Of Dazzling Jewels and Fighting Bears
Lord Krishna was the king of Dwaravati (Dwaraka) in the western part of Bharata. The Yadava clan to which Kirshna belonged resided there with him.

In Dwaravati there lived a man called Satrajit. He was an ardent devotee of the Sun God Surya. Everyday he used to stand in the seashore and say his prayers at dawn.
 
One day Satrajit was praying as usual at dawn. Suddenly he felt the heat of the sun close to him. He was deep in prayers but at some point couldn’t take the scorching heat. “Satrajit. I am Surya, the Sun God. Please open your eyes.”
Satrajit was excited and happy beyond words. When he tried to open his eyes to look at Lord Surya he was blinded by his light and blaze.

Satrajit folded his hands and said “Forgive me. I am unable to look at you in this dazzling light.” Surya laughed and said “Now you can look. You will see me.”

And indeed. Satrajit found that the light was dimmed and he was able to see Lord Surya standing in front of him. He bowed to the Lord and said “ How did you do that, Deva?”

Surya smiled and opened his hand. There was a red blazing stone in his hand which was giving brilliant light. “Satrajit, I took off the Shyamantaka which magnifies my brilliance.” The Shyamantaka looked like the Sun God was holding a miniature Sun.
Satrajit couldn’t tear his eyes from the gem. Surya said “Satrajit, I am pleased with your devotion. Ask me what you want.”
Satrajit just couldn’t think beyond the Shyamantaka. His mind was captured by the jewel. He asked Surya for the gem.
 
Surya game him the jewel and said “Shyamantaka has never been possessed by a human. It will give you gold everyday.” So saying and blessing Satrajit, Surya left.

Satrajit took the gem to the Yadava council and narrated what happened. Krishna said “You have been truly blessed. The Shyamataka is indeed a rare possession. Such a rare and precious gem in the hands of one person can harm you and everyone. Give it to the Yadava treasury so we can do good for everyone with the gold it gives.”

Satrajit got angry. He told Krishna “It was a gift from Surya to me. I shall not hand it over to the treasury.” Since what he said was true, Krishna did not object.

One day Satrajit entered the council agitated. He said “My brother Prasanjit had gone hunting wearing the Shyamtaka. He has not returned. I want to file a complaint.”

As was the practice, the council asked him if he had any suspicion on anyone. Satrajit said “Krishna. He wanted the jewel for himself the day I showed it to the council. He has a habit of stealing butter as a young child.” Noticing that many of the council members kept quiet, Krishna realised that they also suspected him.

He declared to the assembly “Satrajit is doubting me. You are all silent. I think you all suspect me too. So I shall not return without the Shyamantaka.” So saying he left Dwarakavati.

Krishna rode into the forest and did not see anything for a whole day. Towards evening he saw a dead body with the paws of a lion nearby. He realised that a lion had killed Prasanjit. But there was no sign of the Shyamantaka.

Galloping further, Krishna saw a dead lion with its stomach ripped open by the claws of a bear. Krishna realised that the lion had been killed by a bear. Still no sign of the Shyamantaka.

Krishna followed the bear tracks and reached a cave. He saw the glow of the Shyamantaka coming from the cave and a bear princess playing with the jewel. The father bear came out of the cave and pounced on Krishna thinking Krishna had come to steal his daughter.
 
Krishna and the bear fought for many days. At the end of the fierce battle the bear which was old fell down tired. Krishna went near the bear and said “Have you forgotten me Jambavan?” The bear was surprised to hear Krishna calling his name.
Krishna smiled and said “ Don’t you recognise me without the matted hair?” and touched him. The bear got the realisation of who Krishna is and said “Rama, Rama, I am blessed.”

So saying, the old devotee Jambavan and Krishna embraced. Jambavan handed the jewel to Krishna. Smiling he said, “I want to give you my daughter Jambavati as your wife.”

Krishna thanked and blessed Jambavan and returned to Dwarakavati with the bear princess Jambavati and the Shyamantaka gem.

Krishna handed over the Shyamantaka gem to Satrajit in the presence of the council. But Satraji, now ashamed at his own behaviour returned the jewel to Krishna and said “Krishna, please forgive me. This kind of jewel cannot be in the possession of one individual. Please do what is right with this. Also I want you to accept my daughter Sathyabhama as your wife.”
 
Krishna said “A powerful jewel should never be in human hands.” So saying he summoned the Sun God and returned the Shyamantaka to it’s original owner. The Sun God also realised his mistake and took the precious gem back. So Shyamantaka after creating confusion in many minds and lives went back to its divine owner.