavata to loosen Duryodhana's design and act for the Parthas' benefit.

Verse 22 (vishnu.4.13.22)

गते च तस्मिन् सुप्तमेव सत्राजितं शतधन्वा जघान मणिरत्नं चाददात् । पितृवधामर्षपूर्णा च सत्यभामा शीघ्रं स्यंदनमारूढा वारणावतं गत्वा भगवतेऽहं प्रतिपादितेत्यक्षांतिमता शतधन्वनाऽस्मत्पिता व्यापादितः तच्च स्यमंतकमणिरत्नमपहृतं यस्यावभासनेनापहृततिमिरं त्रैलोक्यं भविष्यति ।

gate ca tasmin suptameva satrājitaṁ śatadhanvā jaghāna maṇiratnaṁ cādadāt pitṛvadhāmarṣapūrṇā ca satyabhāmā śīghraṁ syaṁdanamārūḍhā vāraṇāvataṁ gatvā bhagavate'haṁ pratipāditetyakṣāṁtimatā śatadhanvanā'smatpitā vyāpāditaḥ tacca syamaṁtakamaṇiratnamapahṛtaṁ yasyāvabhāsanenāpahṛtatimiraṁ trailokyaṁ bhaviṣyati

In his absence, Shatadhanva killed Satrajit as he slept and took the jewel. Satyabhama, filled with fury at her father's murder, mounted a chariot at once and went to Varanavata, saying to the Lord, 'My father, to whose house I was given in marriage, has been slain by the intolerant Shatadhanva, and the Syamantaka jewel too has been seized — that jewel by whose light the darkness of the three worlds would be dispelled.'

Verse 23 (vishnu.4.13.23)

तदियं त्वदीयापहासना तदालोच्य यदत्र युक्तं तत्क्रियतामिति कृष्णमाह । तया चैवमुक्तः परितुष्टांतः करणोऽपि कृष्णः सत्यभामाममर्षताम्रनयनः प्राह । सत्ये सत्यं ममैवैषापहासना नाहमेतां तस्य दुरात्मनस्सहिष्ये । न ह्यनुल्लंघ्य परपादपं तत्कृतनीडाश्रयिणो विहंगमा वध्यंते तदलममुनास्मत्पुरतः सौकप्रोरितवाक्यपरिकरेणेत्युक्त्वा द्वारकामभ्येत्यैकांते बलदेवं वासुदेवः प्राह ।

tadiyaṁ tvadīyāpahāsanā tadālocya yadatra yuktaṁ tatkriyatāmiti kṛṣṇamāha tayā caivamuktaḥ parituṣṭāṁtaḥ karaṇo'pi kṛṣṇaḥ satyabhāmāmamarṣatāmranayanaḥ prāha satye satyaṁ mamaivaiṣāpahāsanā nāhametāṁ tasya durātmanassahiṣye na hyanullaṁghya parapādapaṁ tatkṛtanīḍāśrayiṇo vihaṁgamā vadhyaṁte tadalamamunāsmatpurataḥ saukaproritavākyaparikareṇetyuktvā dvārakāmabhyetyaikāṁte baladevaṁ vāsudevaḥ prāha

'This is your own disgrace — consider it and do what is fitting,' she said to Krishna. Though inwardly at peace, Krishna, his eyes reddening with anger, said to Satyabhama, 'Satya, this insult is mine to answer; I shall not endure this from that wicked man. As birds are not slain without first violating the tree in which they nest...' Having said this, he came to Dvaraka and spoke to Baladeva in private —

Verse 24 (vishnu.4.13.24)

मृगयागतं प्रसेनमटव्यां मृगपतिर्जघान । सत्राजितोऽप्यधुना शतधन्वना निधनं प्रापितः । तदुभयविनाशात्तन्मणिरत्नमावाभ्यां सामान्यं भविष्यति । तदुत्तिष्ठारुह्यतां रथः शतधन्वनिधनायोद्यमं कुर्वित्यभिहितस्तथेति समन्विच्छितवान् ।

mṛgayāgataṁ prasenamaṭavyāṁ mṛgapatirjaghāna satrājito'pyadhunā śatadhanvanā nidhanaṁ prāpitaḥ tadubhayavināśāttanmaṇiratnamāvābhyāṁ sāmānyaṁ bhaviṣyati taduttiṣṭhāruhyatāṁ rathaḥ śatadhanvanidhanāyodyamaṁ kurvityabhihitastatheti samanvicchitavān

'Prasena, gone hunting, was killed by a lion in the forest; and now Satrajit too has been killed by Shatadhanva. With both of them dead, that jewel should rightly be shared between the two of us. So rise, mount the chariot, and let us move to slay Shatadhanva.' So urged, Baladeva agreed, saying, 'So be it.'

