Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.57 Summary

This chapter describes how Lord Krsna, after the murder of Satrajit, killed Satadhanva and had Akrura bring the Syamantaka jewel back to Dvaraka.

When Lord Sri Krsna heard that the Pandavas had supposedly been burned to death in the palace of lac, He went to Hastinapura with Lord Baladeva to maintain the principles of worldly protocol, even though, being omniscient, He knew the report was false. With Krsna out of Dvaraka, Akrura and Krtavarma incited Satadhanva to steal the Syamantaka jewel from Satrajit. Bewildered by their words, the sinful Satadhanva murdered King Satrajit in his sleep and stole the gem. Queen Satyabhama was overcome with grief at the death of her father, and she rushed to Hastinapura to report the sorrowful news to Sri Krsna. Together with Lord Baladeva, Krsna then returned to Dvaraka to kill Satadhanva.

Satadhanva went to Akrura and Krtavarma to beg for help, but when they refused he left the jewel with Akrura and fled for his life. Krsna and Balarama pursued him, and Lord Krsna beheaded him with His sharp-edged disc. When the Lord could not find the Syamantaka jewel on Satadhanva's person, Baladeva told Him that Satadhanva must have left it in someone's care. Baladeva further suggested that Krsna return to Dvaraka to find the jewel while He, Baladeva, would take the opportunity to visit the King of Videha. Thus Lord Balarama traveled to Mithila and remained there for a few years, during which He taught King Duryodhana the art of fighting with a club.

Lord Krsna returned to Dvaraka and had the funeral rites performed for Satrajit. When Akrura and Krtavarma heard how Satadhanva had met his death, they fled Dvaraka. Soon many kinds of disturbances -- mental, physical and so on -- began to afflict Dvaraka, and the citizens concluded that the cause of these troubles must be Akrura's exile. The city elders explained, "Once there was a drought in Benares, and the king of the region gave his daughter in marriage to Akrura's father, who was visiting Benares at the time. As a result of this gift, the drought ended." The elders, thinking Akrura had the same power as his father, declared that Akrura should be brought back.

Lord Krsna knew that Akrura's exile was not the main cause of the disturbances. Still, He had Akrura brought back to Dvaraka, and after properly honoring him with worship and greeting him with sweet words, Krsna told him, "I know Satadhanva left the jewel in your care. Since Satrajit had no sons, his daughter's offspring are the just claimants to whatever property he has left behind. Nonetheless, it would be best for you to keep the troublesome jewel in your care. Just let Me show it once to My relatives." Akrura presented Krsna with the jewel, which shone as brilliantly as the sun, and after the Lord had shown it to His family members He returned it to Akrura.

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Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari