Site menuChapter 57: Satrâjit Murdered, the Jewel Stolen and Returned Again
(1)
The
son of Vyâsa said: 'Even though He was aware of what
factually had transpired went Krishna, hearing [of the
rumor] that the sons of Pându and queen Kuntî
had burned to death [in the house of lac], in order to
answer to His family obligations together with Balarâma
to the Kuru kingdom. (2)
Meeting with Bhîshma, Kripa, Vidura,
Gândhârî and Drona They equally sorrowful
said: 'Ah how painful this is!'
(3) Getting the chance, o King, said Akrûra and [the Bhoja] Kritavarmâ [meanwhile in Krishna's absence in Dvârakâ] to S'atadhanvâ ['hundredbow', a bad character]: 'Why not take the jewel? (4) He who promised each of us his gem of a daughter, gave her, ignoring us, to Krishna; why then should Satrâjit not follow his brother [in death, see 10.56: 13 and footnote*]?' (5) Thus influenced by the two killed that most wicked man, in his sinfulness shortening his lifespan, out of greed Satrâjit while he was sleeping [compare 1.17: 39]. (6) As the women helplessly cried calling for help took he, after having killed like a butcher does animals, the jewel and took he off.
(3) Getting the chance, o King, said Akrûra and [the Bhoja] Kritavarmâ [meanwhile in Krishna's absence in Dvârakâ] to S'atadhanvâ ['hundredbow', a bad character]: 'Why not take the jewel? (4) He who promised each of us his gem of a daughter, gave her, ignoring us, to Krishna; why then should Satrâjit not follow his brother [in death, see 10.56: 13 and footnote*]?' (5) Thus influenced by the two killed that most wicked man, in his sinfulness shortening his lifespan, out of greed Satrâjit while he was sleeping [compare 1.17: 39]. (6) As the women helplessly cried calling for help took he, after having killed like a butcher does animals, the jewel and took he off.
(7)
When
Satyabhâmâ saw that her father had been killed,
lamented she thrown in grief: 'O father, alas o father, with
you being killed I am killed!' and then she fainted.
(8)
Putting the corpse in a large vessel of oil she went to
Hastinâpura to Krishna who [already] knew of the
situation, and related sorrowfully the murder of her father.
(9)
The Lords hearing that o King, imitating the human ways both
lamented with eyes full of tears: 'Oh what a tragedy fell upon
us!'
(10) The Supreme Lord then went back to His capital with His wife and elder brother, prepared to kill S'atadhanvâ and take the jewel from him. (11) He, learning that, in fear took action to save his life and entreated for assistance Kritavarmâ who told him: (12-13) 'I cannot be of any offense with the Lords Râma and Krishna; how can he who causes Them trouble indeed be of good fortune? Kamsa and his followers in their hatred of waging against Them lost their wealth and lives while Jarâsandha in seventeen battles [even] lost his chariot!'
(14) He, turned down, next begged Akrûra for help but he also said: 'Who, knowing the strength of the Lordships, can oppose Them? (15-17) He who maintains, creates and destroys this universe as a pastime; He whose purpose is not even known to the secondary creators [headed by Brahmâ] who are bewildered by His invincible potency [of mâyâ]; He who playing as a child of seven years old uprooted a mountain that He held up with a single hand like a boy does a mushroom [see 10.25]; Him, Krishna the Supreme Lord to whose wondrous acts there is no end I do worship; Him who as the source of all existence is the Supreme Soul, the immovable center, I offer my obeisances.'
(18) He, S'atadhanvâ also by him refused, left the precious jewel with him, mounted a horse that could cover a hundred yojanas and departed. (19) Krishna and Râma mounting the chariot with the emblem of Garuda followed with the swiftest horses, o King, the murderer of Their guru [Their father-in-law as a teacher]. (20) In a Mithilâ suburban park abandoning his horse that had fallen, ran he on foot terrified with a furious Krishna who likewise speeded after him. (21) With him on the run severed the Lord on foot with the sharp edged disc his head from his body, and searched He his upper and lower garments for the gem. (22) Not finding the stone said Krishna going to His approaching elder brother: 'S'atadhanvâ was killed in vain, he didn't carry the jewel.'
(23) Balarâma then said: 'S'atadhanvâ must have left the rock with some person, so go [back] to the city [of Dvârakâ] and search him out. (24) l wish to see the king of Videha [the later Janaka, see 9.10: 11] most dear to Me', and thus having spoken entered the descendant of Yadu, o King, Mithilâ [the capital of Videha]. (25) Seeing Him rose the king of Mithilâ immediately with a mind full of love and honored he Him who was so worshipable, as was prescribed with all there was to it. (26) There in Mithilâ did He, the Mighty One, honored by the affectionate Janaka, the great soul, live for several years. During that time taught He Duryodhana to wield the club.
