Home » Mind & Soul » Indian Mythology » The Weighing of Krishna

The Weighing of Krishna

© Harsh Nevatia

The incarnation as Krishna is by far the most popular incarnation of Vishnu. Krishna had 16008 wives, out of which 16000 were princesses he had rescued from the Demon Narakasura. Tradition compelled him to marry these helpless girls. But his most written about wives are Rukmini and Satyabhama.

Satyabhama was jealous, arrogant and hot-tempered. In fact there is a folk dance form of eastern India known as Bhamakalpam, meaning Bhama's Complaint, which is based on her tantrums. Rukmini on the other hand was tolerant, humble and calm. A poet has said that to Satyabhama's burning flame, Rukmini was the cool, refreshing water of a mountain spring. Since Rukmini was Krishna's first wife, she was his official partner in all ceremonial occasions, and this Satyabhama could not digest. So she was constantly on the lookout for opportunities to be one-up on Rukmini. In this she was abetted by Narada, the celestial messenger. Narada would roam around the entire universe. He would learn secrets and leak them to the wrong people thereby fermenting trouble among mortals and gods alike. He often revealed intimate information about Krishna and Rukmini to Satyabhama and aroused her envy.

It so happened that while Vishnu was on earth as Krishna, there was trouble in heaven and he was needed there. So the Gods abducted him and took him to heaven. When Krishna was found missing the next day there was chaos in Dwarka (the capital of Krishna's kingdom). Accusations were traded all over the place. Satyabhama vociferously alleged that Rukmini was hiding Krishna so that she did not have to share him with the other queens. Narada told Satyabhama about Krishna's whereabouts and said that he could strike a deal with the Gods on her behalf. Then not only would she get the credit of bringing back Krishna, but would be entitled to special favours as well. After discussing with the Gods, he returned with the following proposal. If Satyabhama would give the Gods an offering that weighed more than Krishna, they would release him. "I have enough gold in my vaults to weigh a hundred Krishnas," said Satyabhama and asked Narada to bring Krishna from heaven for the weighing.

There are different versions in different texts as to why the weighing was arranged. Another popular version is as follows. Krishna once gave Rukmini the celestial and beautiful flower of the Parijat tree. Narada, as was his habit, informed Satyabhama. She then threw tantrums before Krishna, who in order to placate her had the Parijat tree planted in Satyabhama's garden. But Satyabhama's happiness was short-lived because, as Narada was quick to point out, the flowers from the Parijat tree were falling into Rukmini's garden and not her own. Satyabhama asked Narada if there was a way by which she could permanently have Krishna for herself. Narada told her that if she weighed Krishna in gold and precious stones and donated the wealth to the needy then Krishna would be hers forever.

The copyright of the article The Weighing of Krishna in Indian Mythology is owned by . Permission to republish The Weighing of Krishna in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.