॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
***
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच
विज्ञातार्थोऽपि गोविन्दो दग्धानाकर्ण्य पाण्डवान् । कुन्तीं च कुल्यकरणे सहरामो ययौ कुरून् ॥
भीष्मं कृपं सविदुरं गान्धारीं द्रोणमेव च ।तुल्यदु:खौ च सङ्गम्य हा कष्टमिति होचतु: ॥
T: Sage Shuka, son of Badarayana Vyasa, narrated: "Despite knowing every happening everywhere and hence the unsuccessful effort of Kauravas to burn down the Pandavas and Kunti, Sri Krishna went with Balarama to make enquiries of their welfare to Hastinapura. There they met Bhsima, Kripa, Vidura, Gandhari and Drona, all lamenting the news that the Pandavas had perished in "an accidental fire" in their palace (which had indeed been built of incendiary material and set on fire by Duryodhana's men). The brothers commiserated and said, "Alas!"
लब्ध्वैतदन्तरं राजन् शतधन्वानमूचतु: । अक्रूरकृतवर्माणौ मनि: कस्मान्न गृह्यते ॥
T: Meanwhile, something evil occurred in Dwaraka. During Sri Krishna's absence, Akrura, of all people, and Kritavarma both instigated Shatadhanva (another nobleman) to go and steal the Syamantaka Mani. Their grouse was that Satrajit had given his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to Sri Krishna instead of one of them as had been promised! Shatadhanva promptly went and murdered Satrajit and all his folk, and took the gem.
A most aggrieved Satyabhama rushed to Hastinapura to inform Sri Krishna how her father had been killed by Shatadhanva for the Mani. Sri Krishna rushed back with Balarama and decided to track down Shatadhanva and get the Mani back. Meanwhile, Satyabhama had preserved her father's corpse in oil (to prevent decay) Shatadhanva dared not face Sri Krishna knowing he would be caught red-handed and punished. He approached Akrura for help (after Kritavarma refused citing how Sri Krishna's might was evident from the way he had destroyed Kamsa). Akrura too refused, saying Sri Krishna was divinity incarnate and no one could understand him or his Maya. Did he not lift Govardhana as a seven-year-old like a child lifts a mushroom? Finally, Akrura agreed to secretly keep the Mani. Now Shatadhanva left the gem with Akrura and scooted on a very swift horse. But he was chased with matching speed by Sri Krishna and Balarama in their chariot. When his horse fell dead from fatigue, Shatadhanva started running on foot. Sri Krishna launched his Chakra which promptly decapitated Shatadhanva. Unfortunately, the brothers did not find the gem on his person at all! Nonplussed, Balarama said he would proceed to Mithila to meet his friend and Sri Krishna should return to Dwaraka, hold the fort, and look for the gem there as it might have been secreted away by Shatadhanva with someone.
While Balarama spent a few years with his friend in Mithila, and Duryodhana also learnt Gada Yuddha from him during this time there, Sri Krishna at once returned to Dwaraka. He performed the obsequies for Satrajit.
Kritavarma and Akrura learnt how Sri Krishna had killed Shatadhanva. Fearing for their lives, they fled Dwaraka with the gem.
Soon, Dwaraka had many bad happenings. People attributed it to Akrura's absence since he was known to be pious. They wanted Sri Krishna to bring him back. Shuka comments that the people of Dwaraka were stupid as they had the greatest divinity in their midst in the form of Sri Krishna! Sri Krishna quickly arranged for Akrura to be discovered and brought back. He went to Akrura and spoke softly and smilingly. "Akrura, how are you? Hope all is well? By the way, we have known all along that the Syamantaka Mani was given to you for safekeeping by Shatadhanva!"
"Satrajit had no sons. Hence his daughter's sons should inherit the gem. However, I shall let you keep it, provided you make public your possession of it by handing it over for display to the people." Sage Shuka says Sri Krishna tells Akrura that the way he is nowadays performing Yajnas on golden altars, anyone could have guessed he had the gem that produced gold daily.
स्यमन्तकं दर्शयित्वा ज्ञातिभ्यो रज आत्मन: ।विमृज्य मणिना भूयस्तस्मै प्रत्यर्पयत् प्रभु: ॥
T: Sri Krishna then displayed the gem for all his people to see, which convinced them he was not behind its disappearance again. Then he handed it back to Akrura, knowing that Akrura would not cause any more harm.
Sage Shuka concludes this chapter by saying that the mysterious ways of the Lord displayed in the story of Syamantaka Mani are to be recounted and heard with devotion as the narrative will confer protection against infamy.
***
