SRI KRISHNA LEELAMRUTHAM (THE NECTARINE STORIES OF THE DEEDS OF LORD KRISHNA)

 56. THE STORY OF LORD KRISHNA AND SYAMANTAKA JEWEL

Once a king named Satraajith lived within the city of Dwaraka who was a great devotee of Sun-God. When Sun-God was pleased by his devotion asked Satraajith to ask for a boon. Satraajith asked Syamantaka jewel that was wore around his neck. Syamantaka jewel is a valuable jewel that had magical powers. As Satraajith asked him the Syamantaka jewel, Sun-God instantly gave him. When Satraajith wore that jewel, he exactly resembled the Sun-God. Demigods used to visit the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna in Dwaraka. So, Satraajith wore the Syamantaka jewel in a locket around his neck and used to visit the Lord. When he wore the jewel, it reveals a dazzling effulgence around his neck. The inhibitants of Dwaraka often mistook Satraajith as the Sun-God and informs Lord Krishna about the arrival of him. Satraajith wanted to reveal his opulence to the inhabitants of Dwaraka. On of the men in Dwaraka mistook Satraajith as the Sun-God and informed Lord Krishna, "O my Dear Govinda, You are the Supreme Lord! The Sun-God with his dazzling efflulgence of jewel has come to see You". On hearing this, Lord Krishna smiled and said, "O people of Dwaraka, the person is actually mistook as Sun-God. But he is not Sun-God rather he is Satraajith. The Sun-God being pleased by his devotion offered him the valuable Syamantaka jewel. Actually he used to visit Dwarak to reveal his material opulence to the people". Satraajith didn't see Lord Krishna when he arrives Dwaraka. But he was overwhelmed by the material opulence, the Syamantaka jewel. Later when Lord Krishna asked him to give that but Satraajith refused to give so. He worshiped that jewel and installed it in a temple. The jewel had more magical powers. Because, if one who have the jewel, they won't be affected by any vulnerable or dreadful disease. The jewel offers only auspicious things and would give 170 pounds of gold every day. One who worships that, won't be affected by any famine. Lord Krishna wanted to teach a good lesson to Satraajith so that he would come out the material happiness.    

After that, Satraajith's younger brother. Prasena took the Syamantaka jewel from him to reveal his material opulence to everyone, went forest by driving the horse. He climbed upon a tree and searched for hunting. He suddenly saw a lion ambling in the waterhole. On seeing the lion, he wanted to hunt that. Prasena took his bow and when he was about to strive it, a snake from the upper branch of tree. As soon as it fell on him, he was imbalanced and fall down from the tree. When the lion heard his cry, it immediately killed Prasena and his horse and took away the Syamantaka jewel. This news was then reached the ears of Jaambhavaan, the king of gorillas who was a great devotee of Lord Rama. On seeing the lion with Syamantaka jewel in between its canines, Jaambhavaan killed the lion and took away the jewel from him. As a devotee of the Lord, he had no desire towards the valuable gem. He then gave it to his child to play that as a toy. On the other hand, people of Dwaraka were perplexed that why Prasena didn't return the city. Satraajith became frustrated as Prasena didn't return with Syamantaka jewel. He didn't know that Prasena was killed by the lion in the forest and Jaambhavaan had the jewel. He thought that whether Lord Krishna might have killed Prasena and taken away the Syamantaka jewel. This false rumor was spread everywhere in the city. Lord Krishna didn't want to defame Him. So, He wanted to teach Satraajith a good lesson.

Lord Krishna decided to go to the forest along with some important men in Dwaraka. All the men of Dwaraka saw the dead Prasena who was killed by a lion. He also found that the lion was killed by the king of gorillas, Jaambhavaan. So, they reached the place where Jaambhavaan resides in the forest. They saw a big tunnel and came to know that Jaambhavaan was living there. Lord Krishna very well knew that if the men saw Jaambhavaan they would immediately become afraid. So, Lord Krishna decided to go inside the tunnel and asked the men to stay away from the tunnel. The men were waiting outside and Lord entered the tunnel. He saw Jaambhavaan's child playing with the Syamantaka jewel. When a nurse of the child saw the Lord, she was afraid that perhaps He came to take away the valuable gem. She screamed out of fear. On hearing this, Jaambhavaan came with much anger. At the first time, He couldn't recognize the Supreme Lord, Krishna because anger clouded his mind. There began a great fight between Jaambhavaan and Lord Krishna. It resembled a two vultures fighting for its prey. They began to fight with big trees, stones and hands. The fight continued for twenty eight days. It was happening both day and night without any interruption.

Later on Jaambhavaan realized the position of the Lord. When he was in anger mood, he couldn't recognize the Lord initially but after twenty eight days, he came to know that the opponent was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Because Jaambhaavan was a strong king and would fight without any weapons. He was highly proficient in fighting. Jaambhavaan offered His prayers to the Lord, "O my Dear Lord of the whole Universe! You are the creator of many creators in the world! You are all pervading and ever blissful! I offer my respectful prayers unto Your lotus feet, O Janaardhana! You are Lord Rama in the former Yuga and now You are Shri Krishna in this Yuga. Due to the material thoughts, my mind was clouded with anger and so I didn't know that Lord Rama is standing in front of me and fights with me. I was astonishing and confirmed that You can do all these! Only Lord Rama can create such an astonishing construction of bridge over the ocean. Your have incalculable strength in which nobody can measure!" On hearing this, Lord Krishna became so pleased and merciful. He then smeared the body of Jaambhavan with His lotus like palms. At once Lord smeared his body, he was relieved from the pain as result of fighting. Lord Krishna then told that He had come to Jaambhavan to ask for the Syamantaka jewel. He narrated the happenings of how it came it his hand. Jaambhavaan on hearing all these understood the happening. In order to satisfy and please the Lord, he handed over his daughter Jaambhavati to Him. The marriage of Lord Krishna and Jaambhavathi happened in that cave.

 The men of Dwaraka became perplexed that why Lord didn't come. Out of fatigue, they returned to the kingdom without Lord Krishna on the twelfth day. The inhabitants Dwaraka and Rukmini were so sad as Lord Krishna was not there. They began to scold Satraajith in ill names due to the abundant affection towards the Lord. They told that Satraajith was the rootcause of Lord Krishna's disapperence. They offered their prayers to Goddess Chandrabhagha for the return of Lord Muraari. They sincerely worshipped the Divine Mother with whole heartedness. On hearing the prayers by the people of Dwaraka, Goddess Chandrabhagha was much pleased and offered the benediction of Lord Krishna's appearance. Immediately Lord Krishna with Syamantaka jewel and Jaambhavati appeared there. On seeing the newly married couple, the inhabitants became much elated and celebrated as a ceremony. 

Lord Krishna gave away the Syamantaka jewel to His grandfather, King Ugrasena. He asked him to install it in the temple itself so that Dwaraka city would be free from famine and all obstacles. King Ugrasena decided to set a meeting to discuss on the recovery of Syamantaka jewel. At that time, Satraajith realized his mistake and was remorsed of his behavior in creating a false rumor on the Lord. In order to rectify his mistake, he handed over his magnificent daughter Sathyabhama to Lord Krishna.

TO BE CONTINUED..