Verse 25 (vishnu.4.13.25)

कृतोद्यमौ च तावुभावुपलभ्य शतधन्वा कृतवर्माणमुपेत्य पार्ष्णिपूरणकर्मनिमित्तमचोदयत् । आह चैनं कृतवर्मा । नाऽहं बलदेववासुदेवाभ्यां सह विरोधायालमित्युक्तश्चाक्रूरमचोदयत् । असावप्याह ।

kṛtodyamau ca tāvubhāvupalabhya śatadhanvā kṛtavarmāṇamupetya pārṣṇipūraṇakarmanimittamacodayat āha cainaṁ kṛtavarmā nā'haṁ baladevavāsudevābhyāṁ saha virodhāyālamityuktaścākrūramacodayat asāvapyāha

Seeing the two of them ready for battle, Shatadhanva went to Kritavarma to urge him to his aid. Kritavarma said to him, 'I am not equal to opposing Baladeva and Vasudeva,' and so refusing, Shatadhanva then turned to Akrura for aid. Akrura too replied —

Verse 26 (vishnu.4.13.26)

न हि कश्चिद्भगवता पादप्रहारपरिकंपितजगत्त्रयेण सुररिषुवनितावैधव्यकारिणा प्रबलरिपुचक्राप्रतिहतचक्रेण चक्रिणा मदमुदितनयनावलोकनाखिलनिशातनेनातिगुरुवैरिवारणापकर्षणा-विकृतमहिमोरुसीरेम सीरिणा च सह सकलजगद्वंद्यानाममरवराणामपि योद्धुं समर्थः ।

na hi kaścidbhagavatā pādaprahāraparikaṁpitajagattrayeṇa surariṣuvanitāvaidhavyakāriṇā prabalaripucakrāpratihatacakreṇa cakriṇā madamuditanayanāvalokanākhilaniśātanenātiguruvairivāraṇāpakarṣaṇā-vikṛtamahimorusīrema sīriṇā ca saha sakalajagadvaṁdyānāmamaravarāṇāmapi yoddhuṁ samarthaḥ

'One at a single stroke of whose foot the three worlds tremble, who has widowed the women of the strongest cities of the asuras, whose discus no mighty host of enemies can withstand, whose mere intoxicated glance destroys enemy armies, whose might is shown in the very drawing-in of great hostile elephants — against Baladeva, joined with such a one, even the foremost gods, revered by the whole universe, cannot hope to fight —'

Verse 27 (vishnu.4.13.27)

किमुताहं तदन्यश्शरणमभिलष्यतामित्युक्तश्शतधनुराह । यद्यस्मत्परित्राणासमर्थं भवानात्मानमधिगच्छति तदयमस्मत्तस्तावन्मणिः संगृह्य रक्ष्यतामिति । एकमुक्तः सोऽप्याह । यद्यंत्ययामप्यवस्थायां न कस्मैचिद्भवान् कथयिष्यति तदहमेतं ग्रहीष्यामीति ।

kimutāhaṁ tadanyaśśaraṇamabhilaṣyatāmityuktaśśatadhanurāha yadyasmatparitrāṇāsamarthaṁ bhavānātmānamadhigacchati tadayamasmattastāvanmaṇiḥ saṁgṛhya rakṣyatāmiti ekamuktaḥ so'pyāha yadyaṁtyayāmapyavasthāyāṁ na kasmaicidbhavān kathayiṣyati tadahametaṁ grahīṣyāmīti

'What then can I do? Seek refuge elsewhere,' he said. Shatadhanva then said, 'If you deem yourself unable to protect me, then at least take this jewel and guard it.' To this Akrura replied, 'If, even at your last moment, you tell no one of this, I shall take it.'

Verse 28 (vishnu.4.13.28)

तथेत्युक्ते चाक्रूरस्तन्मणिरत्नं जग्राह । शतधनुरप्य तुलवेगां शतयोजनवाहिनीं वडवामारुह्यापक्रांतः । शैव्यसुग्रीवमेघपुष्पबलाहकाश्वचतुष्टययुक्तरथस्थितौ बलदेववासुदेवौ तमनुप्रयातौ । सा च वडवा शतयोजनप्रमाणमार्गमतीता पुनरपि वाह्यमाना मिथिलावनोद्देशे प्राणानुत्ससर्ज ।

tathetyukte cākrūrastanmaṇiratnaṁ jagrāha śatadhanurapya tulavegāṁ śatayojanavāhinīṁ vaḍavāmāruhyāpakrāṁtaḥ śaivyasugrīvameghapuṣpabalāhakāśvacatuṣṭayayuktarathasthitau baladevavāsudevau tamanuprayātau sā ca vaḍavā śatayojanapramāṇamārgamatītā punarapi vāhyamānā mithilāvanoddeśe prāṇānutsasarja

Agreeing, Akrura took the jewel. Shatadhanva then fled on a mare of matchless speed that could run a hundred leagues. Baladeva and Vasudeva, mounted on a chariot yoked with the four horses Shaibya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa and Balahaka, pursued him. That mare, having crossed a hundred leagues and still being driven on, gave up her life in the region of the Mithila forest.

