The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā
स चातिव्रीडितो रत्नं गृहीत्वावाङ्मुखस्तत: । अनुतप्यमानो भवनमगमत् स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ ३९ ॥
sa cāti-vrīḍito ratnaṁ gṛhītvāvāṅ-mukhas tataḥ anutapyamāno bhavanam agamat svena pāpmanā
Von tiefer Scham erfüllt, den Blick gesenkt, nahm Satrājit den Edelstein an und kehrte nach Hause zurück, während er sein sündhaftes Verhalten bereute.
This verse highlights that genuine wrongdoing naturally brings shame and inner remorse, indicating the soul’s awareness of dharma and the weight of one’s own pāpa (sinful action).
Because his conscience was struck—he felt intense embarrassment and regret for his misdeed connected with the jewel, and so he returned home in a visibly humbled state.
When we recognize a mistake, honest remorse should lead to correction—returning what was taken, admitting fault, and choosing dharmic action rather than justifying wrongdoing.