Satrajit Killed, the Jewel Returned

The fifth seventh chapter describes the killing of Satrajit, Krsna killng Satadhanva, and receiving the jewel from Akrura. As the jewel was the cause of the death of Satrajit, the lesson taught is that the object which is ordinarily ones protector can also kill one, if one offends Krsna.

Though knowing that the Pandavas had escaped through a tunnel, hearing that the Pandavas and Kunti were burned, he went to the Kurus to perform the necessary rites.

Taking the opportunity when Krsna and Balarama were not in Dvaraka, Krtavarma and Akrura went to Satadhanva and said, "You can kill Satrajit and take the jewel. Since you are more courageous than us you should kill him."

In this verse they speak of Satrajit’s faults. According to previous statements in the bhagavatam, many suitors requested her as their bride. Each one had requested and Satrajit had promised her to each one. Should he not follow his brother Prasena to death because of this? Old commentators say that Akrura and Krtavarma, great devotees of the Lord, became extremely angry at Satrajit because of his spreading rumors against Krsna, and therefore instigated Satadhanva to kill him.

With his mind confused by Akrura and Krtavarma, Satadhanva, with an evil bent by nature, and with enmity towards Satrajit (asattamah), killed him while sleeping, out of greed for the jewel.

People said that since her husband was the supreme Lord, she could have him bring her father back to life. For that reason she went to Hastinapura, and not out of affection for her father, because her father had animosity towards Krsna. Thus her grieving (tapta) was in order to encourage Krsna to appear to show grief as well.

Hearing her words without crying, they both then made a show of lamentation to satisfy the public.

Satabhama also returned, and explained that Krsna and Balarama could not bring her father back to life, and had thus lamented.

“In instigating you to kill Satrajit, I had no intentions of hostility towards the Lord. If you do not want to surrender to the Lord, should I also, like you, act against the Lord?”

13.” Kamsa and his followers, died (apitah), and thus lost their wealth.” Or the sentence cane mean, “Already dead, because of their enmity towards the Lord, they were also rejected by Laksmi. In seventeen battles, Jarasandha was defeated.”

He speaks in the singular to indicate that Krsna and Balarama are one principle. The irregular sandhi of mohita ajaya to mohitajaya is poetic license.

Satadhanva left the jewel with Akrura, but he did not give it to him, as he had extreme possessiveness of the jewel. The quality of the horse was its ability to run for hundreds of yojanas in emergency. It will also be seen that because of the difficulty in going all the way from Dvaraka to Mithila, the horse died of exhaustion.

They pursued Satadhanva, killer of their father in law (guru drohah).

Though Krsna, being omniscient, knew that Akrura had the jewel, he made a show of searching for it on Satadhanva’s body to Balarama who was following far behind. By doing this he was able to separate himself from Balarama, so that Balarama could give mercy to his pure devotee king Bahulasva in Mitihila.

Understanding that Krsna, who was omniscient, was fooling him, Balarama, with covered anger, said, “I will go to Mithila. You go to Dvaraka and give the jewel to your beloved, but I will not go to Dvaraka.”

Balarama was respected by the king.

The Lord, the comforter of his beloved (priyayah priya krt),said “I was unable to keep your father alive, because he had a short lifespan, but I have killed his killer with my own hand.”

Krsna performed the funeral rites for Satrajit (bandhuh.)

They quickly fled from Dvaraka to somewhere else, because they were the instigators (prayojika) for Satadhanva killing Satrajit.

As a result of his offenses to the gopis of Vraja by taking Krsna , Akrura also had to experience many years of separation from Krsna, and to live in Kasi among Krsna’s enemies. As many years as Baladeva stayed in Mithila, Akrura stayed in Kasi. Hearing how he was giving charity to many brahmanas and doing sacrifices on an altar of gold, people began to gossip that Krsna had Akrura sent to Kasi. Though Balarama, Rukmini and others did not believe the rumors, in order to clear his name, Krsna created many calamities in Dvaraka in order to bring Akrura back. After stating the munis' proposition that Dvaraka was suffering due to the influence of time mentioned in verse 30 it is defeated in verse 31. Some (eke) such as vaisampayana muni, forgetting their previous words (prag udahrtam) in praise of Krsna, began to speak. However, if a muni residing in a village prevents calamity, what calamity to happen in the abode of Krsna who is the shelter of all munis (muni vasa)?

Then Indra (deva) did not give rain in Kasi, the king gave his daughter to Akrura’s father in marriage. Then rain came. Akrura went to Kasi because it was the city of his maternal grandfather.

Hearing the words of the elders to bring back Akrura, though not believing that his absence was the cause of calamity, and by his own desire, he brought Akrura to Dvaraka.

35-36 Not only is Krsna , as paramatma, the knower of all atmas, but he is the knower of all paramatmas in everyones heart (vijnata akhila atma jna). Therefore what is so remarkable if he knows Akrura’s heart? Smiling, Krsna said, “You are not Satrajit’s enemy. You did not steal the jewel. You are not greedy for wealth. You are the greatest devotee. Do I not know your mind? I know even the paramatma in your mind. Why are you afraid of me? What can I ask you? I already know everything.”

Since Satrajit died without a son, and his wives left their bodies along with him, and Satyabhama has no interest in the jewel, her sons are the rightful claimants of the jewel. Taking pinda and water, offering it to their grandfather and freeing themselves from debts, they should accept the jewel. Smrti scriptures say “The wife, daughter, parents, brothers, sons, friends of the same gotra and students or brahmacaris can be the claimants."

All the people of Dvaraka know the jewel is with you. The evidence is your constant performance of sacrifices in Kasi.

40-41.Being scolded gently by Krsna, Akrura took the jewel and gave it to Krsna. Touching it with his hand, Krsna returned it to Akrura.

Anyone who hears this story will have his bad reputation ,and its root, sin (duritam), removed.