Verse 29 (vishnu.4.13.29)

शतधनुरपि तां परित्यज्य पदातिरेवाद्रवत् । कृष्णोपि बलभद्रमाह । तावदत्र स्यंदने भवता स्थेयमहमेनमधमाचारं पदातिरेव पदातिमनुगम्य यावद्घातयामि अत्र हि भूभागे दृष्टदोषास्सभया अतो नैतेश्वा भवतेमं भूमिभागमुल्लंघनीयाः ।

śatadhanurapi tāṁ parityajya padātirevādravat kṛṣṇopi balabhadramāha tāvadatra syaṁdane bhavatā stheyamahamenamadhamācāraṁ padātireva padātimanugamya yāvadghātayāmi atra hi bhūbhāge dṛṣṭadoṣāssabhayā ato naiteśvā bhavatemaṁ bhūmibhāgamullaṁghanīyāḥ

Shatadhanva, abandoning her, fled on foot. Krishna said to Balabhadra, 'Stay here in the chariot; I shall pursue this vile man on foot alone, until I have killed him. This stretch of land is known to be ill-omened for horses, so you must not let them be driven across it further.'

Verse 30 (vishnu.4.13.30)

तथेत्युक्त्वा बलदेवो रथ एव तस्थौ । कृष्णोपि द्विक्रोशमात्रं भूमिभागमनुसृत्य दूरस्थितस्यैव चक्रं क्षिप्त्वा शतधनुषश्शिरश्चिच्छेद । तच्छरीरांबरादिषु च बहुप्रकारमन्विच्छन्नपि स्यमंतकमणिं नावाप पदा तदोपगम्य बलभद्रमाह ।

tathetyuktvā baladevo ratha eva tasthau kṛṣṇopi dvikrośamātraṁ bhūmibhāgamanusṛtya dūrasthitasyaiva cakraṁ kṣiptvā śatadhanuṣaśśiraściccheda taccharīrāṁbarādiṣu ca bahuprakāramanvicchannapi syamaṁtakamaṇiṁ nāvāpa padā tadopagamya balabhadramāha

'So be it,' said Baladeva, and remained in the chariot. Krishna, pursuing for barely two kos, hurled his discus from where he stood and severed Shatadhanva's head. Searching his body and garments thoroughly yet finding no Syamantaka jewel, he came to Balabhadra and said —

Verse 31 (vishnu.4.13.31)

वृथैवास्माभिः शतधनुर्घातितः न प्राप्तमखिलजगत्सारभूतं तन्महारत्नं स्यमंतकाख्यमित्याकर्ण्योद्भूतकोपो बलदेवो वासुदेवमाह । धिक्त्वां यस्त्वमेवमर्थलिप्सुरेतच्च ते भ्रातृत्वान्मया क्षांतं तदयं पंथास्स्वेच्छया गम्यतां न मे द्वारकया न त्वया न चाशेषबंधुभिः कार्य्यमलमलमेभिर्ममाग्रतोऽलीकशपथैरित्याक्षिप्य तत्कथां कथंचित्प्रसाद्यमानोपि न तस्थौ ।

vṛthaivāsmābhiḥ śatadhanurghātitaḥ na prāptamakhilajagatsārabhūtaṁ tanmahāratnaṁ syamaṁtakākhyamityākarṇyodbhūtakopo baladevo vāsudevamāha dhiktvāṁ yastvamevamarthalipsuretacca te bhrātṛtvānmayā kṣāṁtaṁ tadayaṁ paṁthāssvecchayā gamyatāṁ na me dvārakayā na tvayā na cāśeṣabaṁdhubhiḥ kāryyamalamalamebhirmamāgrato'līkaśapathairityākṣipya tatkathāṁ kathaṁcitprasādyamānopi na tasthau

'In vain we killed Shatadhanva; that great jewel, the very essence of the whole world, we have not obtained.' Hearing this, Baladeva, filled with rage, said to Vasudeva, 'Shame on you, so greedy for wealth! Still, knowing you as my brother, I have borne with it. Now here is the road — go where you please. I want nothing more of Dvaraka, nor of you, nor of any kinsmen; only stop these false oaths before me now.' Reproaching him thus, he would not be pacified however much entreated.

Verse 32 (vishnu.4.13.32)

स विदेहपुरीं प्रविवेश । जनकराजश्चार्घ्यपूर्वकमेनं गृहं प्रवेशयामास । स तत्रैव च तस्थौ । वासुदेवोऽपि द्वारकामाजगाम ।

sa videhapurīṁ praviveśa janakarājaścārghyapūrvakamenaṁ gṛhaṁ praveśayāmāsa sa tatraiva ca tasthau vāsudevo'pi dvārakāmājagāma

He entered the city of Videha. King Janaka, offering him due honor, welcomed him into his house, and there he remained. Vasudeva too returned to Dvaraka.

