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SB 10.56.1: Sukadeva Gosvami said: Having offended Lord Krishna, Satrajit tried as best he could to atone by presenting Him with his daughter and the Syamantaka jewel.
 

SB 10.56.2: Maharaja Parikshit inquired: O brahmana, what did King Satrajit do to offend Lord Krishna? Where did he get the Syamantaka jewel, and why did he give his daughter to the Supreme Lord?
 

SB 10.56.3: Sukadeva Gosvami said: Surya, the sun-god, felt great affection for his devotee Satrajit. Acting as his greatest friend, the demigod gave him the jewel called Syamantaka as a token of his satisfaction.
 

SB 10.56.4: Wearing the jewel on his neck, Satrajit entered Dvaraka. He shone as brightly as the sun itself, O King, and thus he went unrecognized because of the jewel’s effulgence.
 

SB 10.56.5: As the people looked at Satrajit from a distance, his brilliance blinded them. They presumed he was the sun-god, Surya, and went to tell Lord Krishna, who was at that time playing at dice.
 

SB 10.56.6: [The residents of Dvaraka said:] Obeisances unto You, O Narayana, O holder of the conch, disc and club, O lotus-eyed Damodara, O Govinda, O cherished descendant of Yadu!
 

SB 10.56.7: Lord Savita has come to see You, O Lord of the universe. He is blinding everyone’s eyes with his intensely effulgent rays.
 

SB 10.56.8: The most exalted demigods in the three worlds are certainly anxious to seek You out, O Lord, now that You have hidden Yourself among the Yadu dynasty. Thus the unborn sun-god has come to see You here.
 

SB 10.56.9: Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Hearing these innocent words, the lotus-eyed Lord smiled broadly and said, “This is not the sun-god, Ravi, but rather Satrajit, who is glowing because of his jewel.”
 

SB 10.56.10: King Satrajit entered his opulent home, festively executing auspicious rituals. He had qualified brahmanas install the Syamantaka jewel in the house’s temple room.
 

SB 10.56.11: Each day the gem would produce eight bharas of gold, my dear Prabhu, and the place in which it was kept and properly worshiped would be free of calamities such as famine or untimely death, and also of evils like snake bites, mental and physical disorders and the presence of deceitful persons.
 

SB 10.56.12: On one occasion Lord Krishna requested Satrajit to give the jewel to the Yadu king, Ugrasena, but Satrajit was so greedy that he refused. He gave no thought to the seriousness of the offense he committed by denying the Lord’s request.
 

SB 10.56.13: Once Satrajit‘s brother, Prasena, having hung the brilliant jewel about his neck, mounted a horse and went hunting in the forest.
 

SB 10.56.14: A lion killed Prasena and his horse and took the jewel. But when the lion entered a mountain cave he was killed by Jambavan, who wanted the jewel.
 

SB 10.56.15: Within the cave Jambavan let his young son have the Syamantaka jewel as a toy to play with. Meanwhile Satrajit, not seeing his brother return, became deeply troubled.
 

SB 10.56.16: He said, “Krishna probably killed my brother, who went to the forest wearing the jewel on his neck.” The general populace heard this accusation and began whispering it in one another’s ears.
 

SB 10.56.17: When Lord Krishna heard this rumor, He wanted to remove the stain on His reputation. So He took some of Dvaraka‘s citizens with Him and set out to retrace Prasena‘s path.

SB 10.56.18: In the forest they found Prasena and his horse, both killed by the lion. Further on they found the lion dead on a mountainside, slain by Riksha [Jambavan].
 

SB 10.56.19: The Lord stationed His subjects outside the terrifying, pitch-dark cave of the king of the bears, and then He entered alone.
 

SB 10.56.20: There Lord Krishna saw that the most precious of jewels had been made into a child’s plaything. Determined to take it away, He approached the child.
 

SB 10.56.21: The child’s nurse cried out in fear upon seeing that extraordinary person standing before them. Jambavan, strongest of the strong, heard her cries and angrily ran toward the Lord.
 

SB 10.56.22: Unaware of His true position and thinking Him an ordinary man, Jambavan angrily began fighting with the Supreme Lord, his master.
 

SB 10.56.23: The two fought furiously in single combat, each determined to win. Contending against each other with various weapons and then with stones, tree trunks and finally their bare arms, they struggled like two hawks battling over a piece of flesh.
 

SB 10.56.24: The fight went on without rest for twenty-eight days, the two opponents striking each other with their fists, which fell like the cracking blows of lightning.
 

SB 10.56.25: His bulging muscles pummeled by the blows of Lord Krishna‘s fists, his strength faltering and his limbs perspiring, Jambavan, greatly astonished, finally spoke to the Lord.
 

SB 10.56.26: [Jambavan said:] I know now that You are the life air and the sensory, mental and bodily strength of all living beings. You are Lord Vishnu, the original person, the supreme, all-powerful controller.
 

SB 10.56.27: You are the ultimate creator of all creators of the universe, and of everything created You are the underlying substance. You are the subduer of all subduers, the Supreme Lord and Supreme Soul of all souls.
 

SB 10.56.28: You are He who impelled the ocean to give way when His sidelong glances, slightly manifesting His anger, disturbed the crocodiles and timingila fish within the watery depths. You are He who built a great bridge to establish His fame, who burned down the city of Lanka, and whose arrows severed the heads of Ravana, which then fell to the ground.
 

SB 10.56.29-30: [Sukadeva Gosvami continued:] O King, Lord Krishna then addressed the king of the bears, who had understood the truth. The lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead, the son of Devaki, touched Jambavan with His hand, which bestows all blessings, and spoke to His devotee with sublime compassion, His grave voice deeply resounding like a cloud.
 

