A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.905

c5.905

After his settlement at Dwārakā, Krishna carried off and married Rukminī, daughter of the Rāja of Vidarbha, and the betrothed of Sisu-pāla. An incident now occurred which brought him two more wives. A Yādava chief named Satrājit had a beautiful gem called Syamantaka, which Krishna wished to possess. Satrājit, for the sake of security, gave the gem into the charge of his brother Prasena, and Prasena was killed in the forest by a lion, who carried off the jewel in his mouth. This lion was killed by Jāmbavat, the king of the bears. Satrājit suspected Krishna of taking the jewel, and he, to clear himself, went out into the forest, ascertained the manner of Prasena’s death, fought with Jāmbavat, and recovered the jewel. Krishna then married Jāmbavatī, the daughter of Jāmbavat, and Satyabhāmā, the daughter of Satrājit. But the number of his wives was practically unlimited, for he had 16,000 and a hundred or so besides, and he had 180,000 sons. By Rukminī he had a son Pradyumna and a daughter Chārumatī. His son by Jāmbavatī was Sāmba, and by Satya-bhāmā he had ten sons. Indra came to visit Krishna at Dwārakā, and implored him to suppress the evil deeds of the demon Naraka. Krishna accordingly went to the city of Naraka, killed the demon Muru, who guarded the city, and then destroyed Naraka himself. Krishna next went to pay a visit to Indra in Swarga, taking with him his wife Satya-bhāmā. At her request he requited the hospitality shown him by carrying off the famed Pārijāta tree, which was produced at the churning of the ocean. The tree belonged to Sachī, wife of Indra, and she complained to her husband. Indra drew out his forces and tried to recover it, but was defeated by Krishna. Pradyumna, son of Krishna, had a son named Aniruddha, with whom a female Daitya, Ushā, daughter of Bāna, fell in love. She induced a companion to carry off the young man, and Krishna, Bala-rāma, and Pradyumna went to rescue him. Bāna, with the whole Daitya host, and assisted by Siva and Skanda, the god of war, encountered them. Krishna, “with the weapon of yawning, set Siva agape,” and so overpowered him. Skanda was wounded. Bāna maintained a fierce combat with Krishna, and was severely wounded, but Krishna spared his life at the intercession of Siva, and Aniruddha was released.