Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 42
The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā
सोऽनुध्यायंस्तदेवाघं बलवद्विग्रहाकुल: । कथं मृजाम्यात्मरज: प्रसीदेद् वाच्युत: कथम् ॥ ४० ॥ किं कृत्वा साधु मह्यं स्यान्न शपेद् वा जनो यथा । अदीर्घदर्शनं क्षुद्रं मूढं द्रविणलोलुपम् ॥ ४१ ॥ दास्ये दुहितरं तस्मै स्त्रीरत्नं रत्नमेव च । उपायोऽयं समीचीनस्तस्य शान्तिर्न चान्यथा ॥ ४२ ॥
so ’nudhyāyaṁs tad evāghaṁ balavad-vigrahākulaḥ kathaṁ mṛjāmy ātma-rajaḥ prasīded vācyutaḥ katham
Pondering over his grievous offense and worried about the possibility of conflict with the Lord’s mighty devotees, King Satrājit thought, “How can I cleanse myself of my contamination, and how may Lord Acyuta become satisfied with me? What can I do to regain my good fortune and avoid being cursed by the populace for being so short-sighted, miserly, foolish and avaricious? I shall give my daughter, the jewel of all women, to the Lord, together with the Syamantaka jewel. That, indeed, is the only proper way to pacify Him.”
FAQs
This verse shows the offender reflecting deeply on his wrongdoing and seeking a way to cleanse the heart and regain Lord Acyuta’s pleasure—repentance begins with honest self-examination and desire to rectify.
Acyuta means “infallible” and “never deviating.” The speaker highlights that Krishna is perfectly steady and pure, and thus one must sincerely purify oneself to regain His favor.
When you realize you have wronged someone, don’t justify it—acknowledge the fault, seek inner reform, and take concrete steps to make amends.