Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

प्रसेनं सहयं हत्वा मणिमाच्छिद्य केशरी । गिरिं विशन् जाम्बवता निहतो मणिमिच्छता ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

prasenaṁ sa-hayaṁ hatvā maṇim ācchidya keśarī giriṁ viśan jāmbavatā nihato maṇim icchatā

Translation

Pinatay ng isang leon si Prasena at ang kanyang kabayo at inagaw ang hiyas. Ngunit nang pumasok ang leon sa yungib ng bundok, pinatay ito ni Jāmbavān na nagnanais din sa hiyas.

Synonyms

• प्रसेनम्: Prasena
• प्रसेनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सहयम्: together with (his) horse
• सहयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय) + हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: सह हयेन (together with the horse)

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having killed’

• मणिम्: the jewel
• मणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आच्छिद्य: having seized/snatched
• आच्छिद्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) with उपसर्ग आ-; ‘having snatched/cut off’

• केशरी: the lion
• केशरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशरिन्/केशरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सिंह (lion)

• गिरिम्: the mountain
• गिरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विशन्: entering
• विशन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु) → विशन् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘entering’

• जाम्बवता: by Jāmbavān
• जाम्बवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाम्बवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• निहतः: was slain
• निहतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) → निहत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; उपसर्ग नि-; ‘having been slain’

• मणिम्: the jewel
• मणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छता: by (one) desiring
• इच्छता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) → इच्छत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; ‘desiring’

Characters & Entities

• Prasena
• Keśarī (lion)
• Jāmbavān
• Syamantaka jewel

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how the Syamantaka jewel was taken from Prasena?

This verse states that a lion killed Prasena and seized the Syamantaka jewel, but the lion was later killed by Jāmbavān, who wanted the jewel.

Why did Jāmbavān kill the lion in the Syamantaka jewel story?

According to this verse, Jāmbavān killed the lion because he desired to obtain the jewel the lion had taken.

What practical lesson does the Syamantaka jewel episode teach for modern life?

The verse highlights how attachment to valuable objects can drive conflict and violence, reminding a devotee to cultivate detachment and seek lasting spiritual wealth over temporary possessions.