Theft of the Parijat Tree: Krishna and Satyabhama visit Indra King of Heaven

Indra, the King of heaven, had Nandan Kanan, the most wonderful garden you can imagine! It had all the beautiful and sweet-scented flowers that grow on earth and many more that were out of the world. The pride of the garden was the Parijat, a tree that bore delicate white flowers with the most exquisite fragrance. Its aroma filled up the entire place. Parijat was the favourite of Indrani, the wife of Indra. She loved to weal the flowers in her hair and waited for everyone to tell her how the flowers added to her charm. Indrani never shared the flowers with anyone else and came to regard the parijat as her special property.

One bright morning, Krishna and his wife Satyabhama decided to visit Indra. He received them personally and took them to his palace. After some rest, Indra requested them to take a walk in his famous garden. The flowers that bloomed in all the colours of the rainbow delighted Satyabhama.

Theft of the Parijat Tree

She walked among them, admiring one flower after another. Finally her eyes fell on Parijat. What is this wonderful flower?” she asked Krishna.

“It is the Parijat,” replied Krishna.

“I haven’t seen this flower before,” remarked Satyabhama. “Where did Indra get it from?”

“The Parijat came up along with many other things when the great ocean was churned by the gods and the demons to obtain the elixir of life. That’s when Indra took it, and brought it to his garden,” replied Krishna.

For a moment, Satyabhama was lost in thought. She looked up and said, “But this was not right of Indra. If the Parijat came up at the time of the churning of the ocean then it is common property and should belong to everyone, not just one person. In any case, I fail to see why it should belong to Indra alone. He hasn’t done anything special to deserve it. Has he?”

“Perhaps you are right,” agreed Krishna, “the Parijat ought to be enjoyed by all. You rightly said it is not Indra’s personal property.”

“Then let us take it away to the earth,” said Satyabhama eagerly. “I shall plant it in my garden and share the flowers with everyone in Dwarka.”

“Very well, if that’s what you wish,” said Krishna. “Yes, I do desire it,” said Satyabhama. “I shall plant the flowers in my hair and if people outside Dwarka ask for them, they too shall have them.”

Krishna smiled and pulled up the Parijat tree from its roots. He laid it on the back of Garuda, who was waiting to carry them back to the earth.

Just as they were about to start, the guards at the gate of Nandan Kanan stopped them.

“Stop!” they cried. “Where are you taking the Parijat? It belongs to our queen, Indrani. You cannot steal it.

“Stealing?” cried Satyabhama, “This tree came up at the time of churning of the ocean and is not anyone’s personal property. We have every right to take it back to earth and let everyone enjoy its flowers. It is selfish to keep it to yourself.”

“You cannot steal the Parijat. Indra will fight you and you cannot stand up to him,” said the guards contemptuously. “All the Gods will back him up as well. What can a single person like you do against our heavenly force? Better give up the tree and get back to earth before anyone realizes what you were about to do.”

“How dare you!” cried Satyabhama, her eyes flashing. “Go and tell Indra that we are taking away the Parijat. Let him fight Krishna if he dares.”

The guards rushed to inform Indra about the invasion. They also repeated Satyabhama’s words to Indrani who was livid with rage. “How dare Satyabhama, a mere human being, criticise the queen of heaven and steal her property? Indra, you must teach them a lesson!” she shouted.

“Krishna may be an incarnation of Vishnu, but at the moment he is the prince of Dwarka and belongs to the human race. He cannot annoy the inmates of heaven,” Indrani continued.

Indra picked up the lightning, his chief weapon, and prepared to fight Krishna. All the Gods and stars in heaven supported him. Getting back the Parijat was now a matter of prestige and they could not possibly allow Krishna to take it away.

Indra, accompanied by his entire army faced Krishna, who stood alone with just Garuda by his side. Crores of angels along with Indra shot their arrows towards Krishna. They covered the entire sky, shutting out the light completely. But Krishna destroyed all their weapons with great ease! Varuna arrived with his own special missile but Garuda instantly broke it to pieces. Yama, the King of death, threw his mace at Krishna. But this broke into pieces, the moment It touched Krishna’s mace. Kubera dashed in to attack Krishna, only to see his chariot going to pieces.

The sun and the moon came out with their fury but a mere glance of Krishna cooled their fire and completely put out their light. Agni, the God of fire also froze at a glance from Krishna. Finally, no one from the celestial army survived except Indra himself. Alone, he was now face to face with Krishna. Indra held his main weapon, the lightning, while Krishna took up his Sudarshan Chakra. Indra’s lightning was said to be invincible and he shuddered with fear as he threw it at Krishna But Krishna grabbed it by his free hand and the lightning turned to a handful of frost. Indra was completely weaponless. There was no need for Krishna to fight him. Defeated and defenceless, Indra tried to run away, burning in shame and humiliation. Who could have imagined that a mere prince from the earth could defeat the King of heaven and his entire army?

Satyabhama burst out laughing as she saw Indra running away. “Well, is that the King of heaven, running away?” she asked him. “Don’t worry, I am not going to take away your precious parijat. You can take it back to Indrani. I was a guest in your house but Indrani is so proud that she didn’t even bother to come and greet me. Is that the way the God of Gods treats his guests? That’s why I was angry and wanted to let her know that pride has its fall. I have no wish to take anything which she thinks is hers.”

Indra came back and sought Satyabhama’s pardon. “It was very wrong of my wife to ignore a guest of honor. Please forgive us both and take the Parijat with you. And please don’t be angry with us any more.”

‘Are you saying this because Krishna defeated you?” asked Satyabhama.

“No. I am not ashamed to be defeated by Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu himself. I would really like you to have Parijat.”

“But it belongs to your Nandan Kanan, ” said Krishna. “I had picked it up at the request of Satyabhama because I too felt that the Queen of heaven should be shown how to respect guests. I think I have succeeded, so  please say no more. The Parijat shall remain where it has been all this time. Here it is.”

“Please Krishna, take it to Dwarka now,” begged Indra. “When your days on earth are over, the Original tree can return to heaven once more.”

“So be it,” said Krishna with a smile.

Krishna and Satyabhama soon sat on Garuda, holding the Parijat carefully. They were off to Dwarka with their prized possession.