For Relief from Lord Ganesha Curse to moon

Lord Ganesha is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. On one of His
birthdays He was going around house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten
a good number of these, He set out moving on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled--it had
seen a snake and became frightened--with the result that Ganesha fell down. His stomach burst open
and all the sweet puddings came out. But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching
hold of the snake, tied it around His belly.

Seeing all this, the moon in the sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly behaviour of the moon annoyed
Him immensely and so he pulled out one of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no
one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. If anyone does, he will surely earn a bad
name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this
day, then the only way he can be freed from the curse is by repeating or listening to the story of how
Lord Krishna cleared His character regarding the Syamantaka jewel. This story is quoted in the Srimad
Bhagavatam. Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How kind and merciful
He is unto His devotees!

The Bhaktivedanta purport of the Fifty-sixth Chapter of Krsna, "The Story of the Syamantaka
Jewel."

There was a king of the name Satrajit within the jurisdiction of Dvaraka-dhama. He was a great devotee
of the sun-god, who awarded him the benediction of a jewel known as Syamantaka. Because of this
Syamantaka jewel, there was a misunderstanding between King Satrajit and the Yadu dynasty. Later on
the matter was settled when Satrajit voluntarily offered Krsna his daughter, Satyabhama, along with the
jewel Syamantaka. Not only was Satyabhama married to Krsna on account of the Syamantaka jewel, but
Jambavati, the daughter of Jambavan, was also married to Krsna. These two marriages took place before
the appearance of Pradyumna, as described in the last chapter. How King Satrajit offended the Yadu
dynasty and how he later on came to his senses and offered his daughter and the Syamantaka jewel to
Krsna is described as follows.

Since he was a great devotee of the sun-god, King Satrajit gradually entered into a very friendly
relationship with him. The sun-god was much pleased with him and delivered to him an exceptional jewel
known as Syamantaka. When this jewel was worn by Satrajit in a locket around his neck, he appeared
exactly like an imitation sun-god. Putting on this jewel, he would enter the city of Dvaraka, and people
would think that the sun-god had come into the city to see Krsna. They knew that Krsna, being the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, was sometimes visited by the demigods, so while Satrajit was visiting
the city of Dvaraka all the inhabitants except Krsna took him to be the sun-god himself. Although King
Satrajit was known to everyone, he could not be recognized because of the dazzling effulgence of the
Syamantaka jewel.

Once, mistaking him to be the sun-god, some of the important citizens of Dvaraka immediately went to
Krsna to inform Him that the sun-god had arrived to see Him. At that time, Krsna was playing chess. One
of the important residents of Dvaraka spoke thus: "My dear Lord Narayana, You are the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. In Your plenary portion of Narayana or Visnu, You have four hands with different
symbols--the conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower. You are actually the owner of everything, but in
spite of Your being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, You have descended in Vrndavana to
act as the child of Yasodamata, who sometimes used to tie You up with her ropes, and You are
celebrated, therefore, by the name Damodara."

That Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, as accepted by the citizens of Dvaraka,
was later on confirmed by the great Mayavadi philosophical leader, Sankaracarya. By accepting the Lord
as impersonal, he did not reject the Lord's personal form. He meant that everything which has form in
this material world is subjected to creation, maintenance and annihilation, but the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, Narayana, does not have a material form subjected to these limitations. In order to convince
the less intelligent class of men who take Krsna to be an ordinary human being, Sankaracarya therefore
said that God is impersonal. This impersonality means that He is not a person of this material condition.
He is a transcendental personality without a material body.

The citizens of Dvaraka addressed Lord Krsna not only as Damodara, but also as Govinda, which
indicates that Krsna is very affectionate to the cows and calves; and just to refer to their intimate
connection with Krsna, they addressed Him as Yadunandana. He is the son of Vasudeva, born in the Yadu
dynasty. In this way, the citizens of Dvaraka concluded that they were addressing Krsna as the supreme
master of the whole universe. They addressed Krsna in many different ways, proud of being citizens of
Dvaraka who could see Krsna daily.

When Satrajit was visiting the city of Dvaraka, the citizens felt great pride to think that although Krsna
was living in Dvaraka like an ordinary human being, the demigods were coming to see Him. Thus they
informed Lord Krsna that the sun-god, with his appealing bodily effulgence, was coming to see Him. The
citizens of Dvaraka confirmed that the sun-god's coming into Dvaraka was not very wonderful, because
people all over the universe who were searching after the Supreme Personality of Godhead knew that He
had appeared in the family of the Yadu dynasty and was living in Dvaraka as one of the members of that
family. Thus the citizens expressed their joy on this occasion. On hearing the statement of His citizens,
the all-pervasive Personality of Godhead, Krsna, simply smiled. Being pleased with the citizens of
Dvaraka, Krsna informed them that the person whom they described as the sun-god was actually King
Satrajit, who had come to visit Dvaraka City to show his opulence in the form of the valuable jewel
obtained from the sun-god.

