Just as one hears sounds from afar and sees things clearly when they are near, so too was Babhru renowned as the foremost among men, and Devavridha was counted as equal to the gods themselves. From the lines of Babhru and Devavridha, there arose sixty-six thousand and eight men who attained immortality—a vast and illustrious progeny. Among these descendants, Mahabhoja stood out for his righteousness. In his lineage came the Bhojas, known as the Martikavaras, who made their home in the city of Martikavara. Vrishni, another scion of this noble line, had two sons named Sumitra and Yudhajit. Thereafter came Anamitra, from whom was born Nighna. Nighna had two sons: Prasena and Satrajit. Satrajit, in particular, became a close friend of the blessed Sun god. On one occasion, Satrajit, with a mind deeply concentrated, praised the Sun while staying on the shore of the ocean. Pleased by his devotion, the radiant Sun god appeared before him. However, the Sun did not manifest in a fully distinct form. Satrajit, seeing this vision, addressed the Sun: “O Lord, just as I behold you in the sky, glowing like a mass of fire, so now, though you stand before me, I do not perceive any special favor.” Hearing these words, the Sun god removed from his own neck the great and excellent jewel called Syamantaka and set it aside in a secluded place. From that spot, Satrajit beheld the Sun god in his true form—radiant with a coppery glow, of short stature, and with slightly tawny eyes. Bowing down, Satrajit was addressed by the divine Sun, lord of a thousand rays: “Choose a boon from me, whatever you desire.” Satrajit asked for the very jewel he had seen. The lord of radiance granted him the Syamantaka jewel and then ascended back to his heavenly abode. Adorned with the flawless Syamantaka jewel at his throat, Satrajit entered Dvārakā, shining in all directions with a brilliance like the sun itself. The people of Dvārakā, seeing him approach, were amazed and bowed down, saying among themselves, “This must be the divine Supreme Person, the highest of men, who has descended to lighten the burden of the earth, appearing in human form.” Others said, “Lord, surely this is the Sun himself, come to see you.” But the Lord replied, “This is not the Sun; this is Satrajit, who comes here wearing the great jewel named Syamantaka, given by the Sun. Therefore, look upon him without hesitation.” Thus reassured, the people regarded Satrajit with wonder. Satrajit placed the Syamantaka jewel in his own residence. Each day, the jewel produced eight measures of gold. Because of its power, the entire kingdom was free from calamities—there was no fear of drought, wild beasts, fire, famine, or any such misfortune. Even Acyuta, Krishna himself, desired that divine jewel for King Ugrasena, deeming it most suitable for the king. Yet, though able to take it, Krishna refrained, not wishing to incur the reproach of breaking kinship bonds. Satrajit, realizing that Krishna might ask him for the jewel, and driven by greed, gave the jewel to his brother Prasena instead. Now, the Syamantaka jewel, when kept by a pure person, brings gold and other virtues; but if possessed otherwise, it brings about the possessor’s destruction. Unaware of this, Prasena fastened the Syamantaka to his neck, mounted his horse, and rode out to hunt in the forest. There, he met his end at the claws of a lion, which slew both him and his horse. The lion took the flawless jewel in its mouth and was about to depart when it was seen and killed by Jāmbavat, the lord of the bears. Jāmbavat, seizing the jewel, carried it into his own cave and made it a plaything for his young son, Sukumāra. When Prasena did not return, rumors began to swirl among the Yadus. They whispered, “Krishna must have coveted the jewel, and surely he has taken it; this must be his doing.” The Blessed Lord, aware of the suspicions spreading among the people, set out with the entire Yadu army, following the trail of Prasena’s horse. They found Prasena and his horse slain by a lion. With all the people witnessing this, Krishna was cleared of suspicion. He then followed the tracks of the lion, which led him to where the lion had been killed by the lord of the bears. Seeking the jewel, Krishna followed the bear’s tracks as well. On a mountain slope, Krishna left the Yadu army stationed and entered the bear’s cave alone. Inside, he heard a nurse soothing little Sukumāra, reciting a verse: “The lion killed Prasena; the lion was slain by Jāmbavat; do not weep, Sukumāra, for this is your Syamantaka.” Hearing these words, Krishna entered and saw the Syamantaka, now a plaything for the child, shining brilliantly in the nurse’s hand. At the sight of this unprecedented man who had come, his eyes fixed upon the Syamantaka, the nurse cried out in alarm, “Help! Help!” Instantly, Jāmbavat, his heart filled with anger, arrived in response to her distressed call.