(27) Kes'ava the All-powerful One arriving in Dvârakâ, told to the comfort of His beloved [the grieving Satyabhâmâ] of the demise of S'atadhanvâ and the failure to get hold of the jewel. (28) He, the Supreme Lord together with all the well-wishers one may so have at the end of one's life, then saw to it that the obsequies were performed for the deceased relative [Satrâjit]. (29) The ones responsible, Akrûra and Kritavarmâ, upon hearing that S'atadhanvâ had been killed, went stricken by fear into exile outside of Dvârakâ. (30) With Akrûra in exile ill omens arose indeed for the residents of Dvârakâ that gave them by higher powers [natural disasters included] and other living beings [compare 1.14; 1.17: 19], constantly trouble in body and mind [**]. (31) Thus, my dear, were some lost in guesses forgetting what of old had been described by the sages as the consequence of His stay among the human beings; how could with Him present any calamity arise? (32) [They said:] 'When Indra withheld the rains gave the king of Benares [Kâs'î, see also 9.17: 4] his daughter Gândinî to S'vaphalka [Akrûra's father, 9.24: 15] who came to him, after which it then indeed rained in Kâs'î. (33) Wherever indeed he, Akrûra, his son, having his [father's] prowess stays, will lord Indra shower rains and will there be no painful disturbances or untimely deaths.'
(10) The Supreme Lord then went back to His capital with His wife and elder brother, prepared to kill S'atadhanvâ and take the jewel from him. (11) He, learning that, in fear took action to save his life and entreated for assistance Kritavarmâ who told him: (12-13) 'I cannot be of any offense with the Lords Râma and Krishna; how can he who causes Them trouble indeed be of good fortune? Kamsa and his followers in their hatred of waging against Them lost their wealth and lives while Jarâsandha in seventeen battles [even] lost his chariot!'
(14) He, turned down, next begged Akrûra for help but he also said: 'Who, knowing the strength of the Lordships, can oppose Them? (15-17) He who maintains, creates and destroys this universe as a pastime; He whose purpose is not even known to the secondary creators [headed by Brahmâ] who are bewildered by His invincible potency [of mâyâ]; He who playing as a child of seven years old uprooted a mountain that He held up with a single hand like a boy does a mushroom [see 10.25]; Him, Krishna the Supreme Lord to whose wondrous acts there is no end I do worship; Him who as the source of all existence is the Supreme Soul, the immovable center, I offer my obeisances.'
(18) He, S'atadhanvâ also by him refused, left the precious jewel with him, mounted a horse that could cover a hundred yojanas and departed. (19) Krishna and Râma mounting the chariot with the emblem of Garuda followed with the swiftest horses, o King, the murderer of Their guru [Their father-in-law as a teacher]. (20) In a Mithilâ suburban park abandoning his horse that had fallen, ran he on foot terrified with a furious Krishna who likewise speeded after him. (21) With him on the run severed the Lord on foot with the sharp edged disc his head from his body, and searched He his upper and lower garments for the gem. (22) Not finding the stone said Krishna going to His approaching elder brother: 'S'atadhanvâ was killed in vain, he didn't carry the jewel.'
(23) Balarâma then said: 'S'atadhanvâ must have left the rock with some person, so go [back] to the city [of Dvârakâ] and search him out. (24) l wish to see the king of Videha [the later Janaka, see 9.10: 11] most dear to Me', and thus having spoken entered the descendant of Yadu, o King, Mithilâ [the capital of Videha]. (25) Seeing Him rose the king of Mithilâ immediately with a mind full of love and honored he Him who was so worshipable, as was prescribed with all there was to it. (26) There in Mithilâ did He, the Mighty One, honored by the affectionate Janaka, the great soul, live for several years. During that time taught He Duryodhana to wield the club.
(27) Kes'ava the All-powerful One arriving in Dvârakâ, told to the comfort of His beloved [the grieving Satyabhâmâ] of the demise of S'atadhanvâ and the failure to get hold of the jewel. (28) He, the Supreme Lord together with all the well-wishers one may so have at the end of one's life, then saw to it that the obsequies were performed for the deceased relative [Satrâjit]. (29) The ones responsible, Akrûra and Kritavarmâ, upon hearing that S'atadhanvâ had been killed, went stricken by fear into exile outside of Dvârakâ. (30) With Akrûra in exile ill omens arose indeed for the residents of Dvârakâ that gave them by higher powers [natural disasters included] and other living beings [compare 1.14; 1.17: 19], constantly trouble in body and mind [**]. (31) Thus, my dear, were some lost in guesses forgetting what of old had been described by the sages as the consequence of His stay among the human beings; how could with Him present any calamity arise? (32) [They said:] 'When Indra withheld the rains gave the king of Benares [Kâs'î, see also 9.17: 4] his daughter Gândinî to S'vaphalka [Akrûra's father, 9.24: 15] who came to him, after which it then indeed rained in Kâs'î. (33) Wherever indeed he, Akrûra, his son, having his [father's] prowess stays, will lord Indra shower rains and will there be no painful disturbances or untimely deaths.'