Satrajit, however, did not come to see Krsna; he was instead overwhelmed by the jewel of Syamantaka.
He installed the jewel in a temple to be worshiped by brahmanas he engaged for this purpose. This is an
instance of a less intelligent person worshiping a material thing. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that
less intelligent persons, in order to get immediate results from their fruitive activities, worship the
demigods who are created within this universe. The word "materialist" means one concerned with
gratification of the senses within this material world. Although Krsna later asked for this Syamantaka
jewel, King Satrajit did not deliver it to him, but he installed the jewel for his purposes of worship. And
who would not worship that jewel? The Syamantaka jewel was so powerful that it was daily producing a
large quantity of gold. A quantity of gold is counted by a measurement called a bhara. According to
Vedic formulas, one bhara is equal to sixteen pounds; one mound equals eighty-two pounds. The jewel
was producing about 170 pounds of gold every day. Besides that, it is learned from Vedic literature that
in whatever part of the world this jewel is worshiped there is no possibility of famine; not only that, but
wherever the jewel is present, there is no possibility of anything inauspicious, such as pestilence or
disease.
Lord Krsna wanted to teach the world that the best of everything should be offered to the ruling chief of
the country. King Ugrasena was the overlord of many dynasties and happened to be the grandfather of
Krsna, and Krsna asked Satrajit to present the Syamantaka jewel to King Ugrasena. Krsna pleaded that
the best should be offered to the King. But Satrajit, being a worshiper of the demigods, had become too
materialistic and, instead of accepting the request of Krsna, thought it wiser to worship the jewel in order
to get the 170 pounds of gold every day. Materialistic persons who can achieve such huge quantities of
gold every day are not interested in Krsna consciousness. Sometimes, therefore, in order to show special
favor, Krsna takes away great accumulations of materialistic wealth from a person and thus makes him a
great devotee. But Satrajit refused to abide by the order of Krsna and did not deliver the jewel to Him.

After this incident, Satrajit's younger brother, in order to display the opulence of the family, took the
jewel, put it on his neck and rode on horseback into the forest, making a show of his material opulence.
While the brother of Satrajit, who was known as Prasena, was moving here and there in the forest, a big
lion attacked him, killing both him and the horse on which he was riding, and took away the jewel to his
cave. The news was received by the gorilla king, Jambavan, who then killed that lion in the cave and took
away the jewel. Jambavan had been a great devotee of the Lord since the time of Lord Ramacandra, so
he did not take the valuable jewel as something he very much needed. He gave it to his young son to
play with as a toy.

In the city, when Satrajit's younger brother Prasena did not return from the forest with the jewel, Satrajit
became very upset. He did not know that his brother had been killed by a lion and that the lion had been
killed by Jambavan. He was thinking instead that because Krsna wanted that jewel and it had not been
delivered to Him, Krsna might have therefore taken the jewel away from Prasena by force and killed him.
This idea grew into a rumor which was being spread by Satrajit in every part of Dvaraka.

The false rumor that Krsna had killed Prasena and had taken away the jewel was spread everywhere like
wildfire. Krsna did not like to be defamed in that way, and therefore He decided that He would go to the
forest and find the Syamantaka jewel, taking with Him some of the inhabitants of Dvaraka. Along with
important men of Dvaraka, Krsna went to search out Prasena, the brother of Satrajit, and He found him
dead, killed by the lion. At the same time, Krsna also found the lion which had been killed by Jambavan,
who is generally called by the name Rksa. It was found that the lion had been killed by the hand of Rksa
without the assistance of any weapon. Krsna and the citizens of Dvaraka then found in the forest a great
tunnel, said to be the path to Rksa's house. Krsna knew that the inhabitants of Dvaraka would be afraid
to enter the tunnel; therefore He asked them to remain outside, and He Himself entered the dark tunnel
alone to find Rksa, Jambavan. After entering the tunnel, Krsna saw that the very valuable jewel known as
Syamantaka had been given to the son of Rksa as a toy, and in order to take the jewel from the child, He
went there and stood before him. When the nurse who was taking care of Rksa's child saw Krsna
standing before her, she was afraid, thinking the valuable Syamantaka jewel might be taken away by
Him. She began to cry loudly out of fear.

