Chapter 57: Satrājit Murdered, the Jewel Returned

 

10.57.1

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

vijñātārtho 'pi govindo

dagdhān ākarṇya pāṇḍavān

kuntīḿ ca kulya-karaṇe

saha-rāmo yayau kurūn

 

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Badarāyaṇa, said; vijñāta — aware; arthaḥ — of the facts; api — although; govindaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dagdhān — burned to death; ākarṇya — hearing; pāṇḍavān — the sons of Pāṇḍu; kuntīm — their mother, Kuntī; ca — and; kulya — family obligations; karaṇe — to carry out; saha-rāmaḥ — together with Lord Balarāma; yayau — went; kurūn — to the kingdom of the Kurus.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: Although Lord Govinda was fully aware of what had actually occurred, when He heard reports that the Pāṇḍavas and Queen Kuntī had burned to death, He went with Lord Balarāma to the kingdom of the Kurus to fulfill the family obligations expected of Him.

 

10.57.2

bhīṣmaḿ kṛpaḿ sa viduraḿ

gāndhārīḿ droṇam eva ca

tulya-duḥkhau ca sańgamya

hā kaṣṭam iti hocatuḥ

 

bhīṣmam — Bhīṣma; kṛpam — Ācārya Kṛpa; sa-viduram — and also Vidura; gāndhārīm — Gāndhārī, the wife of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; droṇam — Ācārya Droṇa; eva ca — as well; tulya — equally; duḥkhau — sorrowful; ca — and; sańgamya — meeting with; hā — alas; kaṣṭam — how painful; iti — thus; ha ūcatuḥ — They spoke.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The two Lords met with Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, Vidura, Gāndhārī and Droṇa. Showing sorrow equal to theirs, They cried out, "Alas, how painful this is!"

 

10.57.3

labdhvaitad antaraḿ rājan

śatadhanvānam ūcatuḥ

akrūra-kṛtavarmāṇau

maniḥ kasmān na gṛhyate

 

labdhvā — achieving; etat — this; antaram — opportunity; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); śatadhanvānam — to Śatadhanvā; ūcatuḥ — said; akrūra-kṛtavarmāṇau — Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā; maniḥ — the jewel; kasmāt — why; na gṛhyate — should not be taken.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Taking advantage of this opportunity, O King, Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā went to Śatadhanvā and said, "Why not take the Syamantaka jewel?

 

10.57.4

yo 'smabhyaḿ sampratiśrutya

kanyā-ratnaḿ vigarhya naḥ

kṛṣṇāyādān na satrājit

kasmād bhrātaram anviyāt

 

yaḥ — who; asmabhyam — to each of us; sampratiśrutya — promising; kanyā — his daughter; ratnam — jewellike; vigarhya — contemptuously neglecting; naḥ — us; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; adāt — gave; na — not; satrājit — Satrājit; kasmāt — why; bhrātaram — his brother; anviyāt — should follow (in death).

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Satrājit promised his jewellike daughter to us but then gave her to Kṛṣṇa instead, contemptuously neglecting us. So why should Satrājit not follow his brother's path?"

 

10.57.5

evaḿ bhinna-matis tābhyāḿ

satrājitam asattamaḥ

śayānam avadhīl lobhāt

sa pāpaḥ kṣīṇa jīvitaḥ

 

evam — thus; bhinna — affected; matiḥ — whose mind; tābhyām — by the two of them; satrājitam — Satrājit; asat-tamaḥ — the most wicked; śayānam — sleeping; avadhīt — killed; lobhāt — out of greed; saḥ — he; pāpaḥ — sinful; kṣīṇa — diminished; jīvitaḥ — whose life span.

 

TRANSLATION

 

His mind thus influenced by their advice, wicked Śatadhanvā murdered Satrājit in his sleep simply out of greed. In this way the sinful Śatadhanvā shortened his own life span.

 

10.57.6

strīṇāḿ vikrośamānānāḿ

krandantīnām anātha-vat

hatvā paśūn saunika-van

maṇim ādāya jagmivān

 

strīṇām — as the women; vikrośamānānām — called out; krandantīnām — and cried; anātha — persons who have no protector; vat — as if; hatvā — having killed; paśūn — animals; saunika — a butcher; vat — like; maṇim — the jewel; ādāya — taking; jagmivān — he went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As the women of Satrājit's palace screamed and helplessly wept, Śatadhanvā took the jewel and left, like a butcher after he has killed some animals.

