FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.57.38-39

तथापि दुर्धरस्त्वन्यैस्त्वय्यास्तां सुव्रते मणि: । किन्तु मामग्रज: सम्यङ्‍न प्रत्येति मणिं प्रति ॥ ३८ ॥ दर्शयस्व महाभाग बन्धूनां शान्तिमावह । अव्युच्छिन्ना मखास्तेऽद्य वर्तन्ते रुक्‍मवेदय: ॥ ३९ ॥
tathāpi durdharas tv anyais
[tathaapi durdharas tv anyais]
tvayy āstāṁ su-vrate maṇiḥ
[tvayy aastaam su-vrate manih]
kintu mām agrajaḥ samyaṅ
[kintu maam agrajah samyan]
na pratyeti maṇiṁ prati
[na pratyeti manim prati]
darśayasva mahā-bhāga
[darshayasva mahaa-bhaaga]
bandhūnāṁ śāntim āvaha
[bandhoonaam shaantim aavaha]
avyucchinnā makhās te ’dya
[avyuchchinnaa makhaas te ’dya]
vartante rukma-vedayaḥ
[vartante rukma-vedayah]
tathā api — nevertheless durdharaḥ — impossible to hold on to tu — but anyaiḥ — by others tvayi — with you āstām — should remain suvrate — O trustworthy keeper of vows maṇiḥ — the jewel kintu — only mam — Me agra - jaḥ — My elder brother samyak — completely na pratyeti — does not believe maṇim prati — concerning the jewel darśayasva — please show it mahā - bhāga — O most fortunate one bandhūnām — to My relatives śāntim — peace āvaha — bring avyucchinnāḥ — uninterrupted makhāḥ — sacrifices te — your adya — now vartante — are going on rukma — of gold vedayaḥ — whose altars .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tathāpi durdharas tv anyais
tathā api
nevertheless
durdharaḥ
impossible to hold on to
tvayy āstāṁ su-vrate maṇiḥ
kintu mām agrajaḥ samyaṅ
tu
but
anyaiḥ
by others
tvayi
with you
na pratyeti maṇiṁ prati
darśayasva mahā-bhāga
āstām
should remain
suvrate
O trustworthy keeper of vows
maṇiḥ
the jewel
kintu
only
bandhūnāṁ śāntim āvaha
mam
Me
agra - jaḥ
My elder brother
samyak
completely
avyucchinnā makhās te ’dya
na pratyeti
does not believe
maṇim prati
concerning the jewel
vartante rukma-vedayaḥ
darśayasva
please show it
mahā - bhāga
O most fortunate one
bandhūnām
to My relatives
śāntim
peace
āvaha
bring
avyucchinnāḥ
uninterrupted
makhāḥ
sacrifices
te
your
adya
now
vartante
are going on
rukma
of gold
vedayaḥ
whose altars .
  • durdharaḥ — impossible to hold on to
    Compound: dur- (hard) + dhara (holding). A gem that destroys ordinary holders — Prasena, Satrājit, Śatadhanvā all lost it. Kṛṣṇa concedes Akrūra is uniquely capable of holding it. Gauḍīyas: bhaktas hold what worldly men cannot.
  • suvrate — O trustworthy keeper of vows
    Vocative of suvrata — 'good in vows.' Kṛṣṇa addresses Akrūra by his bhakta-virtue even at the moment of asking him to show the proof of concealment. Gauḍīyas: Bhagavān names the better self of a devotee while gently correcting the lesser.
  • na pratyeti — does not (fully) believe
    Negation + present of prati-√i (to come back / accept). Kṛṣṇa attributes the demand for proof to Balarāma's incomplete belief — a tactical move that lets Akrūra save face. Bhāgavata pedagogy: blame an internal kin-relation, not the offender, to extract the right action.
  • mahā - bhāga — O most fortunate one
    Vocative compound: mahā (great) + bhāga (share, fortune). The same epithet used of Akrūra in chapter 38. Gauḍīyas note: Kṛṣṇa restores the title even at the moment of the gentle exposure — the bhakta's standing is not erased by the slip.
  • rukma - vedayaḥ — whose altars are of gold
    Compound: rukma (gold) + vedi (sacrificial altar). The opulence of Akrūra's continual sacrifices is the indirect proof everyone has noticed. Bhāgavata closes the section with a wry observation: the gem's presence has been visible in the gold of the altars.
“Nevertheless, the jewel should remain in your care, O trustworthy Akrūra, because no one else can keep it safely. But please show the jewel just once, since My elder brother does not fully believe what I have told Him about it. In this way, O most fortunate one, you will pacify My relatives. [Everyone knows you have the jewel, for] you are now continually performing sacrifices on altars of gold.”

