The Heavenly Visit and the Desire of Satyabhāmā
After the slaying of Narakāsura, Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Queen Satyabhāmā visited the heavenly planets upon the invitation of Indra. The devas glorified Kṛṣṇa’s divine acts, and Śacī-devī personally offered her gratitude for retrieving Aditi’s earrings.
While in Nandana-kanana, the celestial gardens of Svarga, Satyabhāmā’s eyes fell upon the Pārijāta tree, which radiated divine fragrance and bore eternal flowers that never faded. Its beauty and aroma surpassed anything on Earth.
Satyabhāmā desired to bring the tree to Dvārakā and plant it in her courtyard, to always remember the Lord’s glories.
Indra, however, hesitated. The Pārijāta tree, a symbol of heavenly prestige, was meant only for the use of devas. He gently declined the request.
Satyabhāmā’s Silence and Inner Fire
Satyabhāmā returned to Earth, but her heart was restless. She was not moved by pride or possessiveness but by a longing to glorify the Lord through beauty and opulence—to offer Him a garden worthy of His pastimes.
Seeing her unease, Kṛṣṇa smiled and said:
“Do you wish to bring the Pārijāta to Dvārakā?”
She replied:
“Not for me, but for You. Let there be no garden that does not glorify Your lotus feet.”
The Return to Heaven and Indra’s Resistance
At once, Kṛṣṇa mounted Garuḍa, with Satyabhāmā beside Him, and flew back to Svarga. He uprooted the Pārijāta tree, shaking the heavens.
Indra, seeing the act, became angry. His pride, rooted in his position, flared up. He confronted Kṛṣṇa with a host of devas, demanding the tree be returned.
Kṛṣṇa, always calm, offered:
“This tree will serve the purpose of dharma on Earth, not pride in heaven.”
Indra, refusing to listen, engaged in battle. A fierce war broke out between the devas and the Lord. Thunderbolts, divine missiles, and celestial weapons filled the skies.
But the Lord, wielding His Sudarśana chakra, effortlessly disarmed Indra and subdued his pride.
Realizing his mistake, Indra bowed with folded palms, saying:
“Forgive me, O Lord. I forgot that everything, including heaven, is Yours.”
The Planting of the Pārijāta Tree in Dvārakā
Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā returned to Dvārakā. The Pārijāta tree was planted in her courtyard, and its divine fragrance spread across the city.
It became a place of daily worship, a symbol of the Lord’s grace, and a reminder that even the treasures of heaven belong to Him alone.
The queens of Dvārakā rejoiced, and Satyabhāmā, though proud of her Lord, remained humble in heart.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Even devas like Indra can fall prey to pride, but the Lord corrects them with mercy.
- True devotion is not about possessing divine things but using them to serve the Lord.
- Kṛṣṇa does not act for personal gain, but always for the upliftment of dharma.
- Satyabhāmā, often mistaken as proud, showed deep devotional intelligence and courage.
- Wherever the Lord’s name is glorified, heaven descends into that place.
Origin of the Story: Harivamsa Purana 4 – Chapters 9–11: The Desire for the Pārijāta Tree and Kṛṣṇa’s Victory Over Indra
