Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 9
Draupadī Meets Kṛṣṇa’s Queens — Narratives of the Lord’s Marriages and the Queens’ Bhakti
श्रीसत्यभामोवाच यो मे सनाभिवधतप्तहृदा ततेन लिप्ताभिशापमपमार्ष्टुमुपाजहार । जित्वर्क्षराजमथ रत्नमदात् स तेन भीत: पितादिशत मां प्रभवेऽपि दत्ताम् ॥ ९ ॥
śrī-satyabhāmovāca yo me sanābhi-vadha-tapta-hṛdā tatena liptābhiśāpam apamārṣṭum upājahāra jitvarkṣa-rājam atha ratnam adāt sa tena bhītaḥ pitādiśata māṁ prabhave ’pi dattām
Śrī Satyabhāmā said: My father, his heart tormented by his brother’s death, accused Kṛṣṇa of killing him. To remove the stain on His reputation, the Lord defeated the king of the bears and took back the Syamantaka jewel, which He then returned to my father. Fearing the consequences of his offense, my father offered me to the Lord, even though I had already been promised to others.
As described in Chapter Fifty-six of this canto, King Satrājit had already compromised himself by promising his daughter’s hand first to Akrūra and then again to a number of other suitors. But after the return of the Syamantaka jewel, he felt impelled by his shame to offer her to Lord Kṛṣṇa instead. According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the word prabhave (“unto the Lord”) answers any doubt as to the propriety of offering Kṛṣṇa a bride who had already been promised to others. It is perfectly proper to offer Him everything one owns, and improper to withhold anything from Him.
FAQs
This verse shows that Satrajit felt stained by a curse connected with the jewel and sought purification by bringing it forward, indicating the jewel’s story carried karmic and reputational reactions.
Because Satrajit, fearful due to the controversy and curse surrounding the Syamantaka jewel, tried to secure Krishna’s favor and protection by offering Satyabhama in marriage along with reconciliation.
When wrongdoing or suspicion arises, don’t hide it—seek honest rectification, make amends, and take shelter of righteousness rather than acting from pride or fear.