Texts 38-39
tathāpi durdharas tv anyais
tvayy āstāṁ su-vrate maṇiḥ
kintu mām agrajaḥ samyaṅ
na pratyeti maṇiṁ prati
darśayasva mahā-bhāga
bandhūnāṁ śāntim āvaha
avyucchinnā makhās te ’dya
vartante rukma-vedayaḥ
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.
“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.