 

10.57.7

satyabhāmā ca pitaraḿ

hataḿ vīkṣya śucārpitā

vyalapat tāta tāteti

hā hatāsmīti muhyatī

 

satyabhāmā — Queen Satyabhāmā; ca — and; pitaram — her father; hatam — killed; vīkṣya — seeing; śucā-arpitā — cast into sorrow; vyalapat — lamented; tata tāta — O father, O father; iti — thus; hā — alas; hatā — killed; asmi — I am; iti — thus; muhyatī — fainting.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Satyabhāmā saw her dead father, she was plunged into grief. Lamenting "My father, my father! Oh, I am killed!" she fell unconscious.

 

10.57.8

taila-droṇyāḿ mṛtaḿ prāsya

jagāma gajasāhvayam

kṛṣṇāya viditārthāya

taptācakhyau pitur vadham

 

taila — of oil; droṇyām — in a large vessel; mṛtam — the corpse; prāsya — putting; jagāma — she went; gaja-sāhvayam — to Hastināpura, the Kuru capital; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; vidita-arthāya — who already was aware of the situation; taptā — sorrowful; ācakhyau — she related; pituḥ — of her father; vadham — the killing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Queen Satyabhāmā put her father's corpse in a large vat of oil and went to Hastināpura, where she sorrowfully told Lord Kṛṣṇa, who was already aware of the situation, about her father's murder.

 

10.57.9

tad ākarṇyeśvarau rājann

anusṛtya nṛ-lokatām

aho naḥ paramaḿ kaṣṭam

ity asrākṣau vilepatuḥ

 

tat — that; ākarṇya — hearing; īśvarau — the two Lords; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); anusṛtya — imitating; nṛ-lokatām — the way of human society; aho — alas; naḥ — for Us; paramam — the greatest; kaṣṭam — distress; iti — thus; asra — tearful; akṣau — whose eyes; vilepatuḥ — They both lamented.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma heard this news, O King, They exclaimed, "Alas! This is the greatest tragedy for Us! "Thus imitating the ways of human society, They lamented, Their eyes brimming with tears.

 

10.57.10

āgatya bhagavāḿs tasmāt

sa-bhāryaḥ sāgrajaḥ puram

śatadhanvānam ārebhe

hantuḿ hartuḿ maṇiḿ tataḥ

 

āgatya — returning; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tasmāt — from that place; sa-bhāryaḥ — with His wife; sa-agrajaḥ — and with His elder brother; puram — to His capital; śatadhanvānam — Śatadhanvā; ārebhe — He prepared; hantum — to kill; hartum — to take; maṇim — the jewel; tataḥ — from him.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord returned to His capital with His wife and elder brother. After arriving in Dvārakā, He readied Himself to kill Śatadhanvā and retrieve the jewel from him.

 

10.57.11

so 'pi kṛtodyamaḿ jñātvā

bhītaḥ prāṇa-parīpsayā

sāhāyye kṛtavarmāṇam

ayācata sa cābravīt

 

saḥ — he (Śatadhanvā); api — also; kṛta-udyamam — preparing Himself; jñātvā — learning; bhītaḥ — frightened; prāṇa — his life air; parīpsayā — wishing to save; sāhāyye — for assistance; kṛtavarmāṇam — Kṛtavarmā; ayācata — he entreated; saḥ — he; ca — and; abravīt — said.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Upon learning that Lord Kṛṣṇa was preparing to kill him, Śatadhanvā was struck with fear. To save his life he approached Kṛtavarmā and begged him for help, but Kṛtavarmā replied as follows.

 

10.57.12-13

nāham īsvarayoḥ kuryāḿ

helanaḿ rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ

ko nu kṣemāya kalpeta

tayor vṛjinam ācaran

 

kaḿsaḥ sahānugo 'pīto

yad-dveṣāt tyājitaḥ śriyā

jarāsandhaḥ saptadaśa-

saḿyugād viratho gataḥ

 

na — not; aham — I; īśvarayoḥ — toward the Lords; kuryām — can commit; helanam — offense; rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ — toward Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; kaḥ — who; nu — indeed; kṣemāya — good fortune; kalpeta — can achieve; tayoḥ — to Them; vṛjinam — trouble; ācaran — causing;

 

kaḿsaḥ — King Kaḿsa; saha — along with; anugaḥ — his followers; apītaḥ — dead; yat — against whom; dveṣāt — because of his hatred; tyājitaḥ — abandoned; śriyā — by his opulence; jarāsandhaḥ — Jarāsandha; saptadaśa — seventeen; saḿyugāt — resulting from battles; virathaḥ — deprived of his chariot; gataḥ — became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Kṛtavarmā said:] I dare not offend the Supreme Lords, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Indeed, how can one who troubles Them expect any good fortune? Kaḿsa and all his followers lost both their wealth and their lives because of enmity toward Them, and after battling Them seventeen times Jarāsandha was left without even a chariot.