Although technically Satyabhāmā’s sons had a right to the jewel, Lord Kṛṣṇa decided to leave the jewel in the care of Akrūra, who was using the jewel’s wealth to continually perform religious sacrifices. Indeed, Akrūra’s ability to perform such rituals on altars of gold was an indication of the jewel’s potency.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
"Nevertheless, the jewel should remain in your care, O trustworthy Akrūra, because no one else can keep it safely. But please show the jewel just once, since My elder brother does not fully believe what I have told Him about it. In this way, O most fortunate one, you will pacify My relatives. [Everyone knows you have the jewel, for] you are now continually performing sacrifices on altars of gold."
Commentary

All the people of Dvaraka know the jewel is with you. The evidence is your constant performance of sacrifices in Kasi.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

You are worthy to keep the jewel because you are fixed in brahmacārya (suvrate). By keeping it, we will all derive the benefit of destruction of all calamities. Having announced the gem should be for everyone, Kṛṣṇa covered his desire to give it to Akrūra by his words, since Balarāma and others would wonder about that desire. Just show the jewel because Balarāma and others do not believe you have it. Suddenly Kṛṣṇa became insistent that he show the jewel. This was not Balarāma’s idea. In his mind Kṛṣṇa thought as follows. “Balarāma already said that Śatadhanvā must have left the jewel with someone else. He was hinting that it was Akrūra but did not say his name directly. It is known Śatadhanvā killed Satrājit but Akrūra was the one who gave bad advice to Śatadhanvā by saying that Satrājit had promised to give his daughter to him. Balarāma had anger towards Akrūra and affectionate anger towards me for not giving up favoritism to Akrūra. Because of this, he will not believe me at all if I say the jewel is not with me. Though we can infer from your charity and sacrifices that you have the jewel, Balarāma even doubts me, since he watched at a distance as I searched Śatadhanvā after killing him. Knowing my desires, he thinks that you gave me the jewel and then fled.” This is how Kṛṣṇa thought. In order to indicate that he was not terribly wicked since the jewel would be for others’ benefit, according to the first phrase used to describe Akrūra (suvrate), Kṛṣṇa says “O Akrūra, fortunate with devotion to me (mahābhāga), or having a portion of devotion to me!” You are not interested in the jewel. Showing the gem will completely pacify Balarāma and others, resolving the dissension arising from the jewel. Balarāma had been brought from Mithilā at this time. Hari-vaṁśa says: prasādya tu tato rāmo vṛṣṇy-andhaka-mahā-rathaiḥ / ānīto dvārakām eva kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā // Satisfying Balarāma Kṛṣṇa had him brought to Dvārakā by great warriors of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

You are worthy to keep the jewel because you are fixed in brahmacārya (suvrate) or because you are fixed in keeping your vow. The Lord had the desire from previously that Akrūra keep the jewel for the benefit of the people. Show it to Balarāma so he will believe that it is not with me. He thinks it is with me though by its function it is with you, my devotee. Though Balarāma did not think like this, Kṛṣṇa makes this statement so that Akrūra would give the jewel. It is understood that Balarāma had by that time returned from Mithilā. prasādya tu tato rāmo vṛṣṇy-andhaka-mahā-rathaiḥ / ānīto dvārakām eva kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā // Satisfying Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa had him brought to Dvārakā by great warriors of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas. O Akrūra, fortunate with devotion to me (mahābhāga), or having a portion of devotion to me!” You are not interested in the jewel. Thus, just show the jewel but do not give it since it will remain with you only. Why? Showing the gem will completely pacify Balarāma and others, resolving the dissension arising from the jewel.

Related values
Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Bhakti (Devotion)Saurya (Heroism / Bravery)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Apaishunam (Non-slander)
Related verses
Yet the jewel should remain in your care, Akrūra, because no one else can keep it safely; but please show it once, since My elder brother does not fully believe what I have told Him. The Lord honors safekeeping while requesting demonstration; multiple needs balanced.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could you let someone keep something while still asking to see it?
  • How do you balance trust and transparency in entrusted assets?

Kṛṣṇa lets Akrūra keep the jewel — only asks him to show it once, to settle Balarāma and the relatives. Bhagavān's mercy here is precisely-calibrated: He exposes the concealment but does not strip the concealer. Gauḍīyas read this as the doctrinal pattern of vaiṣṇava-aparādha-correction: name it, surface it, restore the devotee without stripping him.

📝 My note

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