Shloka 3
The Murder of Satrājit and the Recovery of the Syamantaka Jewel
लब्ध्वैतदन्तरं राजन् शतधन्वानमूचतु: । अक्रूरकृतवर्माणौ मनि: कस्मान्न गृह्यते ॥ ३ ॥
labdhvaitad antaraṁ rājan śatadhanvānam ūcatuḥ akrūra-kṛtavarmāṇau maniḥ kasmān na gṛhyate
ఓ రాజా, ఈ అవకాశాన్ని వినియోగించుకుని, అక్రూరుడు మరియు కృతవర్మ శతధన్వుని వద్దకు వెళ్లి, 'నువ్వు శ్యమంతక మణిని ఎందుకు తీసుకోకూడదు?' అని అన్నారు.
Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā reasoned that since Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were absent from Dvārakā, Satrājit could be killed and the jewel stolen. Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī mentions that these two must have flattered Śatadhanvā telling him, “You are much braver than we are; so you kill him.”
FAQs
In the Syamantaka episode, the jewel becomes the center of suspicion, greed, and political intrigue, revealing how attachment to wealth can drive people toward adharma and conflict around Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
Seeing an opening after the unfolding conflict, they encouraged Śatadhanvā to seize the jewel—indicating their willingness to align with opportunistic gain rather than righteous conduct.
Be cautious of “opportunity” framed by unethical advisors—when greed is presented as strategy, it often leads to fear, blame, and downfall rather than lasting success.