The story of Syamantakamani in the context of the greatness of Srimad Devi Bhagwat
The sages said- the great Vasudev Ji in his
How did he get his son and how did Shri Krishna find Prasen while wandering in the forest? Hey Sumate! Hey Sutji! By what method and with whom did Vasudevji listen to Shrimaddevi Bhagwat Purana? You tell us this story. 1-2 ॥
Sutji said – Bhojvanshi Satrajit is in Dwarkapuri
Living happily, he was always devoted to the worship of the Sun. He was the Sun’s greatest devotee and friend. ॥3॥
After some time, Suryadev became pleased with him and showed him his world. Lord Surya, who was extremely pleased with his devotion and love, gave the Syamantaka gem to Satrajit and he came to Dwaraka with that gem around his neck. 4-5 ॥
Seeing him, the citizens confused by the brilliance of the gem, mistaking Satrajit for the Sun, went to Shri Krishna seated in his assembly named Sudharma and told him. ॥ 6 ॥
O Lord of the world! The Sun God himself is coming to you with the desire to see you. Hearing this, Lord Krishna laughed and said in the assembly. ॥ 7 ॥
O child-natured citizens! This is not the Sun God; Rather, it is Satrajit, who is coming here glowing with the Syamantaka-mani given by the Sun himself. 8॥
Thereafter Satrajit called the Brahmins and recited the Swasti mantra and after worshipping it properly, installed the gem in his house.
Wherever that gem resided, there was no fear of any kind of epidemic, famine or trouble (natural calamity like earthquake etc.) and (one of the special qualities of that gem was that it used to give eight weights* of gold every day. ॥10॥
Thereafter one day Prasen, the brother of Satrajit, wearing that gem around his neck, rode on a horse from Sindhu country and left for the forest for hunting. There in the forest a lion saw him and killed Prasen along with the horse and took the gem for himself. ॥11-12॥
After this, the mighty king Jambavan saw the lion carrying the gem at the entrance of his cave and killed it and took the gem himself. 13 ॥
The mighty Rishraj gave that gem to his son to play with and the child too, after getting the shining gem, started playing with it. ॥14॥
When some time passed and Prasena did not return, Satrajit became very sad and started wondering who had killed Prasena in order to take the gem. ॥15॥
Meanwhile, in Dwarkapura, through conversations among the citizens, the legend somehow got spread that Shri Krishna, under the influence of greed for the gem, had killed Prasena. ॥16॥
When Shri Krishna also heard that defamation about himself, he set out with the citizens to investigate Prasen to remove the stigma imposed on him. 17 ॥
On reaching the forest, Shri Krishna saw Prasena killed by the lion and then following the path marked by the drops of fallen blood, he went some distance in search of the lion. 18॥
After this, seeing a dead lion at the entrance of a cave, Lord Krishna spoke to the citizens in a compassionate voice – I am entering this cave to search for the person who stole the gem. You all stay here until I return. ॥19-20॥
Those residents of Dwaraka said ‘All right’ and stayed there, and Sri Krishna entered the cave where Jambavan’s house was. 21.
Thereafter, on reaching there, Shri Krishna saw Riksharaj’s son wearing the gem and tried to snatch it, on this his midwife started screaming in fear. 22 ॥
Then hearing Dhatri’s voice, Jambavan immediately came there and began fighting with his [former] master Sri Krishna continuously day and night.॥23॥
In this way, a fierce battle took place between the two for twenty-seven days. The residents of Dwarka waited for twelve days at the entrance of the cave for Shri Krishna’s arrival, but after this, they became afraid and went to their respective homes and after reaching there, they told the whole story to the people. ॥24-25॥
On hearing all this, all the citizens of Dwarkapuri became extremely grief-stricken and started cursing Satrajitki. On hearing the news of his son, the great Vasudev, along with his family, fainted in great grief and started thinking again and again as to how his welfare could be ensured. ॥26-27॥
At the same time, Devarshi Narad from Brahmaloka came there. Vasudevji got up and bowed to him and worshiped him duly. 28 ॥
After inquiring about the well-being of the wisest Yadushreshtha Vasudev, Devarshi Narada said to him – Tell me why you are worried. ॥29॥
Vasudevji said- My very dear son Shri Krishna
In search of Prasen, he went to the forest with the citizens of Dwaraka, where he found Prasen dead. After this, seeing the lion that had killed Prasen dead at the entrance of a cave, Shri Krishna stopped the citizens at the entrance and went inside the cave himself. Many days have passed, but my son has not yet returned, due to which I am worried, so O sage! Please tell me some such solution, by which I can get my beloved son. ॥ 30-32 ॥
Read also: Sutji’s description of the glory of listening to Shrimad Devi Bhagwat to the sages
Naradji said- O best of Yadu! You are the daughter of a son
To achieve this, worship Ambikadevi. Worshiping her will soon bring you welfare. ॥ 33 ॥
Vasudev Ji said- O Lord! Who is that Goddess?
