Krishna’s life is a treasure trove for learning many idealistic values and incorporating it in our lives. We see this is possible by filtering out the avatara and bhagawan qualities and focusing only on the human aspect of Krishna. The avatara aspect can be so dominating for both the bhakta and the atheist, which clouds our purpose. Many of the leadership and exemplary qualities of Krishna evade our confused perception, especially when we derive lessons in seeming conflict with some of the teachings.
Krishna repeatedly advises Arjuna to rise above the dwandhas, pairs of opposites, which includes honor and dishonor. Yet when it came to a personal situation, he seems to have gone out of the way to clear his name. This apparent conflict will cease once we understand the message in the right perspective – one is on spiritual path and the other is practical daily living.
Storytime:
The story is centered on the adhyayas (Chapter) 56 and 57 in the tenth skanda(Book) of Srimad Bhagavatam. Satrajit, a great yadava, being a true bhakta of Surya, pleased him and was given a jewel, Syamantaka. Wearing the effulgent jewel, Satrajit shone like a second sun. The confused onlookers reported to Krishna as a walking sun, whom Krishna corrected as Satrajit with the jewel.
Satrajit installed the jewel in his puja room with Brahmanas. The Syamantaka mani daily produced eight measures of gold. The place where it is worshipped properly, it wards off calamities like famine, untimely death, serpent bites, thefts and worries. (दिने दिने स्वर्णभारानष्टौ स सृजति प्रभो । दुर्भिक्षमार्यरिष्टानि सर्पाधिव्याधयोऽशुभा: । न सन्ति मायिनस्तत्र यत्रास्तेऽभ्यर्चितो मणि: ॥ dine dine svarṇa-bhārān aṣṭau sa sṛjati prabho durbhikṣa-māry-ariṣṭāni sarpādhi-vyādhayo ’śubhāḥ na santi māyinas tatra yatrāste ’bhyarcito maṇiḥ SB 10-56-11)
Once Krishna approached Satrajit, with a suggestion, that such a jewel can be best in the hands of the King Ugrasena. Satrajit was blinded by greed and hence flatly refused it. Shortly thereafter, Satrajit’s brother, Prasena wore this jewel and went hunting on a horse to a nearby forest. A lion killed Prasena and his horse and took the jewel, but in turn got killed by Jambavan who took Syamantakamani to his cave and gave it to his child as a toy.
The deeply worried Satrajit pondered loudly if Krishna took the jewel and killed his brother and this rumor caught the fascination of the masses and spread like wildfire. Krishna wanted to erase this unfair infamy (दुर्यश duryaśa). So he gathered some prominent citizens and went on Prasena’s trail. Finding the dead Prasena and his horse, followed by the dead lion, they reached the dark cave of Jambavan. Making the citizens wait at the entrance, Krishna went inside the cave to find the child and the jewel. The alarmed cry from the child’s governess brought Jambavan in confrontation with Krishna.
Thinking Krishna as a mundane person, Jambavan was locked in an intense wrestling battle for twenty eight days. Finally he realized and spoke to Krishna that HE was the very prana, ojah, mental and physical strength in all and Vishnu – the Original, the Supreme Purusha, all powerful and all-controller. (जाने त्वां सर्वभूतानां प्राण ओज: सहो बलम् । विष्णुं पुराणपुरुषं प्रभविष्णुमधीश्वरम् ॥ jāne tvāṁ saṛva-bhūtānāṁ prāṇa ojaḥ saho balam viṣṇuṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ prabhaviṣṇum adhīśvaram SB 10-56-23). Jambavan realized his earlier rendezvous during Ramavatara and broke into praising Krishna’s divine qualities. Krishna blessed him and told him the intention for the visit was to clear the false defamation. Jambavan was glad to offer Syamantaka back along with, his daughter, Jambavati’s hand.
The people stationed at the cave’s entrance left worried after twelve days fearing the worst. They prayed along with Devaki, Rukmini, Vasudeva and others for Krishna’s safe return and cursed Satrajit for the rumor. As if in response to the prayer, Krishna appeared with Syamanatakamani on his neck and his new bride. Krishna summoned Satrajit to King Ugrasena’s court, explained the events and handed the jewel to the ashamed, remorseful Satrajit. To escape from the disgrace and to even the situation with Krishna, he offered his virtuous, beautiful daughter, Satyabhama along with Syamantakamani. Krishna accepted the bride, but refused to take the jewel, citing that Satrajit was a worthy Suryabhakta.