Hearing the nurse crying, Jambavan appeared on the scene in a very angry mood. Jambavan was
actually a great devotee of Lord Krsna, but because he was in an angry mood he could not recognize his
master; he thought Him to be an ordinary man. This brings to mind the statement of the Bhagavad-gita
in which the Lord advises Arjuna to get free from anger, greed and lust in order to rise up to the spiritual
platform. Lust, anger and greed run parallel in the heart and check one's progress on the spiritual path.

Not recognizing his master, Jambavan first challenged Him to fight. There was then a great fight between
Krsna and Jambavan in which they fought like two opposing vultures. Whenever there is an eatable
corpse the vultures fight heartily over the prey. Krsna and Jambavan first of all began fighting with
weapons, then with stones, then with big trees, then hand to hand, until at last they were hitting one
another with their fists, and the blows were like the striking of thunderbolts. Each was expecting victory
over the other, but the fighting continued for days, both in daytime and at night, without stopping. In this
way the fighting continued for twenty-eight days.

Although Jambavan was the strongest living entity of that time, practically all the joints of his bodily
limbs became slackened and his strength reduced to practically nil after being constantly struck by the
fists of Sri Krsna. Feeling very tired, with perspiration all over his body, Jambavan was astonished. Who
was this opponent who was weakening him? Jambavan was quite aware of his own superhuman bodily
strength, but when he felt tired from being struck by Krsna, he could understand that Krsna was no one
else but his worshipable Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This incident has a special
significance for devotees. In the beginning, Jambavan could not understand Krsna because his vision was
obscured by material attachment. He was attached to his boy and to the greatly valuable Syamantaka
jewel, which he did not want to spare for Krsna. In fact, when Krsna came there he became angry,
thinking that He had come to take away the jewel. This is the material position; although one is very
strong in body, that cannot help him understand Krsna.

In a sporting attitude, Krsna wanted to engage in a mock fight with His devotee. As we have experienced
from the pages of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has all the propensities
and instincts of a human being. Sometimes, in a sportive spirit, He wishes to fight to make a show of
bodily strength, and when He so desires, He selects one of His suitable devotees to give Him that
pleasure. Krsna desired this pleasure of mock fighting with Jambavan. Although Jambavan was a devotee
by nature, he was without knowledge of Krsna while giving service to the Lord by his bodily strength. But
as soon as Krsna was pleased by the fighting, Jambavan immediately understood that his opponent was
none other than the Supreme Lord Himself. The conclusion is that he could understand Krsna by his
service. Krsna is sometimes satisfied by fighting also.

Jambavan therefore said to the Lord, "My dear Lord, I can now understand who You are. You are the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, the source of everyone's strength, wealth, reputation,
beauty, wisdom and renunciation." This statement of Jambavan's is confirmed by the Vedanta-sutra,
wherein the Supreme Lord is declared to be the source of everything. Jambavan identified Lord Krsna as
the Supreme Personality, Lord Visnu: "My dear Lord, You are the creator of the creators of the universal
affairs." This statement is very instructive to the ordinary man, who is amazed by the activities of a
person with an exceptional brain. The ordinary man is surprised to see the inventions of a great scientist,
but the statement of Jambavan confirms that although a scientist may be a creator of many wonderful
things, Krsna is the creator of the scientist. He is not only the creator of one scientist, but of millions and
trillions, all over the universe. Jambavan said further, "You are not only creator of the creator, but You
are also creator of the material elements which are manipulated by the so-called creators." Scientists
utilize the physical elements or laws of material nature and do something wonderful, but actually such
laws and elements are also the creation of Krsna. This is actual scientific understanding. Less intelligent
men do not try to understand who created the brain of the scientist; they are simply satisfied by seeing
the wonderful creation or invention of the scientist.

Jambavan continued: "My dear Lord, the time factor which combines all the physical elements is also
Your representative. You are the supreme time factor in which all creation takes place, is maintained,
and is finally annihilated. And not only the physical elements and the time factors but also the persons
who manipulate the ingredients and advantages of creation are part and parcel of You. The living entity
is not, therefore, an independent creator. By studying all factors in the right perspective, one can see
that You are the supreme controller and Lord of everything. My dear Lord, I can therefore understand
that You are the same Supreme Personality of Godhead whom I worship as Lord Ramacandra. My Lord
Ramacandra wanted to construct a bridge over the ocean, and I saw personally how the ocean became
agitated simply by my Lord's glancing over it. And when the whole ocean became agitated, the living
entities like the whales, alligators and timingila fish, all became perturbed. [The timingila fish in the
ocean can swallow big aquatics like whales in one gulp.] In this way the ocean was forced to give way
and allow Ramacandra to cross to the island known as Lanka [now supposed to be Ceylon]. This
construction of a bridge over the ocean from Cape Comorin to Ceylon is still well-known to everyone.
After the construction of the bridge, a fire was set all over the kingdom of Ravana. During the fighting
with Ravana, each and every part of Ravana's limbs was slashed and cut into pieces by Your sharp
arrows, and his head fell to the face of the earth. Now I can understand that You are none other than my
Lord Ramacandra. No one else has such immeasurable strength; no one else could defeat me in this
way."

