The Syamantaka Gem
Book Specification
| Item Code: | ACL28 |
| Author: | Anant Pai |
| Publisher: | Amar Chitra Katha |
| Language: | English |
| Edition: | 2002 |
| ISBN: | 8175081406 |
| Pages: | 32 |
| Cover: | Paperback Comic Book |
| deluxe edition | |
| Other Details | 7" X 9.5" |
Book Description
The Syamantaka Gem was an ornament of the Sun God. It was a magical charm which had strange effects on its possessor. It did good to a virtuous person and bad to an evil one. When Surya, pleased with his devotee, Prince Satrajit, bestowed the gem on him, no one foresaw the violent upheavals it would cause, least of all the prince himself.
Satrajit gave the gem to his brother, Prasena, who was killed by a lion. Jambavan, king of the bears killed the lion and carried off the gem. But since Krishna had admired the gem, he was suspected of having stolen it. To save his honour, Krishna went on a desperate gem hunt to the jungle. The adventures that follow make interesting reading and are narrated in this book, which is based on the version that appears' in Bhagawat Purana.
It is said that Krishna had looked at the moon on Chaturthi (the fourth day after the full moon) and soon after was accused of having stolen the gem. To this day, the superstitious will not look at the moon on Chaturthi lest they be accused of theft.
