Syamantaka Maṇi (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa)
The Syamantaka Maṇi is a gem that gives eight bhāras (loads) of gold each day. The Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa says that Vishṇu himself dwells in it. This episode begins with a śāpa (a curse) from Tārā on Candra and ends with Kṛshṇa cleared of a false charge of theft. Kṛshṇa follows the gem to the cave of Jāmbavanta. He fights the great bear king for twenty-one days. At last Jāmbavanta gives him both the gem and his daughter Jāmbavatī. It is told in the Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 122.
The śāpa on the Bhādrapada Caturthi moon
This episode is linked to the account of Tārā, Candra and Bṛhaspati. Candra, the moon, took Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, and in the end was made to give her back. Tārā then gave Candra a śāpa: “Whoever sees you on the night of Bhādrapada Śukla Caturthi will be accused of something they did not do. They will face a false charge.” Candra did tapas at Nārāyaṇa Saras and was partly freed from the śāpa. From that time, seeing the moon of Bhādrapada Caturthi brings the result of a false accusation. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 122)
The Syamantaka gem
The Syamantaka Maṇi was a priceless gem owned by Satrājit, a devotee of Sūrya. It gave eight bhāras of gold every day, and the text says that Vishṇu himself dwelt in it. In a land or house that held this gem there was no disease, no famine and no early death.
Satrājit’s brother Prasenā once wore the gem and went out hunting. A lion killed him and took the gem. Then Jāmbavanta killed the lion. Jāmbavanta is the great bear king and devotee of Rāma. He took the gem to his cave and put it in the cradle of his infant child as a toy.
When Prasenā did not come back, Satrājit accused Kṛshṇa of killing Prasenā and stealing the gem. This false charge spread through Dvārakā. It came at the time of Bhādrapada Caturthi, the very time of Tārā’s śāpa, when Kṛshṇa had by chance looked at the moon and so brought the śāpa’s result on himself. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 122)
Kṛshṇa’s search and the fight with Jāmbavanta
To clear his name, Kṛshṇa set out to find the gem. He followed the trail: Prasenā’s body, the lion’s body, and the marks of Jāmbavanta’s tracks. He found the great cave. Kṛshṇa went in and saw the gem in the hands of Jāmbavanta’s infant child.
A great fight broke out between Kṛshṇa and Jāmbavanta, the great bear who had served Rāma in the Rāmāyaṇa and who was a being of huge strength. The fight lasted twenty-one days. In the end Jāmbavanta, weakened by Kṛshṇa’s strength and seeing Kṛshṇa as the supreme Parabrahman, gave in.
Jāmbavanta then knew that Kṛshṇa was none other than Rāma in another form. It was the same Bhagavān Rāma he had served with complete devotion in the Tretā Yuga. Filled with joy and reverence, Jāmbavanta gave the Syamantaka Maṇi to Kṛshṇa as a gift. He also gave his daughter Jāmbavatī to Kṛshṇa in marriage, with fitting wedding gifts. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 122)
Kṛshṇa is cleared
Kṛshṇa went back to Dvārakā with the Syamantaka Maṇi and showed it in public. He told the whole course of events to the gathered Yādavas and to Satrājit: Prasenā’s death, the lion and Jāmbavanta. Satrājit was overcome with shame and regret for having falsely accused Kṛshṇa.
At that time the śloka (verse) was set down that cleanses the dosha (fault) of having seen the Bhādrapada Caturthi moon, and so removes the result of any false charge. Those who say it on Caturthi cleanse the dosha completely.
The account fixes these points. Seeing the Bhādrapada Śukla Caturthi moon brings the dosha of a false accusation. The remedy is this particular cleansing śloka. Even Kṛshṇa himself came under this rule. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 122)
Sources
- Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 122