 

10.57.14

pratyākhyātaḥ sa cākrūraḿ

pārṣṇi-grāham ayācata

so 'py āha ko virudhyeta

vidvān īśvarayor balam

 

pratyākhyātaḥ — refused; saḥ — he, Śatadhanvā; ca — and; akrūram — Akrūra; pārṣṇi-grāham — for help; ayācata — begged; saḥ — he, Akrūra; api — also; āha — said; kaḥ — who; virudhyeta — can stand against; vidvān — knowing; īśvarayoḥ — of the two Personalities of Godhead; balam — the strength.

 

TRANSLATION

 

His appeal refused, Śatadhanvā went to Akrūra and begged him for protection. But Akrūra similarly told him, "Who would oppose the two Personalities of Godhead if he knew Their strength?

 

10.57.15

ya idaḿ līlayā viśvaḿ

sṛjaty avati hanti ca

ceṣṭāḿ viśva-sṛjo yasya

na vidur mohitājayā

 

yaḥ — who; idam — this; līlayā — as play; viśvam — universe; sṛjati — creates; avati — maintains; hanti — destroys; ca — and; ceṣṭām — purpose; viśva-sṛjaḥ — the (secondary) creators of the universe (headed by Lord Brahmā); yasya — whose; na viduḥ — do not know; mohitāḥ — bewildered; ajayā — by His eternal deluding potency.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"It is the Supreme Lord who creates, maintains and destroys this universe simply as His pastime. The cosmic creators cannot even understand His purpose, bewildered as they are by His illusory Māyā.

 

10.57.16

yaḥ sapta-hāyanaḥ śailam

utpāṭyaikena pāṇinā

dadhāra līlayā bāla

ucchilīndhram ivārbhakaḥ

 

yaḥ — who; sapta — seven; hāyanaḥ — years of age; śailam — a mountain; utpāṭya — uprooting; ekena — with a single; pāṇinā — hand; dadhāra — held up; līlayā — as play; bālaḥ — a mere child; ucchilīndhram — a mushroom; iva — as; arbhakaḥ — a boy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"As a child of seven, Kṛṣṇa uprooted an entire mountain and held it aloft as easily as a young boy picks up a mushroom.

 

10.57.17

namas tasmai bhagavate

kṛṣṇāyādbhuta-karmaṇe

anantāyādi-bhūtāya

kūṭa-sthāyātmane namaḥ

 

namaḥ — obeisances; tasmai — to Him; bhagavate — the Supreme Lord; kṛṣṇāya — Kṛṣṇa; adbhuta — amazing; karmaṇe — whose acts; anantāya — the unlimited; ādi-bhūtāya — the source of all existence; kūṭa-sthāya — the immovable center of existence; ātmane — the Supreme Soul; namaḥ — obeisances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"I offer my obeisances to that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, whose every deed is amazing. He is the Supreme Soul, the unlimited source and fixed center of all existence."

 

10.57.18

pratyākhyātaḥ sa tenāpi

śatadhanvā mahā-maṇim

tasmin nyasyāśvam āruhya

śata-yojana-gaḿ yayau

 

pratyākhyātaḥ — refused; saḥ — he; tena — by him, Akrūra; api — also; śatadhanvā — Śatadhanvā; mahā-maṇim — the precious jewel; tasmin — with him; nyasya — leaving; aśvam — a horse; āruhya — mounting; śata — one hundred; yojana — yojanas (one yojana measures about eight miles); gam — which could go; yayau — he departed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

His appeal thus rejected by Akrūra also, Śatadhanvā placed the precious jewel in Akrūra's care and fled on a horse that could travel one hundred yojanas [eight hundred miles].