Verse 33 (vishnu.4.13.33)

यावच्च जनकराजगृहे बलभद्रो ऽवतस्थे तावद्धार्त्तराष्ट्रो दुर्योधनस्तत्सकाशाद्गदाशिक्षामशिक्षयत् । वर्षत्रयांते च बभ्रूग्रसेनप्रभृतिभिर्यादवैर्न तद्रत्नं कृष्णेनाऽपहृतमिति कृतावगतिभिर्विदेहनगरीं गत्वा बलदेवस्संप्रत्याय्य द्वारकामानीतः ।

yāvacca janakarājagṛhe balabhadro 'vatasthe tāvaddhārttarāṣṭro duryodhanastatsakāśādgadāśikṣāmaśikṣayat varṣatrayāṁte ca babhrūgrasenaprabhṛtibhiryādavairna tadratnaṁ kṛṣṇenā'pahṛtamiti kṛtāvagatibhirvidehanagarīṁ gatvā baladevassaṁpratyāyya dvārakāmānītaḥ

As long as Balabhadra remained in King Janaka's house, Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, learned the art of the mace from him. After three years had passed, when Babhru, Ugrasena and the other Yadavas were satisfied that Krishna had not stolen the jewel, they went to Videha, persuaded Baladeva, and brought him back to Dvaraka.

Verse 34 (vishnu.4.13.34)

अक्रूरोप्युत्तममणिसमुद्भूतसुवर्णेन भगवद्ध्यानपरोऽनवरतं यज्ञानियाज । सवनगतौ हि क्षत्रियवैश्यौ निघ्नन्ब्रह्महा भवतीत्येवंप्रकारं दीक्षाकवचं प्रविष्ट एव तस्थौ । द्विषष्टिवर्षाण्येवं तन्मणिप्रभावात्तत्रोपसर्गदुर्भिक्षमारिकामरणादिकं नाभूत् ।

akrūropyuttamamaṇisamudbhūtasuvarṇena bhagavaddhyānaparo'navarataṁ yajñāniyāja savanagatau hi kṣatriyavaiśyau nighnanbrahmahā bhavatītyevaṁprakāraṁ dīkṣākavacaṁ praviṣṭa eva tasthau dviṣaṣṭivarṣāṇyevaṁ tanmaṇiprabhāvāttatropasargadurbhikṣamārikāmaraṇādikaṁ nābhūt

Meanwhile Akrura, absorbed in meditation on the Lord, performed sacrifice after sacrifice with the gold produced by that excellent jewel. Knowing that one who kills a kshatriya or vaishya while consecrated for sacrifice becomes guilty of the sin of killing a brahmin, he remained continually within his vow of consecration. Thus, for sixty-two years, by the power of that jewel, no drought, famine, plague or other calamity befell that place.

Verse 35 (vishnu.4.13.35)

अथाक्रूरपक्षीयैर्भोजैश्शत्रुघ्ने सात्वतस्य प्रपौत्रे व्यापादिते भोजैस्सहाक्रूरो द्वारकामपहायापक्रान्तः । तदपक्रांतिदिनादारभ्य तत्रोपसर्गदुर्भिक्षव्यालानावृष्टिमारिकाद्युपद्रवा बभूवुः । अथ यादवा बलभद्रो ग्रसेनसमवेता मंत्रममंत्रयन् ।

athākrūrapakṣīyairbhojaiśśatrughne sātvatasya prapautre vyāpādite bhojaissahākrūro dvārakāmapahāyāpakrāntaḥ tadapakrāṁtidinādārabhya tatropasargadurbhikṣavyālānāvṛṣṭimārikādyupadravā babhūvuḥ atha yādavā balabhadro grasenasamavetā maṁtramamaṁtrayan

Then, when Shatrughna, great-grandson of Satvata, was slain by the Bhojas of Akrura's faction, Akrura too left Dvaraka along with those Bhojas. From the very day of his departure, calamities, drought, and plague began to afflict the city. So the Yadavas took counsel together with Ugrasena and Balabhadra.

Verse 36 (vishnu.4.13.36)

भगवानुरगारिकेतनः किमिदमेकदैव प्रचुरोपद्रवागमनमेतदालोच्यतामित्युक्तेंधकनामा यदुवृद्धः प्राह । अस्याक्रूरस्य पितृश्वफल्को यत्र यत्राभूत्तत्रतत्र दुर्भिक्षमारिकानावृष्ट्यादिकं नाभूत् । काशीराजस्य विषये त्वनावृष्ट्या च श्वफल्को नीतः ततश्च तत्क्षणाद्देवो ववर्ष ।

bhagavānuragāriketanaḥ kimidamekadaiva pracuropadravāgamanametadālocyatāmityukteṁdhakanāmā yaduvṛddhaḥ prāha asyākrūrasya pitṛśvaphalko yatra yatrābhūttatratatra durbhikṣamārikānāvṛṣṭyādikaṁ nābhūt kāśīrājasya viṣaye tvanāvṛṣṭyā ca śvaphalko nītaḥ tataśca tatkṣaṇāddevo vavarṣa

The Lord, whose banner bears the serpent, said, 'Consider why so many calamities have arrived all at once.' At this, Andhaka, an elder of the Yadus, said, 'Wherever Akrura's father Shvaphalka dwelt, there no famine, plague or drought ever occurred. Once, when the land of the king of Kashi suffered severe drought, Shvaphalka was brought there, and at that very moment the god sent rain.'