What kind of influence does that Maheshwari have and how should she be worshipped? O Devrishi! Kindly tell me this. ॥34॥
Naradji said- Oh great Vasudev! Goddess
Who is capable of describing in detail the incomparable glory of the Supreme Being? So I am telling it in brief, please listen to it. ॥35॥
Who is the eternal, true and supreme goddess of God and through whom this world is pervaded, with the influence of whose worship Brahma creates this living universe, by praising whom Lord Vishnu is freed from the fear of Madhu-Kaitabha and by whose grace he sustains the world. Lord Shankar destroys the world just by his grace and sarcasm and who is the cause of the bondage of the world, it is he who provides liberation. She is the doer, she is the supreme form of knowledge and she is also the goddess of all the gods. 36-39॥
Therefore, according to Navratri rituals, after worshiping Jagadamba in the prescribed manner, listen to this Shrimaddevi Bhagwat Purana for nine days, by listening to which you will soon get your son. Enjoyment and salvation do not remain far from the people who read and listen to this Purana. 40-41 ॥
On Naradji saying this, Vasudevji started saluting sage Narada and said with great love. 42 ॥
Vasudev Ji said – O Lord! By this statement of yours I remembered an incident related to the greatness of the Goddess; I am telling it, please listen to it. ॥ 43 ॥
In the past, the sinful Kansa, having learnt through a voice from the sky that he would die from the eighth pregnancy of Devaki, became frightened and imprisoned me along with my wife. ॥ 44॥
Thereafter I started living in prison with my wife Devaki and the sinful Kansa also kept killing my born sons one by one. ॥ 45 ॥
When my six sons were thus killed by Kansaka, my innocent wife Devi Devaki became extremely grief-stricken and remained sad day and night. ॥46॥
After that, after calling Gargamuni, greeting him and worshiping him, with the wish of getting a son, I told him about Devaki’s sorrow and said – Oh Lord! O Dayasindho! O sage! You are the guru of Yadu clan, hence tell me some solution to get Ayushman son. After this, Dayanidhan Gargaji became happy and started saying to me. 47-483॥
Gargji said- O great Vasudev! Now you
Listen to that best method. Worship that benevolent Goddess Durga who destroys the misfortunes of her devotees. This will soon lead to your welfare; because by worshipping her, all the desires of all people are fulfilled. Nothing is rare in the world for people who worship Durga. ॥49-51॥
I became pleased when Garg Muni said this and after paying my obeisance to the great sage Garg along with my wife with utmost devotion, I said to him with folded hands. ॥ 52 ॥
Vasudevji said – Oh God! O ocean of compassion!
O Guru! If you love me then for my welfare you should worship that Goddess Chandika.