 

10.57.19

garuḍa-dhvajam āruhya

rathaḿ rāma-janārdanau

anvayātāḿ mahā-vegair

aśvai rājan guru-druham

 

garuḍa-dhvajam — having the emblem of Garuḍa on its flag; āruhya — mounting; ratham — the chariot; rāma — Balarāma; janārdanau — and Kṛṣṇa; anvayātām — followed; mahā-vegaiḥ — very swift; aśvaiḥ — by horses; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); guru — to Their superior (Satrājit, Their father-in-law); druham — the committer of violence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma mounted Kṛṣṇa's chariot, which flew the flag of Garuḍa and was yoked with tremendously swift horses, and pursued Their elder's murderer.

 

10.57.20

mithilāyām upavane

visṛjya patitaḿ hayam

padbhyām adhāvat santrastaḥ

kṛṣṇo 'py anvadravad ruṣā

 

mithilāyām — at Mithilā; upavane — in a suburban garden; visṛjya — abandoning; patitam — fallen; hayam — his horse; padbhyām — on foot; adhāvat — he ran; santrastaḥ — terrified; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; api — also; anvadravat — ran after; ruṣā — furiously.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In a garden on the outskirts of Mithilā, the horse Śatadhanvā was riding collapsed. Terrified, he abandoned the horse and began to flee on foot, with Kṛṣṇa in angry pursuit.

 

10.57.21

padāter bhagavāḿs tasya

padātis tigma-neminā

cakreṇa śira utkṛtya

vāsasor vyacinon maṇim

 

padāteḥ — of him who was on foot; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; tasya — his; padātiḥ — Himself on foot; tigma — sharp; neminā — whose edge; cakreṇa — with His disc; śiraḥ — head; utkṛtya — severing; vāsasoḥ — within Śatadhanvā's garments (upper and lower); vyacinot — He searched for; maṇim — the jewel.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As Śatadhanvā fled on foot, the Supreme Lord, also going on foot, cut off his head with His sharp-edged disc. The Lord then searched Śatadhanvā's upper and lower garments for the Syamantaka jewel.

 

10.57.22

alabdha-maṇir āgatya

kṛṣṇa āhāgrajāntikam

vṛthā hataḥ śatadhanur

maṇis tatra na vidyate

 

alabdha — not finding; maṇiḥ — the gem; āgatya — approaching; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; āha — said; agra-ja — of His elder brother; antikam — to the proximity; vṛthā — uselessly; hataḥ — killed; śatadhanuḥ — Śatadhanvā; maṇiḥ — the jewel; tatra — with him; na vidyate — is not present.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Not finding the jewel, Lord Kṛṣṇa went to His elder brother and said, "We have killed Śatadhanvā uselessly. The jewel isn't here."

 

10.57.23

tata āha balo nūnaḿ

sa maṇiḥ śatadhanvanā

kasmiḿścit puruṣe nyastas

tam anveṣa puraḿ vraja

 

tataḥ — then; āha — said; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma; nūnam — certainly; saḥ — that; maṇiḥ — jewel; śatadhanvanā — by Śatadhanvā; kasmiḿścit — with some particular; puruṣe — person; nyastaḥ — left; tam — him; anveṣa — search out; puram — to the city; vraja — go.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To this Lord Balarāma replied, "Indeed, Śatadhanvā must have placed the jewel in the care of someone. You should return to Our city and find that person.

 

10.57.24

ahaḿ vaideham icchāmi

draṣṭuḿ priyatamaḿ mama

ity uktvā mithilāḿ rājan

viveśa yada-nandanaḥ

 

aham — I; vaideham — the King of Videha; icchāmi — wish; draṣṭum — to see; priya-tamam — who is most dear; mama — to Me; iti — thus; uktvā — saying; mithilām — Mithilā (the capital of the Videha kingdom); rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); viveśa — entered; yadu-nandanaḥ — Lord Balarāma, the descendant of Yadu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"I wish to visit King Videha, who is most dear to Me." O King, having said this, Lord Balarāma, the beloved descendant of Yadu, entered the city of Mithilā.

 

10.57.25

taḿ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya

maithilaḥ prīta-mānasaḥ

arhayāḿ āsa vidhi-vad

arhaṇīyaḿ samarhaṇaiḥ

 

tam — Him, Lord Balarāma; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; sahasā — immediately; utthāya — rising; maithilaḥ — the King of Mithilā; prīta-mānasaḥ — feeling affection; arhayām āsa — he honored Him; vidhi-vat — in accordance with scriptural injunctions; arhaṇīyam — worshipable; samarhaṇaiḥ — with elaborate paraphernalia of worship.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King of Mithilā immediately rose from his seat when he saw Lord Balarāma approaching. With great love the King honored the supremely worshipable Lord by offering Him elaborate worship, as stipulated by scriptural injunctions.