Verse 37 (vishnu.4.13.37)

काशीराजपत्न्याश्च गर्भे कन्यारत्नं पूर्वमासीत् । सा च कन्या पूर्णेपि प्रसूतिकाले नैव निश्चक्राम । एवं च तस्य गर्भस्य द्वादशवर्षाण्यनिष्क्रामतो ययुः । काशीराजश्च तामात्मजां गर्भस्थामाह ।

kāśīrājapatnyāśca garbhe kanyāratnaṁ pūrvamāsīt sā ca kanyā pūrṇepi prasūtikāle naiva niścakrāma evaṁ ca tasya garbhasya dvādaśavarṣāṇyaniṣkrāmato yayuḥ kāśīrājaśca tāmātmajāṁ garbhasthāmāha

In the womb of the king of Kashi's wife there had earlier been conceived a jewel of a daughter. Though the time for her birth had fully come, she did not emerge. Thus twelve years passed with the child still unborn in the womb. The king of Kashi said to his unborn daughter —

Verse 38 (vishnu.4.13.38)

पुत्रि कस्मान्न जायसे निष्क्रम्य तामास्यं ते द्रष्टुमिच्छामि एतां च मातरं किमिति चिरं क्लेशयिष्यसीत्युक्ता गर्भस्थैव व्याजहार । तात यद्येकैकां गां दिनेदिने ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छसि तदहमन्यैस्त्रिभिर्वर्षैरस्माद्गर्भात्ततोऽवश्यं निष्क्रमिष्यामीत्येद्वचनमाकर्ण्य राजा दिनेदिने ब्राह्मणाय गां प्रादात् ।

putri kasmānna jāyase niṣkramya tāmāsyaṁ te draṣṭumicchāmi etāṁ ca mātaraṁ kimiti ciraṁ kleśayiṣyasītyuktā garbhasthaiva vyājahāra tāta yadyekaikāṁ gāṁ dinedine brāhmaṇāya prayacchasi tadahamanyaistribhirvarṣairasmādgarbhāttato'vaśyaṁ niṣkramiṣyāmītyedvacanamākarṇya rājā dinedine brāhmaṇāya gāṁ prādāt

'My daughter, why do you not take birth? Come forth — I wish to see your face. Why do you cause even your own mother such prolonged suffering?' To this, still within the womb, she replied, 'Father, if each day you give a cow in gift to a brahmin, then within three more years I shall surely emerge from this womb.' Hearing these words, the king began giving a cow daily to a brahmin.

Verse 39 (vishnu.4.13.39)

सापि तावता कालेन जाता । ततस्तस्याः पिता गांदिनीति नाम चकार । तां च गांदिनीं कन्यां श्वफल्कायोपकारिणे गृहमागतायार्घ्यभूतां प्रादात् । तस्यामयमक्रूरः श्वफल्काज्जज्ञे ।

sāpi tāvatā kālena jātā tatastasyāḥ pitā gāṁdinīti nāma cakāra tāṁ ca gāṁdinīṁ kanyāṁ śvaphalkāyopakāriṇe gṛhamāgatāyārghyabhūtāṁ prādāt tasyāmayamakrūraḥ śvaphalkājjajñe

In that time she was born. Her father then named her Gandini. That maiden Gandini he gave, as a guest-gift, to Shvaphalka, who had done him this service. From this very Gandini, Akrura was born to Shvaphalka.

Verse 40 (vishnu.4.13.40)

तस्यैवंगुणमिथुनादुत्पत्तिः । तत्कथमस्मिन्नपक्रान्ते अत्र दुर्भिक्षमारिकाद्युपद्रवा न भविष्यंति । तदयमत्रानीयतामलमतिगुणवत्यपराधान्वेषणेनेति यदुवृद्धस्यांधकस्यैतद्वचनमाकर्ण्य केशवोग्रसेनबलभद्रपुरोगमैर्यदुभिः कृतापराधतितिक्षुभिरभयं दत्त्वा श्वफल्कपुत्रः स्वपुरमानीतः ।

tasyaivaṁguṇamithunādutpattiḥ tatkathamasminnapakrānte atra durbhikṣamārikādyupadravā na bhaviṣyaṁti tadayamatrānīyatāmalamatiguṇavatyaparādhānveṣaṇeneti yaduvṛddhasyāṁdhakasyaitadvacanamākarṇya keśavograsenabalabhadrapurogamairyadubhiḥ kṛtāparādhatitikṣubhirabhayaṁ dattvā śvaphalkaputraḥ svapuramānītaḥ

'From such a virtuous couple was he born. So why would famine and plague not arise here, once he had departed? Let him therefore be brought back here — it is futile to search for faults in one so full of virtue.' Hearing this speech of the elder Yadu Andhaka, the Yadavas, led by Keshava, Ugrasena and Balabhadra, granted forgiveness for the past offense, gave assurance of safety to Shvaphalka's son, and brought him back to their own city.