Later, though aware (विज्ञातार्थो vijñātārtho) Krishna, accompanied by Balarama, went to Hastinapura to condone the deaths of Kunti and Pandavas, who were believed to have perished in the Lakshagriha incident at Varnavrata. They shared their grievance with Bhishma, Kripa, Vidura, Gandhari and Drona. Exploiting this absence, Satadhanva, Akrura and Kritavarma hatched a plot to kill Satrajit and steal Syamantaka and also for not offering Satyabhama (Most likely Satadhanva as the other two were much older). Some acharyas opine that Akrura and Kritavarma, though Krishnabhaktas, went tamasic due to their past association with Kamsa and turned against him. Satadhanva killed Satrajit in cold blood and took away the jewel. A crestfallen Satyabhama preserved her father’s body in an oil bath and left for Hastinapura. Krishna and Balarama returned grieving with tears in their eyes and took steps to take back the jewel and kill Satadhanva. A panic stricken Satadhanva could not find refuge with Kritavarma, who remembered Jarasandha’s futile seventeen attacks and Akrura, who remembered the avataraleelas of Krishna. It appears that the tamasic spell of Akrura and Kritavarma seems to have gotten cured with the killing of Satrajit. Having deposited the jewel with Akrura, Satadhanva fled on a swift horse only to be pursued by Krishna and Balarama. On the outskirts of Mithila, Satadhanva abandoned his fallen horse and tried to escape on foot, only to meet his death due to Krishna’s Sudarshanachakra.
Unable to find the jewel, Krishna returned to Dwaraka to pursue the search for the missing jewel, on Balarama’s suggestion. Balarama proceeded to pay a visit to his friend, the King of Videha. Being highly honored, Balarama stayed there with his friend for many years and it was during this stay, Duryodhana sharpened his skills with the mace by training under Balarama.
Krishna proceeded to perform the funeral rites for Satrajit and console Satyabhama. Akrura and Kritavarma fled the scene in fear. Many physical and mental distresses came to Dwaraka owing to the disappearance of Syamantakamani with Akrura. People forgot all about Krishna’s glory, but recalled how Svaphalka, Akrura’s father, married his mother, Gandini, the princess of Kasi and caused a long drought to end. It is said that Akrura went to Varanasi and did a lot of Daana due to Syamantakamani’s power. The masses believed that Akrura must have a similar effect like his father.
Krishna summoned Akrura back to Dwaraka. Krishna greeted him with great honor and spoke pleasant words to him. (पूजयित्वाभिभाष्यैनं कथयित्वा प्रिया: कथा: । pūjayitvābhibhāṣyainaṁ kathayitvā priyāḥ kathāḥ SB 10-57-35) He addressed him as Master of charity (दानपते dāna-pate) and informed him that he was aware of Akrura’s possession of Syamantakamani. Krishna said the rightful owner should be Satyabhama’s future children as Satrjit’s lone heir. Krishna pleaded that Balarama was harboring doubt that Krishna was in secret possession and to rule out the infamy, Akrura can continue to keep the jewel, but publicly display to all of Krishna’s relatives. He added one more stipulation that Akrura must continue to do perform sacrifices on golden altars. (अव्युच्छिन्ना मखास्तेऽद्य वर्तन्ते रुक्मवेदय: ॥ avyucchinnā makhās te ’dya vartante rukma-vedayaḥ SB 10-57-39)
Thus pacified and cornered, Akrura revealed the hidden Syamantakamani who showed it to his relatives and returned it to Akrura. Anyone hearing, reciting or remembering this narration will attain peace as it drives away infamy and sins, according to Vyasa.
Understanding Krishna – applying in our lives:
- Importance of credibility: When rumors started that Krishna could have possibly killed Prasena for Syamantakamani, Krishna took the allegations seriously. He went on a fact finding mission with witnesses to retrieve the missing jewel. He returned it to Satrajit to ensure that he was above any suspicion. Even when fetching Akrura, he ensured he gave the jewel back to him, so he was never after it, though Satyabhama would have been its legal heir.
Credibility of a person can be damaged very easily even based on rumors and suspicions. Once we lose it, our standing in the society is very questionable and we cannot have effectiveness in our relationships. This is not to be conflated with the idea of worrying about others faulty claims. For instance, during the eighteenth encounter with Jarasandha, he was mocked as ranchor, one who fled the battlefield. Krishna had nothing to prove and was locked on a higher goal of safety for his citizens. Being called so by a sore loser did no damage to his reputation.