 

10.57.26

uvāsa tasyāḿ katicin

mithilāyāḿ samā vibhuḥ

mānitaḥ prīti-yuktena

janakena mahātmanā

tato 'śikṣad gadāḿ kāle

dhārtarāṣṭraḥ suyodhanaḥ

 

uvāsa — He lived; tasyām — there; katicit — several; mithilāyām — in Mithila; samāḥ — years; vibhuḥ — the almighty Lord, Śrī Balarāma; mānitaḥ — honored; prīti-yuktena — affectionate; janakena — by King Janaka (Videha); mahā-ātmanā — the great soul; tataḥ — then; aśikṣat — learned; gadām — the club; kāle — in time; dhārtarāṣṭraḥ — the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; suyodhanaḥ — Duryodhana.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The almighty Lord Balarāma stayed in Mithilā for several years, honored by His affectionate devotee Janaka Mahārāja. During that time Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son Duryodhana learned from Balarāma the art of fighting with a club.

 

10.57.27

keśavo dvārakām etya

nidhanaḿ śatadhanvanaḥ

aprāptiḿ ca maṇeḥ prāha

priyāyāḥ priya-kṛd vibhuḥ

 

keśavaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvārakām — to Dvārakā; etya — coming; nidhanam — the demise; śatadhanvanaḥ — of Śatadhanvā; aprāptim — the failure to obtain; ca — and; maṇeḥ — the jewel; prāha — he told; priyāyāḥ — of His beloved (Queen Satyabhāmā); priya — the pleasure; kṛt — doing; vibhuḥ — the all-powerful Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Keśava arrived in Dvārakā and described the demise of Śatadhanvā and His own failure to find the Syamantaka jewel. He spoke in a way that would please His beloved, Satyabhāmā.

 

10.57.28

tataḥ sa kārayām āsa

kriyā bandhor hatasya vai

sākaḿ suhṛdbhir bhagavān

yā yāḥ syuḥ sāmparāyikīḥ

 

tataḥ — then; saḥ — He, Lord Kṛṣṇa; kārayām āsa — had done; kriyā — the ritual duties; bandhoḥ — for His relative (Satrājit); hatasya — killed; vai — indeed; sākam — together with; suhṛdbhiḥ — well-wishers; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; yāḥ yāḥ — all which; syuḥ — there are; sāmparāyikīḥ — for the time of one's departure from this world.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa then had the various funeral rites performed for His deceased relative, Satrājit. The Lord attended the funeral along with well-wishers of the family.

 

10.57.29

akrūraḥ kṛtavarmā ca

śrutvā śatadhanor vadham

vyūṣatur bhaya-vitrastau

dvārakāyāḥ prayojakau

 

akrūraḥ kṛtavarmā ca — Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā; śrutvā — hearing about; śatadhanoḥ — of Śatadhanvā; vadham — the killing; vyūṣatuḥ — they went into exile; bhaya-vitrastau — seized with overwhelming fear; dvārakāyāḥ — from Dvārakā; prayojakau — the engagers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā, who had originally incited Śatadhanvā to commit his crime, heard that he had been killed, they fled Dvārakā in terror and took up residence elsewhere.

 

10.57.30

akrūre proṣite 'riṣṭāny

āsan vai dvārakaukasām

śārīrā mānasās tāpā

muhur daivika-bhautikāḥ

 

akrūre — Akrūra; proṣite — being in exile; ariṣṭāni — ill omens; āsan — arose; vai — indeed; dvārakā-okasām — for the residents of Dvārakā; śārīrāḥ — caused by the body; mānasaḥ — and by the mind; tāpāḥ — distresses; muhuḥ — repeated; daivika — caused by higher powers; bhautikāḥ — caused by other creatures.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In Akrūra's absence ill omens arose in Dvārakā, and the citizens began to suffer continually from physical and mental distresses, as well as from disturbances caused by higher powers and by creatures of the earth.