Please worship me. I am not capable of doing anything because I am imprisoned in Kansa’s house. Therefore, O great one! Now only you can save me from this ocean of sorrow. ॥ 53-54॥
On my saying this the great sage became pleased and said- O Vasudev! Because of your love I will do good to you. ॥ 55 ॥
After my loving prayers, Gargamuni went to Vindhya mountain with the Brahmins with the desire to worship Goddess Durga. 56॥
Going there, being engaged in chanting and recitation, Gargamuni started worshiping Goddess Bhagwati, the mother goddess of the world and the fulfiller of the wishes of the devotees. 57 ॥
After the completion of chanting and worship rituals, a voice came from the sky saying, O Mune! I am pleased, so your work will be accomplished. 58 ॥
Taking inspiration from me, Lord Vishnu himself will incarnate from the womb of Devaki, the wife of Vasudev, to destroy the burden of the earth [in the form of all types of sins and immorality]. 59॥
Out of fear of Kansa, Vasudev will quickly take the child to Nanda’s house in Gokul and from there he will bring Yashoda’s daughter and hand her over to King Kansa in his house. Then Kansa will throw the girl on the ground to kill her. ॥ 60-61 ॥
After that, after getting released from his hand, that girl who is my part will immediately assume a supernatural form and go to Vindhya mountain and will continuously do good to the world. 62 ॥
Thus, after listening to that voice from the sky, Gargamuni paid obeisance to Bhagwati Jagdamba and came to Mathurapuri with a happy heart. 63 ॥
After hearing about the boon of Mahadevi from the mouth of Acharya Garga, I along with my wife became very happy and became extremely happy. 64 ॥
Since then I have been knowing the greatness of the Goddess and oh my God! Even today I have heard the same divine greatness from your mouth. 65 ॥
Therefore, O Lord! Now you only recite Shrimad Devi Bhagwat to me. O treasure of mercy! It is because of my good fortune that you have come here. ॥ 66 ॥
Naradji, having a happy heart after hearing the words of Vasudevji, started the story of Shrimaddevi Bhagwat on an auspicious day and auspicious constellation. 67 ॥
In order to overcome the obstacles coming in the story, Brahmins started chanting the mantra in the new words of the Goddess (Om Ain Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vicche) and reciting the Devi Stotra mentioned in Markandeya Purana. 68 ॥
From the very beginning of the first canto, Vasudevji started listening devotionally to Srimaddevi Bhagwat Purana, the nectar emanating from the mouth of Devarshi Narad. 69॥
At the end of the story on the ninth day, Mahamanasvi Vasudevji happily worshiped both Srimaddevi Bhagwat scripture and the narrator. 70 ॥
On the other hand, in the ongoing war between Shri Krishna and Jambavan in Kandra, Jambavan’s body had become very weak due to the fist strikes of Shri Krishna. 71 ॥
At the same time, Jambavan also remembered the events of the past and after paying obeisance to Lord Shri Krishna with utmost devotion and apologizing for his crime, he said to Shri Krishna – Now I have come to know that you are Raghusrestha Shri Ram, whose fierce anger has troubled both the ocean and the city of Lanka. It happened and Ravana was killed along with his relatives. 72-73 ॥
O Shri Krishna! That Ram is you only, so please forgive my impertinence. I am your complete servant, so please order me for whatever work is suitable for me. ॥ 74 ॥
Hearing the words of Jambavan, Lord Shri Krishna said – O King of Kings! We have come to this cave to get the gem. 75 ॥
After that, Riksharaj Jambavan, after performing the ritual worship of Shri Krishna, happily offered Syamantaka Mani and his daughter Jambavati to him. 76 ॥
Shri Krishna accepted Jambavati as his wife and put Mani around his neck and after bidding farewell to Riksharaj Jambavan, he left for Dwarkapuri. 77 ॥
On the other hand, in Dwarka, on the day of completion of Shrimaddevi Bhagwat Purana-Katha, the generous-hearted Shrivasudevji served food to the Brahmins and satisfied them with various forms of dakshina. 78 ॥
At the time when the Brahmin was blessing Vasudeva, Lord Krishna, wearing a gem, arrived there along with his wife Jambavati. ॥ 79॥
Seeing Lord Shri Krishna along with his wife, the eyes of Vasudevji and the crowd present were filled with tears of joy and they were extremely happy. 80 ॥
Devarshi Narada too was delighted at Shri Krishna’s arrival and after taking leave from Vasudev and Shri Krishna he proceeded for the Brahma Sabha. ॥ 81 ॥
A person who with sincere devotion and a pure heart reads and listens to this famous and stigma-destroying character of the Lord becomes completely happy, all his desires in the world are fulfilled and after death he attains salvation. ॥ 82॥
Iti Shriskandpurane Manaskhande ShrimaddeviBhagwatmahatmye Vasudevasya DeviBhagwatnawah- Shravanatputrapraptivarnanam naam secondiodhyayah. 2॥
