Vishnupurana 4.13.56
Viṣṇupurāṇa 4.13.56
- Language
- Sanskrit
4.13.56
ato 'ham asya ṣoḍaśastrīsahasraparigrahād asamartho dhāraṇe |
katham caitat satyabhāmā svīkarotu |
āryabalabhadreṇāpi madirāpānādyaśeṣopabhogaparityāgaḥ kathaṃ kāryaḥ |
tad ayaṃ yaduloko 'haṃ balabhadraḥ satyā ca tvāṃ dānapate prārthayāmaḥ |
etad bhavān eva dhārayituṃ samarthaḥ |
tvadsthaṃ cāsya rāṣṭrasyopakārakaṃ tad bhavān aśeṣarāṣṭropakāranimittam etat pūrvavad dhārayatu |
tvayānyan na vaktavyam ity ukto dānapatis tathety uktvā jagrāha ca tan mahāratnam |
tataḥ prabhṛti ca akrūraḥ prakaṭenaivātitejasā jājjvalyamānenātmakaṇṭhāsaktenāditya ivāṃśumālī cacāra ||
When the Yádavas beheld the jewel, they were filled with astonishment, and loudly expressed their delight. Balabhadra immediately claimed the jewel as his property jointly with Achyuta, as formerly agreed upon; whilst Satyabhámá, demanded it as her right, as it had originally belonged to her father. Between these two Krishńa considered himself as an ox between the two wheels of a cart, and thus spake to Akrúra in the presence of all the Yádavas: "This jewel has been exhibited to the assembly in order to clear my reputation; it is the joint right of Balabhadra and myself, and is the patrimonial inheritance of Satyabhámá. But this jewel, to be of advantage to the whole kingdom, should be taken charge of by a person who leads a life of perpetual continence: if worn by an impure individual, it will be the cause of his death. Now as I have sixteen thousand wives, I am not qualified to have the care of it. It is not likely that Satyabhámá will agree to the conditions that would entitle her to the possession of the jewel; and as to Balabhadra, he is too much addicted to wine and the pleasures of sense to lead a life of self-denial. We are therefore out of the question, and all the Yádavas, Balabhadra, Satyabhámá, and myself, request you, most bountiful Akrúra, to retain the care of the jewel, as you have done hitherto, for the general good; for you are qualified to have the keeping of it, and in your hands it has been productive of benefit to the country. You must not decline compliance with our request." Akrúra, thus urged, accepted the jewel, and thenceforth wore it publicly round his neck, where it shone with dazzling brightness; and Akrúra moved about like the sun, wearing a garland of light.
Translations (2)
- The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition — Horace Hayman Wilson 1840, English
- A Prose English Translation of Vishnupuranam — Manmatha Nath Dutt 1896, English