Satrājit, journeying to seek the favor of the gods, beheld the radiant Sun, whose form shone with a coppery glow, short in stature, and with eyes tinged slightly tawny. In awe, Satrājit bowed low before the divine Sun, the lord of a thousand rays. The Sun, pleased with his devotion, spoke kindly: “Choose a boon from me, whatever you desire.” Without hesitation, Satrājit requested the wondrous jewel known as Syamantaka. The lord of radiance graciously granted his wish, bestowing the jewel upon Satrājit before ascending back to his celestial abode. Adorned with the flawless Syamantaka jewel at his throat, Satrājit entered the city of Dvārakā, his brilliance dazzling in every direction, so that he seemed to radiate like the Sun itself. The people of Dvārakā, seeing this resplendent figure approach, bowed down in reverence, murmuring among themselves, “Surely, this is the divine Supreme Person, the highest of men, who has descended in human form to lighten the burden of the earth.” Others said, “Lord, surely this is the Sun come to visit you.” But the Lord replied, “This is not the Sun; it is Satrājit, who comes wearing the great jewel Syamantaka, given to him by the Sun.” Reassured, he told them to look upon Satrājit without hesitation, and so they did. Satrājit placed the Syamantaka jewel in his own residence. Each day, the jewel miraculously produced eight measures of gold. Its power was such that, throughout the entire kingdom, there was no fear of calamities—no drought, no wild beasts, no fire, no famine, nor any other misfortune. Even Acyuta—Krishna—desired that divine jewel, thinking it would be fitting for King Ugrasena. Yet, though he was fully able to take it, Krishna refrained, not wishing to incur the reproach of violating kinship bonds. Satrājit, sensing that Krishna might ask him for the jewel, and overcome by greed for its possession, instead entrusted it to his brother Prasena. The Syamantaka jewel, when kept by a pure and virtuous person, yields gold and brings blessings; but if held by one who is otherwise, it brings ruin to the possessor. Unaware of this, Prasena fastened the jewel around his neck, mounted his horse, and rode into the forest to hunt. Tragedy struck there: Prasena was slain by a lion, which also killed his horse. The lion seized the flawless jewel in its mouth and was about to depart, when it was seen and slain by Jāmbavat, the lord of bears. Jāmbavat took the jewel and carried it into his cave, where he 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 has surely obtained it—this must be his doing.” The Blessed Lord, aware of these suspicions spreading among the people, resolved to clear his name. He set out with the entire Yadu army, following the trail left by Prasena’s horse. Along the way, Krishna discovered Prasena and his horse slain by a lion. The tracks of the lion made clear before all that Krishna was blameless. Following the lion’s trail further, he found the lion itself killed by the lord of the bears. Driven by regard for the jewel, Krishna then followed the tracks of the bear. On a mountain slope, Krishna left the Yadu army stationed outside and alone entered the bear’s cave. Inside, he heard the gentle words of a nurse soothing little Sukumāra, who wept for his plaything. She recited 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 boy, gleaming with radiance in the nurse’s hand. The nurse, startled by the sight of this unprecedented man whose eyes were fixed upon the jewel, cried out in alarm for help. At her cry, Jāmbavat, his heart inflamed with anger, rushed in. A fierce battle erupted between Jāmbavat and Krishna, both mighty and filled with wrath. Their struggle raged for twenty-one days. Meanwhile, the Yadu warriors waited outside the cave for seven or eight days, watching for Krishna’s return. When so many days had passed without his emergence, they concluded, “Surely the slayer of Madhu has perished in this cave; otherwise, how could so much time pass without his victorious return?” With heavy hearts, they returned to Dvārakā and reported that Krishna had been killed. His relatives, stricken with grief, performed all the appropriate final rites as custom required. Within the cave, Krishna’s strength and life-force were daily restored by food and drink specially prepared and offered with utmost devotion. But Jāmbavat, battered by mighty blows and afflicted in every limb, grew weaker each day without nourishment. At last, defeated by the Blessed Lord, Jāmbavat bowed down before him and spoke with humility: “Even all the gods, asuras, gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, and others together are unable to conquer you—how much less, then, could mere mortals of little strength, or animals, or beings born of human elements? What can we say of people like us? Surely, you, our master, must be none other than Rāma himself, a portion of Nārāyaṇa, the refuge of all the worlds.” Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord revealed to Jāmbavat his divine descent for the removal of the earth’s burden. With affectionate touch, Krishna relieved Jāmbavat of the fatigue of battle. Bowing again and propitiating the Lord, Jāmbavat offered him his daughter, Jāmbavatī, who had returned home and was worthy of the highest honor.