Verse 41 (vishnu.4.13.41)

तत्र चागतमात्र एव तस्य स्यमंतकमणेः प्रभावादनावृष्टिमारिकादुर्भिक्षव्यालाद्युपद्रवोपशमा बभूवुः । कृष्णश्चिंतयामास । स्वल्पमेतत्कारणं यदयं गांदिन्यां श्वफल्केनाक्रूरो जनितः । सुमहांश्चायमनावृष्टिदुर्भिक्षमारिकाद्युपद्रवाप्रतिषेधकारी प्रभावः ।

tatra cāgatamātra eva tasya syamaṁtakamaṇeḥ prabhāvādanāvṛṣṭimārikādurbhikṣavyālādyupadravopaśamā babhūvuḥ kṛṣṇaściṁtayāmāsa svalpametatkāraṇaṁ yadayaṁ gāṁdinyāṁ śvaphalkenākrūro janitaḥ sumahāṁścāyamanāvṛṣṭidurbhikṣamārikādyupadravāpratiṣedhakārī prabhāvaḥ

The moment he arrived there, the calamities of drought, plague, famine and the like, caused by the Syamantaka's absence, subsided by its power. Krishna thought to himself, 'This reason is far too slight — that he is merely Akrura, born of Shvaphalka through Gandini — and yet the power that quells drought, famine, plague and calamity is so very great.'

Verse 42 (vishnu.4.13.42)

तन्नूनमस्य सकाशे स महामणिः स्यमंतकाख्यस्तिष्ठति । तस्य ह्येवंविधाः प्रभावाः श्रूयन्ते । अयमपि च यज्ञादनंतरमन्यत्क्रत्वंतरं तस्यानंतरमन्यद्यज्ञांतरं चाजस्रमविच्छिन्नं यजतीति । अनल्पोपादानं चास्यासंशयमत्राऽसौ मणिवरस्तिष्ठितीति कृताध्यवसायोऽन्यत्प्रयोजनमुद्दिश्य सकलयादवसमाजमात्मगृह एवाचीकरत् ।

tannūnamasya sakāśe sa mahāmaṇiḥ syamaṁtakākhyastiṣṭhati tasya hyevaṁvidhāḥ prabhāvāḥ śrūyante ayamapi ca yajñādanaṁtaramanyatkratvaṁtaraṁ tasyānaṁtaramanyadyajñāṁtaraṁ cājasramavicchinnaṁ yajatīti analpopādānaṁ cāsyāsaṁśayamatrā'sau maṇivarastiṣṭhitīti kṛtādhyavasāyo'nyatprayojanamuddiśya sakalayādavasamājamātmagṛha evācīkarat

'Surely that great jewel Syamantaka is with him. Such are the powers told of it — that this man too performs one sacrifice after another, unbroken and continuous. And his own means are but modest — without doubt that excellent jewel dwells here.' Having so resolved, and under the pretext of some other business, he gathered the whole assembly of Yadavas at his own house.

Verse 43 (vishnu.4.13.43)

तत्र चोपविष्टेष्वखिलेषु यदुषु पूर्वं प्रयोजनमुपन्यस्य पर्यवसिते च तस्मिन् प्रसंगांतरपरिहासकथामक्रूरेण कृत्वा जनार्दनस्तमक्रूरमाह । दानपते जानीम एव वयं यथा शतधन्वना तदिदमखिलजगत्सारभूतं स्यमंतकं रत्नं भवतः तदशेषराष्ट्रोपकरकं भवत्सकाशे तिष्ठति तिष्ठतु सर्व एव वयं तत्प्रभावफलभुजः किं त्वेष बलभद्रो ऽस्मानाशंकितवांश्तदस्मत्प्रीतये दर्शयस्वेत्यभिधाय जोषं स्थिते भगवति वासुदेवे सरत्नस्सोचिंतयत् ।

tatra copaviṣṭeṣvakhileṣu yaduṣu pūrvaṁ prayojanamupanyasya paryavasite ca tasmin prasaṁgāṁtaraparihāsakathāmakrūreṇa kṛtvā janārdanastamakrūramāha dānapate jānīma eva vayaṁ yathā śatadhanvanā tadidamakhilajagatsārabhūtaṁ syamaṁtakaṁ ratnaṁ bhavataḥ tadaśeṣarāṣṭropakarakaṁ bhavatsakāśe tiṣṭhati tiṣṭhatu sarva eva vayaṁ tatprabhāvaphalabhujaḥ kiṁ tveṣa balabhadro 'smānāśaṁkitavāṁśtadasmatprītaye darśayasvetyabhidhāya joṣaṁ sthite bhagavati vāsudeve saratnassociṁtayat

There, before all the assembled Yadavas, having first raised the actual matter and concluded it, Janardana, making light conversation with Akrura on the occasion, said to him, 'O lord of gifts, we know well enough that, as entrusted to you by Shatadhanva, that Syamantaka jewel, the very essence of all creation and benefactor of the whole realm, remains with you — let it remain so; all of us too partake of its beneficent effect. But this Balabhadra suspects us, so for our satisfaction, show it to us.' So addressed, Lord Vasudeva sat silent with the jewel and thought to himself —

Verse 44 (vishnu.4.13.44)