[Lord Krishna said:] It is for this jewel, O lord of the bears, that we have come to your cave. I intend to use the jewel to disprove the false accusations against Me.
 

Thus addressed, Jambavan happily honored Lord Krishna by offering Him his maiden daughter, Jambavati, together with the jewel.
 

After Lord Sauri had entered the cave, the people of Dvaraka who had accompanied Him had waited twelve days without seeing Him come out again. Finally they had given up and returned to their city in great sorrow.
 

When Devaki, Rukmini-devi, Vasudeva and the Lord’s other relatives and friends heard that He had not come out of the cave, they all lamented.
 

Cursing Satrajit, the sorrowful residents of Dvaraka approached the Durga deity named Candrabhaga and prayed to her for Krishna‘s return.
 

When the citizens had finished worshiping the demigoddess, she spoke to them in response, promising to grant their request. Just then Lord Krishna, who had achieved His purpose, appeared before them in the company of His new wife, filling them with joy.
 

Seeing Lord Hrishikesa return as if from death, accompanied by His new wife and wearing the Syamantaka jewel on His neck, all the people were roused to jubilation.
 

Lord Krishna summoned Satrajit to the royal assembly. There, in the presence of King Ugrasena, Krishna announced the recovery of the jewel and then formally presented it to Satrajit.
 

Hanging his head in great shame, Satrajit took the gem and returned home, all the while feeling remorse for his sinful behavior.
 

Pondering over his grievous offense and worried about the possibility of conflict with the Lord’s mighty devotees, King Satrajit thought, “How can I cleanse myself of my contamination, and how may Lord Acyuta become satisfied with me? What can I do to regain my good fortune and avoid being cursed by the populace for being so short-sighted, miserly, foolish and avaricious? I shall give my daughter, the jewel of all women, to the Lord, together with the Syamantaka jewel. That, indeed, is the only proper way to pacify Him.”
 

Having thus intelligently made up his mind, King Satrajit personally arranged to present Lord Krishna with his fair daughter and the Syamantaka jewel.
 

The Lord married Satyabhama in proper religious fashion. Possessed of excellent behavior, along with beauty, broad-mindedness and all other good qualities, she had been sought by many men.
 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead told Satrajit: We do not care to take this jewel back, O King. You are the sun-god’s devotee, so let it stay in your possession. Thus We will also enjoy its benefits.
 

Sri Badarayani said: Although Lord Govinda was fully aware of what had actually occurred, when He heard reports that the Pandavas and Queen Kunti had burned to death, He went with Lord Balarama to the kingdom of the Kurus to fulfill the family obligations expected of Him.
 

The two Lords met with Bhishma, Kripa, Vidura, Gandhari and Drona. Showing sorrow equal to theirs, They cried out, “Alas, how painful this is!”
 

Taking advantage of this opportunity, O King, Akrura and Kritavarma went to Satadhanva and said, “Why not take the Syamantaka jewel?
 

“Satrajit promised his jewellike daughter to us but then gave her to Krishna instead, contemptuously neglecting us. So why should Satrajit not follow his brother’s path?”
 

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

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

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

Queen Satyabhama put her father’s corpse in a large vat of oil and went to Hastinapura, where she sorrowfully told Lord Krishna, who was already aware of the situation, about her father’s murder.
 

When Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama 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.
 

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

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

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

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

“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 Maya.
 

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

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

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

My dear King, Krishna and Balarama mounted Krishna‘s chariot, which flew the flag of Garuda and was yoked with tremendously swift horses, and pursued Their elder’s murderer.
 

In a garden on the outskirts of Mithila, the horse Satadhanva was riding collapsed. Terrified, he abandoned the horse and began to flee on foot, withKrishna in angry pursuit.
 

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

Not finding the jewel, Lord Krishna went to His elder brother and said, “We have killed Satadhanva uselessly. The jewel isn’t here.”
 

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

“I wish to visit King Videha, who is most dear to Me.” O King, having said this, Lord Balarama, the beloved descendant of Yadu, entered the city of Mithila.
 

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

The almighty Lord Balarama stayed in Mithila for several years, honored by His affectionate devotee Janaka Maharaja. During that time Dhritarashtra‘s sonDuryodhana learned from Balarama the art of fighting with a club.
 

Lord Kesava arrived in Dvaraka and described the demise of Satadhanva and His own failure to find the Syamantaka jewel. He spoke in a way that would please His beloved, Satyabhama.
 

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

When Akrura and Kritavarma, who had originally incited Satadhanva to commit his crime, heard that he had been killed, they fled Dvaraka in terror and took up residence elsewhere.
 

In Akrura‘s absence ill omens arose in Dvaraka, 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.
 

Some men proposed [that the troubles were due to Akrura'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?
 

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

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

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

Lord Krishna honored Akrura, greeted him confidentially and spoke pleasant words with him. Then the Lord, who was fully aware of Akrura‘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 Satadhanvaand is still with you. Indeed, We have known this all along.
 

“Since Satrajit had no sons, his daughter’s sons should receive his inheritance. They should pay for memorial offerings of waler and pinda, clear their grandfather’s outstanding debts and keep the remainder of the inheritance for themselves.
 

“Nevertheless, the jewel should remain in your care, O trustworthy Akrura, 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.”
 

Thus shamed by Lord Krishna‘s conciliatory words, the son of Svaphalka 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.
 

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

This narration, rich with descriptions of the prowess of Lord Sri Vishnu, 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.