 

10.57.31

ity ańgopadiśanty eke

vismṛtya prāg udāhṛtam

muni-vāsa-nivāse kiḿ

ghaṭetāriṣṭa-darśanam

 

iti — thus; ańga — my dear (King Parīkṣit); upadiśanti — were proposing; eke — some; vismṛtya — forgetting; prāk — previously; udāhṛtam — what had been described; muni — of sages; vāsa — the residence; nivāse — when He is residing; kim — how; ghaṭeta — can arise; ariṣṭa — of calamities; darśanam — the appearance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Some men proposed [that the troubles were due to Akrūra's absence], but they had forgotten the glories of the Supreme Lord, which they themselves had so often described. Indeed, how can calamities occur in a place where the Personality of Godhead, the residence of all the sages, resides?

 

10.57.32

deve 'varṣati kāśīśaḥ

śvaphalkāyāgatāya vai

sva-sutāḿ gāṇdinīḿ prādāt

tato 'varṣat sma kāśiṣu

 

deve — when the demigod, Lord Indra; avarṣati — had not been supplying rain; kāśī-īśaḥ — the King of Benares; śvaphalkāya — to Śvaphalka (Akrūra's father); āgatāya — who had come; vai — certainly; sva — his own; sutām — daughter; gāndinīm — Gāndinī; prādāt — gave; tataḥ — then; avarṣat — it rained; sma — indeed; kāśiṣu — in the kingdom of Kāśī.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The elders said:] Previously, when Lord Indra had withheld rain from Kāsī [Benares], the king of that city gave his daughter Gāndinī to Śvaphalka, who was then visiting him. It soon rained in the kingdom of Kāśī.

 

10.57.33

tat-sutas tat-prabhāvo 'sāv

akrūro yatra yatra ha

devo 'bhivarṣate tatra

nopatāpā na mārīkāḥ

 

tat — his (Śvaphalka's); sutaḥ — son; tat-prabhāvaḥ — having his powers; asau — he; akrūraḥ — Akrūra; yatra yatra — wherever; ha — indeed; devaḥ — Lord Indra; abhivarṣate — will provide rain; tatra — there; na — no; upatāpāḥ — painful disturbances; na — no; mārikāḥ — untimely deaths.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Wherever his equally powerful son Akrūra stays, Lord Indra will provide sufficient rain. Indeed, that place will be free of miseries and untimely deaths.

 

10.57.34

iti vṛddha-vacaḥ śrutvā

naitāvad iha kāraṇam

iti matvā samānāyya

prāhākrūraḿ janārdanaḥ

 

iti — thus; vṛddha — of the elders; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; na — not; etāvat — only this; iha — of the matter at hand; kāraṇam — the cause; iti — thus; matvā — thinking; samānāyya — having him brought back; prāha — said; akrūram — to Akrūra; janārdanaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hearing these words from the elders, Lord Janārdana, though aware that the absence of Akrūra was not the only cause of the evil omens, had him summoned back to Dvārakā and spoke to him.

 

10.57.35-36

pūjayitvābhibhāṣyainaḿ

kathayitvā priyāḥ kathāḥ

vijñatākhila-citta jñaḥ

smayamāna uvāca ha

 

nanu dāna-pate nyastas

tvayy āste śatadhanvanā

syamantako maniḥ śrīmān

viditaḥ pūrvam eva naḥ

 

pūjayitvā — honoring; abhibhāṣya — greeting; enam — him (Akrūra); kathayitvā — discussing; priyāḥ — pleasant; kathāḥ — topics; vijñāta — fully aware; akhila — of everything; citta — (Akrūra's) heart; jñaḥ — knowing; smayamānaḥ — smiling; uvāca ha — He said; nanu — surely; dāna — of charity; pate — O master; nyastaḥ — kept; tvayi — in your care; āste — is present; śatadhanvanā — by Śatadhanvā; syamantakaḥ maniḥ — the Syamantaka jewel; śrī-mān — opulent; viditaḥ — known; pūrvam — beforehand; eva — indeed; naḥ — by Us.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa honored Akrūra, greeted him confidentially and spoke pleasant words with him. Then the Lord, who was fully aware of Akrūra's heart by virtue of His being the knower of everything, smiled and addressed him: "O master of charity, surely the opulent Syamantaka jewel was left in your care by Śatadhanvā and is still with you. Indeed, We have known this all along.