किमत्रानुष्ठेयमन्यथा चेद्ब्रवीम्यहं तत्केवलांबरतिरोधानमन्विष्यंतो रत्नमेते द्रक्ष्यंति अतिविरोधो न क्षम इति संचिंत्य तमखिलजगत्कारणभूतं नारायणमाहक्रूरः । भगवन्ममैतत्स्यमंतकरत्नं शतधनुषा समर्पितमपगते च तस्मिन्नद्य श्वः परश्वो वा भगवान् याचयिष्यतीति कृतमतिरतिकृच्छ्रेणैतावंतं कालमधारयम् ।

kimatrānuṣṭheyamanyathā cedbravīmyahaṁ tatkevalāṁbaratirodhānamanviṣyaṁto ratnamete drakṣyaṁti ativirodho na kṣama iti saṁciṁtya tamakhilajagatkāraṇabhūtaṁ nārāyaṇamāhakrūraḥ bhagavanmamaitatsyamaṁtakaratnaṁ śatadhanuṣā samarpitamapagate ca tasminnadya śvaḥ paraśvo vā bhagavān yācayiṣyatīti kṛtamatiratikṛcchreṇaitāvaṁtaṁ kālamadhārayam

'What is fitting to do here? If I do not reveal it, these people, searching even through the mere folds of cloth concealing it, will find the jewel regardless — so it is not fitting to resist further.' Thinking thus, Akrura said to Narayana, the cause of the whole universe, 'Lord, this Syamantaka jewel was entrusted to me by Shatadhanva. After he departed, thinking that today, tomorrow, or the day after the Lord would ask it of me, I have borne it with the greatest difficulty all this while.'

Verse 45 (vishnu.4.13.45)

तस्य च धारणश्क्लेशेनाहमशेषोपभोगेष्वसंगिमानसो न वेद्मि स्वसुखकलामपि । एतावन्मात्रमप्यशेषराष्ट्रोपकारी धारयितुं न शक्नोति भवान्मन्यत इत्यात्मना न चोदितवान् । तदिदं स्यमंतकरत्नं गृह्यतामिच्छया यस्याभिमतं तस्य समर्प्यताम् ।

tasya ca dhāraṇaśkleśenāhamaśeṣopabhogeṣvasaṁgimānaso na vedmi svasukhakalāmapi etāvanmātramapyaśeṣarāṣṭropakārī dhārayituṁ na śaknoti bhavānmanyata ityātmanā na coditavān tadidaṁ syamaṁtakaratnaṁ gṛhyatāmicchayā yasyābhimataṁ tasya samarpyatām

'Through the burden of guarding it, my mind has grown detached from every pleasure, and I know not the slightest trace of my own happiness. Yet let not the Lord think I confessed this because I found myself unable to hold it for the whole realm's benefit — of my own accord I never spoke of this at all. So now, take this Syamantaka jewel; let it be entrusted to whoever wishes it.'

Verse 46 (vishnu.4.13.46)

ततः स्वोदरवस्त्रनिगोपितमतिलघुकनकसमुद्गकगतं प्रकटीकृतवान् । ततश्च निष्क्राम्य स्यमंतकमणिं तस्मिन्यदुकुलसमाजे मुमोच । मुक्तमात्रे च तस्मिन्नतिकान्त्या तदखिलमास्थानमुद्योतितम् । अथाहाक्रुरः स एष मणिः शतधन्वनास्माकं समर्पितः यस्यायं स एनं गृह्णातु इति ।

tataḥ svodaravastranigopitamatilaghukanakasamudgakagataṁ prakaṭīkṛtavān tataśca niṣkrāmya syamaṁtakamaṇiṁ tasminyadukulasamāje mumoca muktamātre ca tasminnatikāntyā tadakhilamāsthānamudyotitam athāhākruraḥ sa eṣa maṇiḥ śatadhanvanāsmākaṁ samarpitaḥ yasyāyaṁ sa enaṁ gṛhṇātu iti

Then he brought out the jewel, hidden away in a tiny golden casket wrapped in the cloth about his waist. Taking it out, he set the Syamantaka loose there in the midst of the Yadu assembly. The moment it was released, its overwhelming radiance lit up the entire hall. Then Akrura said, 'This is the very jewel that was entrusted to us by Shatadhanva; let whoever it truly belongs to take it.'

Verse 47 (vishnu.4.13.47)

तमालोक्य सर्वयादवानां साधुसाध्विति विस्मितमनसां वाचोऽश्रूयंत । तमालोक्यातीव बलभद्रो ममायमच्युतेनैव सामान्यस्समन्विच्छित इति कृतस्पृहोऽभूत् । ममैवायं पितृधनमित्यतीव च सत्यभामापि स्पृहयांचकार । बलसत्यावलोकनात्कृष्णोप्यात्मानं गोचक्रांतरावस्थितमिव मेने ।

tamālokya sarvayādavānāṁ sādhusādhviti vismitamanasāṁ vāco'śrūyaṁta tamālokyātīva balabhadro mamāyamacyutenaiva sāmānyassamanvicchita iti kṛtaspṛho'bhūt mamaivāyaṁ pitṛdhanamityatīva ca satyabhāmāpi spṛhayāṁcakāra balasatyāvalokanātkṛṣṇopyātmānaṁ gocakrāṁtarāvasthitamiva mene

Seeing it, the minds of all the Yadavas were struck with wonder, and cries of 'well done, well done' arose. Seeing it, Balabhadra too began to think most keenly that he had equal claim to it with Achyuta, and grew eager for it. Satyabhama too, thinking 'this is my own paternal wealth,' grew eager for it as well. Seeing the faces of Bala and Satya, Krishna felt himself as though caught in the middle of a wheel.

