॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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श्रीशुक उवाच
सत्राजितः स्वतनयां कृष्णाय कृतकिल्बिषः । स्यमन्तकेन मणिना स्वयमुद्यम्य दत्तवान् ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrated: "Satrajit gave his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to Sri Krishna after regretting his false accusation of Sri Krishna as having stolen his sacred gem Syamantaka Mani."
This is a delectable short episode. Satrajit, a nobleman in Dwaraka, was a devout worshipper of Lord Surya. Surya gave him a divine gem, which dazzled as it shone on Satrajit's neck so brightly that people mistook him for the sun himself! The Mani (gem) also produced a daily harvest of gold wherever it lay. It also cured diseases and resolved people's grievances by its very presence.
Whereas the people of Dwaraka were enamoured of Syamantaka Mani and deeply envied Satrajit, Sri Krishna solemnly advised him that such a powerful gem rightfully should be submitted to King Ugrasena as it would be safe and its benefits would reach all citizens. Satrajit simply suspected Sri Krishna of mala fide intentions.
One day, Prasena, brother of Satrajit, went hunting, wearing the gem around his neck. He was attacked by a lion who killed him. The lion made away with the shining gem but was intercepted and killed by Jambavan, the Brahma-born bear hero of Ramayana who lived forever. Jambavan went to his cave in the forest and his son, a boy, was afterwards allowed to play with the gem!
Meanwhile, Satrajit rued the disappearance of his brother and also more importantly the loss of the gem. He openly accused Sri Krishna of having killed his brother in the forest and having stolen the gem. Such is the power of Vishnu Maya that this accusation gained currency in Dwaraka! Sri Krishna decided to clear his name. He went with a group of citizens to the forest, hunted down the remains of Prasena and his horse, and pointed out to them how it had all the markings of a lion's attack.
The group then followed the blood trail and found the lion's carcass as well as foot marks that led them to Jambavan's deep and dark cave. Sri Krishna entered that forbidding cave alone and found a boy playing with the dazzling, divine gem! He told the boy that this gem had been stolen and he should give him the gem back. Meanwhile, the womenfolk or female bears raised a hue and cry and Jambavan arrived. He immediately attacked the intruder. There was a terrific battle that lasted twenty-eight days between Sri Krishna and Jambavan.
They fought with weapons, viz. rocks and trees, relentlessly and fiercely. It was a fight to the death almost. After many days, Jambavan started tiring and eventually, realised his blunder.
यस्येषदुत्कलितरोषकटाक्षमोक्षै- र्वर्त्मादिशत्क्षुभितनक्रतिमिङ्गिलोऽब्धिः ।
सेतुः कृतः स्वयश उज्ज्वलिता च लङ्का रक्षः शिरांसि भुवि पेतुरिषुक्षतानि ॥
T: How could he not have recognised Bhagavan Narayana! The same Narayana had come and blessed him before as Sri Rama! The same hero had tamed the ocean, then built a bridge across the ocean, and killed the redoubtable Ravana and his ilk! Now, this must be the Sri Krishna incarnation! He fell at Sri Krishna's feet, begged forgiveness, and was told by Sri Krishna smilingly that Jambavan was cooped up in his cave and did not know the story of Syamantaka Mani and the false accusation Sri Krishna had to clear himself of. Jambavan not only gave Sri Krishna the Mani back with an apology, but he also made Sri Krishna wed his lovely daughter Jambavati. Jambavati was of course a human in form born as she was to an Apsara and the bear hero.
The citizens waiting outside the cave left after twelve days giving up Sri Krishna for dead. There was much mourning in the city and even Vasudeva and Devaki grieved the fate of Sri Krishna.
सत्राजितं शपन्तस्ते दु:खिता द्वारकौकस: ।
उपतस्थुश्चन्द्रभागां दुर्गां कृष्णोपलब्धये ॥
उपतस्थुश्चन्द्रभागां दुर्गां कृष्णोपलब्धये ॥
T: The whole town spoke disparagingly of the arrogant, greedy, and unjust Satrajit for having falsely accused Sri Krishna and now having caused his disappearance. They were plunged in distress and prayed ardently to Devi Chandrabhaga Durga to bring back Sri Krishna to them.
Imagine the utter astonishment of the entire city of Dwaraka when Sri Krishna returned wearing the dazzling divine Syamantaka Mani and having on his arm a bride! The whole city erupted in joyous celebration and the chatter about Satrajit grew even louder when the whole story became public and Satrajit received the gem back from Sri Krishna.
एवं व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या सत्राजित्स्वसुतां शुभाम् । मणिं च स्वयमुद्यम्य कृष्णायोपजहार ह ॥
तां सत्यभामां भगवानुपयेमे यथाविधि । बहुभिर्याचितां शीलरूपौदार्यगुणान्विताम् ॥
भगवानाह न मणिं प्रतीच्छामो वयं नृप । तवास्तां देवभक्तस्य वयं च फलभागिनः ॥
T: Satrajit was very contrite. He realised he should have listened to Sri Krishna in the first place. He went to Sri Krishna, submitted the Syamantaka Mani at his feet, and also begged Sri Krishna to marry his divinely beautiful daughter Satyabhama. Sri Krishna smiled, and accepted her hand, but told Satrajit that the gem rightfully belonged to him and he should worship it enshrined in his home. He also told Satrajit that all the gold that the Mani produced daily should be submitted to the king, Ugrasena.
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