 

10.57.37

satrājito 'napatyatvād

gṛhṇīyur duhituḥ sutāḥ

dāyaḿ ninīyāpaḥ piṇḍān

vimucyarṇaḿ ca śeṣitam

 

satrājitaḥ — of Satrājit; anapatyatvāt — because of not having sons; gṛhṇīyuḥ — they should take; duhituḥ — of his daughter; sutāḥ — the sons; dāyam — the inheritance; ninīya — after presenting; āpaḥ — water; piṇḍān — and memorial offerings; vimucya — after clearing; ṛṇam — debts; ca — and; śeṣitam — remaining.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Since Satrājit had no sons, his daughter's sons should receive his inheritance. They should pay for memorial offerings of waler and piṇḍa, clear their grandfather's outstanding debts and keep the remainder of the inheritance for themselves.

 

10.57.38-39

tathāpi durdharas tv anyais

tvayy āstāḿ su-vrate maṇiḥ

kintu mām agrajaḥ samyań

na pratyeti maṇiḿ prati

 

darśayasva mahā-bhāga

bandhūnāḿ śāntim āvaha

avyucchinnā makhās te 'dya

vartante rukma-vedayaḥ

 

tathā api — nevertheless; durdharaḥ — impossible to hold on to; tu — but; anyaiḥ — by others; tvayi — with you; āstām — should remain; suvrate — O trustworthy keeper of vows; maṇiḥ — the jewel; kintu — only; mam — Me; agra-jaḥ — My elder brother; samyak — completely; na pratyeti — does not believe; maṇim prati — concerning the jewel;

 

darśayasva — please show it; mahā-bhāga — O most fortunate one; bandhūnām — to My relatives; śāntim — peace; āvaha — bring; avyucchinnāḥ — uninterrupted; makhāḥ — sacrifices; te — your; adya — now; vartante — are going on; rukma — of gold; vedayaḥ — whose altars.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Nevertheless, the jewel should remain in your care, O trustworthy Akrūra, because no one else can keep it safely. But please show the jewel just once, since My elder brother does not fully believe what I have told Him about it. In this way, O most fortunate one, you will pacify My relatives. [Everyone knows you have the jewel, for] you are now continually performing sacrifices on altars of gold."

 

10.57.40

evaḿ sāmabhir ālabdhaḥ

śvaphalka-tanayo maṇim

ādāya vāsasācchannaḥ

dadau sūrya-sama-prabham

 

evam — thus; sāmabhiḥ — with conciliatory words; ālabdhaḥ — reproached; śvaphalka-tanayaḥ — the son of Śvaphalka; maṇim — the Syamantaka jewel; ādāya — taking; vāsasā — in his garment; ācchannaḥ — concealed; dadau — he gave; sūrya — to the sun; sama — equal; prabham — in effulgence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus shamed by Lord Kṛṣṇa's conciliatory words, the son of Śvaphalka brought out the jewel from where he had concealed it in his clothing and gave it to the Lord. The brilliant gem shone like the sun.

 

10.57.41

syamantakaḿ darśayitvā

jñātibhyo raja ātmanaḥ

vimṛjya maṇinā bhūyas

tasmai pratyarpayat prabhuḥ

 

syamantakam — the Syamantaka jewel; darśayitvā — after showing; jñātibhyaḥ — to His relatives; rajaḥ — the contamination; ātmanaḥ — (falsely heaped upon) Himself; vimṛjya — wiping away; maṇinā — with the jewel; bhūyaḥ — again; tasmai — to him, Akrūra; pratyarpayat — offered it back; prabhuḥ — the Supreme Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After the almighty Lord had shown the Syamantaka jewel to His relatives, thus dispelling the false accusations against Him, He returned it to Akrūra.

 

10.57.42

yas tv etad bhagavata īśvarasya viṣṇor

vīryāḍhyaḿ vṛjina-haraḿ su-mańgalaḿ ca

ākhyānaḿ paṭhati śṛṇoty anusmared vā

duṣkīrtiḿ duritam apohya yāti śāntim

 

yaḥ — whoever; tu — indeed; etat — this; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; īśvarasya — the supreme controller; viṣṇoḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; vīrya — with the prowess; āḍhyam — which is rich; vṛjina — sinful reactions; haram — which removes; su-mańgalam — most auspicious; ca — and; ākhyānam — narration; paṭhati — recites; śṛṇoti — hears; anusmaret — remembers; vā — or; duṣkīrtim — bad reputation; duritam — and sins; apohya — driving away; yāti — he attains; śāntim — peace.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This narration, rich with descriptions of the prowess of Lord Śrī Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, removes sinful reactions and bestows all auspiciousness. Anyone who recites, hears or remembers it will drive away his own infamy and sins and attain peace.