Miscellaneous - Religion   

Overcome desire

CHENNAI: : Everyone desires to amass wealth without exception in the belief that it is the panacea for the problems of worldly life. It is true that poverty cannot be glorified as a virtue, for a certain amount of money is necessary to command the creature comforts; but human nature is such that it cannot be satisfied with any amount. It is the desire to amass more or appropriate wealth that does not belong to one which drives a person to commit wrongs. Moreover, a wealthy person does not have peace of mind.

In his discourse on the Vishnu Purana, Sri P.R.Vaidyanatha Sastrigal said the Syamantaka episode highlighted how even Lord Krishna became suspect in the eyes of the people of Dwaraka because He desired to get the gem for King Ugrasena as it yielded gold everyday. Satrajit worshipped the Sun and obtained the gem from this god. He wore it on his person and his land prospered. Its brilliance attracted everyone's attention including Krishna's. Worried, Satrajit gave it to his brother Prasena for safekeeping, as he did not want to lose it. As the gem was divine in nature, unless the person who wore it was righteous it brought him ill luck. When Prasena went hunting a lion killed him. The lion took away the gem attracted by its dazzle and the king of bears, Jambavan, in turn killed the lion and got it. Jambavan fashioned it into a toy and gave it to his child.

Satrajit suspected that Krishna was responsible for his brother's death and in order to clear His name the Lord with His kinsmen followed Prasena's trail into the forest, and the pug marks of Jambavan led to his cave. Then ensued a fight between the two, which went on for 21 days and when Krishna did not emerge from the cave for so long His people concluded that He had died.

Jambavan tired finally and submitted to Krishna, who lifted and hugged the old bear, which had served Him during His incarnation as Rama. Jambavan gave away his daughter Jambavati in marriage to Him when he learnt Krishna's identity and also presented the Syamantaka to Him. The Lord then returned the gem to Satrajit who regretted that he had suspected Krishna. To assuage his guilt he got his daughter Satyabhama married to Krishna and also gave the gem, which He refused to accept.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
Solution to Puzzle 8351
The Hindu Crossword No. 8352
Overcome desire
dated July 22, 1955: Riots in Saigon
dated July 22, 1955: PM's stand hailed
dated July 22, 1955: C. Rajam dead
Weather

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu