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
Brooding over his grievous offense and anxious about a clash with the Lord’s mighty devotees, King Satrājit thought: “How shall I cleanse the dust of contamination from my heart, and how will Lord Acyuta be pleased with me? What can I do to restore my good fortune and keep the people from cursing me as short-sighted, miserly, foolish, and greedy for wealth? I will offer the Lord my daughter—the jewel among women—together with the Syamantaka gem. This alone is the proper means to pacify Him; there is no other way.”
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.