Shloka 24

The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā

Devanagari script

आसीत्तदष्टाविंशाहमितरेतरमुष्टिभि: । वज्रनिष्पेषपरुषैरविश्रममहर्निशम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

āsīt tad aṣṭā-vimśāham itaretara-muṣṭibhiḥ vajra-niṣpeṣa-paruṣair aviśramam ahar-niśam

Translation

ആ യുദ്ധം ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ട് ദിവസം രാവും പകலும் വിശ്രമമില്ലാതെ തുടർന്നു. ഇടിമുഴക്കം പോലെ കഠിനമായ മുഷ്ടികൾ കൊണ്ട് അവർ പരസ്പരം പ്രഹരിച്ചു.

Synonyms

• āsīt: was/continued
• āsīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that (fight)
• tat: Karma (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); deictic pronoun

• aṣṭā-viṁśa-aham: for twenty-eight days
• aṣṭā-viṁśa-aham: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭā + viṁśati + ahan (अष्टा- + विंशति- + अहन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु: अष्टाविंशतिरहः (a period of 28 days)

• itaretara-muṣṭibhiḥ: with mutual fists
• itaretara-muṣṭibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itaretara + muṣṭi (इतरेतर-प्रातिपदिक + मुष्टि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: इतरेतरस्य मुष्टिभिः (with each other’s fists)

• vajra-niṣpeṣa-paruṣaiḥ: with blows harsh like a thunderbolt’s crushing
• vajra-niṣpeṣa-paruṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra + niṣpeṣa + paruṣa (वज्र-प्रातिपदिक + निष्पेष-प्रातिपदिक + परुष-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying muṣṭibhiḥ; तत्पुरुष: वज्रनिष्पेषवत् परुषैः (hard as thunderbolt-grinding)

• aviśramam: without pause
• aviśramam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aviśrama (अविश्रम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): without rest

• ahar-niśam: day and night
• ahar-niśam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ahar + niśā (अहन्-प्रातिपदिक + निशा-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially: अहर्निशम् = day and night (continuously)

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the fight continued day and night without intermission.

Characters & Entities

• Jāmbavān
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

How long did Kṛṣṇa fight Jāmbavān in the Syamantaka jewel story?

This verse states that the battle continued for twenty-eight days, without rest, day and night.

What does Bhagavatam 10.56.24 describe about the intensity of the fight?

It says they struck each other with fists whose blows were as severe as thunderbolt-like crushing, indicating extraordinary power and endurance.

What is a practical lesson from Kṛṣṇa’s prolonged combat in modern life?

Steadfastness in pursuing dharma—continuing one’s duty with determination and discipline even when the path is demanding.