Even the western society comes close to this idea with its adage, “Ceasar’s wife must be above suspicion”. If a name gets sullied for a sanyasi who is recluse, it may matter not much as worldly events don’t cast a shadow in his inner journey. But for a Grihasta or a Brahmachari, maintaining a good reputation is crucial to function well in the society and one must follow Krishna’s steps to protect it at all costs.
- Need for witness: Krishna adopted a tactic to ensure there were witnesses when he went following Prasena’s trail, as doubters could have accused him at every step. Even during his fight with Jambhavan, he stationed his witnesses outside. When he returned the jewel to Satrajit, he ensured it was in the presence of the King. When he went after Satadhanva he ensured he had Balarama. Later when he brought back Akrura, he requested him to wear Syamantakamani in public so he can never be accused.
To live in a glass house needs practice of dharma at a higher level. This ensures the highest benefit to the dharmic follower more than the onlooker. The practical lesson is for crucial steps in life, ensure there are adequate witnesses.
- Be careful with words: Words are very powerful instruments. One casual innocent unsought suggestion from Krishna, seeking the welfare of the society brought much trauma. Our words can be mistaken and misinterpreted even if conveyed with good intentions. Hence to have a proper choice of words, its presentation and situation are critical. Unsolicited advice is another easy trap.
Krishna gives a wonderful display in the art of proper conversing when he talks with Akrura. He talks sweetly, ensures that Akrura feels respected. He also kept the cards on the table in favor of Akrura by saying that he was a worthy recipient of Syamantakamani. He turns a backstabbing opponent to do his bidding by seeking it more like a favor than a demand. Akrura whose ego must be brimming, also as having the permission to keep the jewel was feeling obliged to heed to Krishna’s request. Note there was no deception in Krishna’s words. Genuineness is important in our relationships and words.
- Greed / Tamas: Satrajit, despite being Surya upasaka did not overcome greed and hence was unable to see the subtle dharmic advice given by Krishna. Learning to give that jewel would have evolved him to the next step, spiritually. Greed holds one from spiritual growth, even if advice is personally given by Krishna. Past wrongful association with Kamsa is said to have led to the pitfall of two bhaktas - Kritavarma and Akrura. Due to past vasanas, they got blinded with the idea of coveting the jewel. This even made Satadhanva to murder in cold blood. Akrura, though was giving away a lot in charity, settled for some trivial trinket of the jewel instead of the unalloyed Krishnabhakti he already had. That is the worst trade one can do, due to Tamas. Obtaining seemingly nice distractions like Syamantakamani, must not get us waylaid from our higher purpose.
Jambavan was a victim of Tamas as well. He was so prejudiced that instead of seeing Bhagawan in everything, he did the opposite by seeing Bhagawan as an ordinary mundane person (पुरुषं प्राकृतं मत्वा puruṣam prākṛtaṁ matvā SB 10-56-22). Tamas is a huge enemy of our spiritual growth and the chief weapon of Maya. This keeps us tightly bound to our negative vasanas. But the interesting thing with Jambavan is his mere physical association with Krishna was enough to uplift him from the grip of his limited Tamas.
The biggest fall due to Tamas is the constant blocking of the spiritual growth, which we are even ignorant due to its presence.
Krishna’s actions and advice constantly reiterate the fact that we must constantly think both of this world and beyond. To live here one must live steeped in Purusharthas. To even adhere to dharma one must be congruent with the laws of the land and maintain a frictionless relationship with the society. Such an endeavor will not be possible if one’s name gets sullied even by wrong allegations, let alone by willful wrong actions. Krishna’s focus on maintaining a credible name was not with a motivated agenda to achieve something, but a common sense action to remain effective in the society. We note this strong feeling when he advises Arjuna that infamy is worse than death (सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्ति र्मरणादतिरिच्यते || sambhāvitasya chākīrtir maraṇād atirichyate BG 2-34).
The wrong corollary of this insight becomes the ego constantly chasing and doing things only for fame. This other extreme is highly twisted. Chasing fame is an ego driven mindset which most certainly will land one in papa in the long run. On the other hand, remaining spotless in character and above accusations is a common sense practical way to stay focused on svadharma. This also implies that one simplifies their living and keeps it free of possible drama.
This vital insight of ensuring no hindrance to our observance of svadharma is very pragmatic. One can be busy with burning one’s vasanas without self created obstacles. Avoiding infamy, which is not the same as chasing fame, is one of the simplest lessons one can apply in our daily lives. Yet to fully understand its import, one has to apply with a dharmic insight and not a secular blur. May Krishna’s life continue to inspire us in refining our thoughts, words and actions. May our lives be steeped in dharma which will make kirti (fame) as an attendant due to our high living.
ॐ तत् सत
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