Lord Krsna became satisfied by the prayers and statements of Jambavan, and to mitigate the pains of his
body, He began to smear the lotus palm of His hand all over the body of Jambavan. Jambavan at once
felt relieved from the fatigue of the great fight. Lord Krsna then addressed him as King Jambavan,
because he and not the lion was actually the king of the forest; with his naked hand, without a weopon,
Jambavan had killed the lion. Krsna informed Jambavan that He had come to him to ask for the
Syamantaka jewel because since the Syamantaka jewel had been stolen His name had been defamed by
the less intelligent. Krsna plainly informed him that He had come there to ask him for the jewel in order
to be free from the defamation. Jambavan understood the whole situation, and to satisfy the Lord he not
only immediately delivered the Syamantaka jewel, but he also brought his daughter Jambavati, who was
of marriageable age, and presented her to Lord Krsna.

The episode of Jambavati's marriage with Krsna and the delivery of the jewel known as Syamantaka was
finished within the mountain cave. Although the fighting between Krsna and Jambavan went on for
twenty-eight days, the inhabitants of Dvaraka waited outside the tunnel for twelve days, and after that
they decided that something undesirable must have happened. They could not understand what had
actually happened for certain, and being very sorry and tired, they had returned to the city of Dvaraka.

All the members of the family, namely the mother of Krsna, Devaki, His father Vasudeva, and His chief
wife Rukmini, along with all other friends, relatives and residents of the palace, became very sorry when
the citizens returned home without Krsna. Because of their natural affection for Krsna, they began to call
Satrajit ill names, for he was the cause of Krsna's disappearance. They went to worship the goddess
Candrabhaga, praying for the return of Krsna. The goddess was satisfied by the prayers of the citizens of
Dvaraka, and she immediately offered them her benediction. Simultaneously, Krsna appeared on the
scene accompanied by His new wife Jambavati, and all the inhabitants of Dvaraka and relatives of Krsna
became joyful. The inhabitants of Dvaraka became as joyful as someone receiving a dear relative back
from the dead. The inhabitants of Dvaraka had concluded that Krsna had been put into great difficulties
due to the fighting; therefore, they had become almost hopeless of His return. But when they saw that
Krsna had actually returned, not alone but with a new wife, Jambavati, they immediately performed
another celebration ceremony.

King Ugrasena then called for a meeting of all important kings and chiefs. He also invited Satrajit, and
Krsna explained before the whole assembly the incident of the recovery of the jewel from Jambavan.
Krsna wanted to return the valuable jewel to King Satrajit. Satrajit, however, became ashamed because
he had unnecessarily defamed Krsna. He accepted the jewel in his hand, but he remained silent, bending
his head downwards, and without speaking anything in the assembly of the kings and chiefs, he returned
home with the jewel. Then he thought about how he could clear himself from the abominable action he
had performed by defaming Krsna. He was conscious that he had offended Krsna very grievously and
that he had to find a remedial measure so that Krsna would again be pleased with him.

King Satrajit was eager to get relief from the anxiety he had foolishly created due to being attracted by a
material thing, specifically the Syamantaka jewel. Satrajit was truly afflicted by the offense he had
committed toward Krsna, and he sincerely wanted to rectify it. From within, Krsna gave him good
intelligence, and Satrajit decided to hand over to Krsna both the jewel and his beautiful daughter,
Satyabhama. There was no alternative for mitigating the situation, and therefore he arranged the
marriage ceremony of Krsna and his beautiful daughter. He gave in charity both the jewel and his
daughter to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Satyabhama was so beautiful and qualified that
Satrajit, in spite of being asked for the hand of Satyabhama by many princes, was waiting to find a
suitable son-in-law. By the grace of Krsna he decided to hand his daughter over to Him.

Lord Krsna, being pleased upon Satrajit, informed him that He did not have any need of the Syamantaka
jewel. "It is better to let it remain in the temple as you have kept it," He said, "and every one of us will
derive benefit from the jewel. Because of the jewel's presence in the city of Dvaraka, there will be no
more famine or disturbances created by pestilence or excessive heat and cold."

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Fifty-sixth Chapter of Krsna, "The Story of the Syamantaka
Jewel."
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