Verse 48 (vishnu.4.13.48)

सकलयादवसमक्षं चाक्रूरमाह । एतद्धि मणिरत्नमात्मसंशोधनाय एतेषां यदूनां मया दर्शितम् एतच्च मम बलभद्रस्य च सामान्यं पितृधनं चैतत्सत्यभामाया नान्यस्यैतत् । एतच्च सर्वकालं शुचिना ब्रह्मचर्यादिगुणवता ध्रियमाणमशेषराष्ट्रस्योपकारकमशुचिना ध्रियमाणमाधारमेव हंति ।

sakalayādavasamakṣaṁ cākrūramāha etaddhi maṇiratnamātmasaṁśodhanāya eteṣāṁ yadūnāṁ mayā darśitam etacca mama balabhadrasya ca sāmānyaṁ pitṛdhanaṁ caitatsatyabhāmāyā nānyasyaitat etacca sarvakālaṁ śucinā brahmacaryādiguṇavatā dhriyamāṇamaśeṣarāṣṭrasyopakārakamaśucinā dhriyamāṇamādhārameva haṁti

Before all the Yadavas, he said to Akrura, 'This jewel I have shown to these Yadavas only for my own vindication; it is a shared claim between me and Balabhadra, and it is my paternal inheritance — belonging to none but Satyabhama besides. This jewel, always benefits the whole realm when borne by a pure man endowed with the virtue of continence and the like; but borne by an impure man, it destroys the very bearer.'

Verse 49 (vishnu.4.13.49)

अतोहमस्य षोडशस्त्रीसहस्रपरिग्रहादसमर्थो धारणे कथमेतत्सत्यभामा स्वीकरोति । आर्यबलभद्रेणापि मदिरापानाद्यशेषोपभोगपरित्यागः कार्यः । तदलं यदुलोकोयं बलभद्रः अहं च सत्या च त्वां दानपते प्रार्थयामः । तद्भवानेव धारयितुं समर्थः ।

atohamasya ṣoḍaśastrīsahasraparigrahādasamartho dhāraṇe kathametatsatyabhāmā svīkaroti āryabalabhadreṇāpi madirāpānādyaśeṣopabhogaparityāgaḥ kāryaḥ tadalaṁ yadulokoyaṁ balabhadraḥ ahaṁ ca satyā ca tvāṁ dānapate prārthayāmaḥ tadbhavāneva dhārayituṁ samarthaḥ

'And so, because of my sixteen thousand wives, I am unfit to bear it; how then could Satyabhama accept it? Noble Balabhadra too would have to give up wine-drinking and every other pleasure. So it is this whole Yadu people, along with myself and Satya, who now beseech you, lord of gifts — you alone are capable of bearing it.'

Verse 50 (vishnu.4.13.50)

त्वद्धृतं चास्य राष्ट्रस्योपकारकं तद्भवानशेषराष्ट्रनिमित्तमेतत्पूर्ववद्धारयत्वन्यन्न वक्तव्यमित्युक्तो दानपतिस्तथेत्याह जग्राह च तन्महारत्नम् । ततःप्रभृत्यक्रूरः प्रकटेनैव तेनातिजाज्ज्वल्यमानेनात्मकंठावसक्तेनादित्य इवांशुमाली चचार ।

tvaddhṛtaṁ cāsya rāṣṭrasyopakārakaṁ tadbhavānaśeṣarāṣṭranimittametatpūrvavaddhārayatvanyanna vaktavyamityukto dānapatistathetyāha jagrāha ca tanmahāratnam tataḥprabhṛtyakrūraḥ prakaṭenaiva tenātijājjvalyamānenātmakaṁṭhāvasaktenāditya ivāṁśumālī cacāra

'It benefits this realm while it remains with you; so you alone, for the good of the whole realm, should bear it as before — nothing more need be said.' So addressed, the lord of gifts said, 'So be it,' and took up that great jewel. From then on Akrura moved about openly, radiant with its blazing splendor bound at his own throat, like the sun ringed with its rays.

Verse 51 (vishnu.4.13.51)

इत्येतद्भगवतो मिथ्याभिशस्तिक्षालनं यः स्मरति न तस्य कदाचिदल्पापि मिथ्याभिशस्तिर्भवति अव्याहताखिलेंद्रि यश्चाखिलपापमोक्षमवाप्नोति ।

ityetadbhagavato mithyābhiśastikṣālanaṁ yaḥ smarati na tasya kadācidalpāpi mithyābhiśastirbhavati avyāhatākhileṁdri yaścākhilapāpamokṣamavāpnoti

Whoever recalls this story of the Lord's vindication from false accusation shall never again suffer even the slightest false blame; and with all his faculties unimpaired, he attains release from every sin.