Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

स याचितो मणिं क्व‍ापि यदुराजाय शौरिणा । नैवार्थकामुक: प्रादाद् याच्ञाभङ्गमतर्कयन् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

sa yācito maṇiṁ kvāpi yadu-rājāya śauriṇā naivārtha-kāmukaḥ prādād yācñā-bhaṅgam atarkayan

Translation

有一次，绍里主奎师那请求萨特拉吉特把宝珠献给雅度王乌格拉塞那；但萨特拉吉特贪欲炽盛，竟拒不奉献，也未思量违逆主之请求乃是重罪。

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• याचितः: having been requested
• याचितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याच् (धातु) → याचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• मणिम्: the jewel
• मणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• क्वापि: somewhere / at some time
• क्वापि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययसमुच्चय/अनिश्चितार्थक अव्यय (indefinite adverb)

• यदुराजाय: to the king of the Yadus
• यदुराजाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदुराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यदूनां राजा

• शौरिणा: by Śauri (Krishna)
• शौरिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed / at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic/only)

• अर्थकामुकः: desirous of wealth (self-interested)
• अर्थकामुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कामुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अर्थं कामयते इति (one desirous of gain)

• प्रादात्: gave
• प्रादात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• याच्ञाभङ्गम्: the refusal/breach of a request
• याच्ञाभङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याच्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: याच्ञायाः भङ्गः (breaking of a request)

• अतर्कयन्: did not consider
• अतर्कयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तर्क् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; नञ्-उपसर्ग/नकारार्थ: अ- (negation)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Śauri)
• Satrājit
• Ugrasena

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about refusing a righteous request?

This verse shows that denying a proper request—especially when made for a dharmic purpose—leads to dishonor; Satrājit refused Kṛṣṇa’s request and failed to foresee the disgrace and consequences.

Why did Krishna ask for the Syamantaka jewel for the Yadu king Ugrasena?

Kṛṣṇa requested the jewel to be placed under the authority of the Yadu ruler (Ugrasena), aligning the extraordinary wealth with rightful kingship and public dharma rather than private hoarding.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Do not let greed override integrity—when a legitimate request serves the common good, respond with generosity and foresight rather than clinging to personal gain.