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| Krishna with Satyabhama Photo Credit: India Netzone |
Exiting the cave, Krishna noted that his faithful men had given up and gone home. In fact, they had left sixteen days prior, losing hope for their beloved leader, but unwilling to risk their lives to go in after him.
Upon their return to the city, Krishna’s family and friends were greatly distressed. They shunned Satrajit, calling him foul names, and then turned to worship Durga, the invincible warrior goddess, requesting his safe return. After nearly two more weeks, the city had lost hope.
When Krishna finally returned, the city celebrated as if he had risen from the dead. As the festivities came to a close, Krishna wasted no time in meeting with King Ugrasena, who called the nobles together, including Satrajit, for a special assembly.
Krishna was ready to tell the story of the lost jewel and return it to Satrajit. Ashamed by his quick assumptions and public accusations, Satrajit received the jewel from Krishna in silence, head hanging down.
Alone in his rooms, he pondered a way to atone for his actions and once again earn the favor of the Supreme Being. Krishna, same said Supreme Being, knowing of Satrajit’s turmoil, gifted him with wisdom and insight.
Satrajit’s conscience moved him to offer Krishna the stone and his daughter’s hand in marriage, despite promises he had made to the other suitors pursuing Satyabhama’s hand. Krishna noted Satyabhama’s gracefulness and received her as his wife, but the stone he refused to accept.
“I am pleased with your offering, Noble Satrajit. However, it is better to allow the Syamantaka to remain in the temple as you have kept it. Because of the jewel’s presence in the city of Dwarka, there will be no more famine or disturbances created by pestilence or excessive heat or cold.” {1}
NOTE {1}: Quotation abbreviated from an excerpt from Prabhupada, ch. 56.
Read Part 5
Read Part 7
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Prabhupada, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead. Juhu, Mumbai: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1974.
2. Hudli, Anand. "Ganesha chaturthi, legends, and prayers." Hindu-Net. September 16, 1996. Accessed July 2012. http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/1996_9/msg00099.html.
3. History and Mythology Blog. "ACK-119: Syamantaka Mani." Posted April 27, 2009. Accessed July 2012. http://hmindia.blogspot.com/2009/04/ack-119-syamantaka-mani.html.
4. Srhi2424. "Syamantaka Mani." HubPages. Last modified July 16, 2011. Accessed July 2012. http://shri2424.hubpages.com/hub/Syamantaka-Mani.
*Clip art courtesy of The Graphics Fairy
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