The Jewel Syamanthaka – Story
Satrajit is a prominent Yadava.
He was a worshipper of the sun god.
The sun god Surya was so pleased with him and hence he presented him with a rare jewel, an immense diamond of rare lustre.
Satrajit prostrated before the sun god and wearing it round his neck was returning home.
People mistook him for the sun himself and thought the sun god was coming to pay homage to Sri Krishna.
Satrajit had a small temple built in his house to instal the jewel and performed puja (worship) with the help of learned brahmins.
Every day the jewel would produce gold and this became the talk of the town.
Krishna sent for him and said it was better to keep such a treasure in the king’s treasury where the immense wealth it produced daily, could be used for the peoples’ benefit.
But Satrajit was greedy. He demurred and Krishna did not force him.
Now Satrajit had a younger brother Prasena by name. One day he went hunting with the jewel round his neck. He got separated from his friends and did not return at all.
And it was public secret that Krishna had asked for it and gossips immediately began to talk suspiciously about Krishna.
Now this was unbearable and Krishna with his friends entered the forest in search of Prasena.
Soon they came upon the ghastly remains of Prasena. He had been killed with his horse and dragged up a hill by a lion. There they found evidence of a fierce fight between the lion and a huge bear. Evidently the bear had won and dragged its booty up a hill and entered its lair.
Leaving the attendants outside, Krishna entered the cave. The cave was lit up with the lustre of the jewel Syamanthaka which a child was playing with.
Seeing the stranger, the child cried loudly and the huge bear Jambhavan came to her rescue.
Then ensued a great fight, between Jambhavan and Krishna. The fight went on for eighteen days.
Jambhavan the hero of Ramayana was now facing defeat and then realization dawned on him. His opponent seemed very much like Sri Rama his master. He now realised that it was the same Lord Vishnu in a new avatar.
With tears in his eyes he prayed, “Pardon me, Lord now I see you are my master Sri Rama in a new avatar. Forgive my ignorance!”
The Lord not only pardoned him but gently stroked him making him whole again. Krishna explained that he had come in search of the jewel to retrieve his reputation. Jambhavan gladly gave him not only the jewel but also his daughter Jambavati and escorted them back to Dwaraka.
Meanwhile, at Dwaraka, the citizens were plunged in grief. They blamed Satrajit who had brought this misfortune by his greed.
Devaki, Rukmini and others went to the temple of Mahamaya praying for Krishna’s welfare. And as if in answer to their prayer Krishna entered the gates, victorious and with a new bride Jambavati.
Satrajit too, now entirely repentant, came with the jewel Syamanthaka and his daughter Satyabhama and requested Krishna to accept both.
Krishna smiled and said “I gladly accept Satyabhama but not your other present, the jewel. Keep it yourself”.
And the marriages of Satyabhama and Jambavathi with Krishna were celebrated with great pomp and splendour.
(Rukmini’s Letter to Krishna – Story! READ HERE!)