The Cursed Son of Shri Krishna

Born into the divine Yadava dynasty, Samba was the son of Shri Krishna, the Supreme God, and Queen Jambavati. As the child of the protector of Dharma, he inherited unmatched strength and valor. However, unlike his father’s wisdom and patience, Samba was known for his arrogance and mischief.

Though he was a mighty warrior, his actions led him to a fate no prince would wish for a curse that would not only change his life but also shape the destiny of the Yadava clan. This is the story of Samba, the prince who had everything yet could not escape the will of fate.

The Birth of Samba: How Lord Shiva Blessed Jambavati

This story is told in the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 4

Jambavati, one of Krishna’s wives, was heartbroken because she had no children, while the other wives had many. She longed for a son like Pradyumna and asked Krishna to bless her with one.

To fulfill her wish, Krishna went to Sage Upamanyu’s hermitage for guidance. The sage advised him to perform a penance to please Lord Shiva. Determined, Krishna meditated in different postures for six months.

Finally, Lord Shiva appeared in his Ardhanarishwara form (half-male, half-female) and granted Krishna’s request. Soon after, Jambavati gave birth to a son. Since Shiva’s Ardhanarishwara form is also called Samba, the child was named Samba.

Later, Jambavati gave birth to other sons: Sumitra, Purujit, Shatajit, Sahasrajit, Vijaya, Chitraketu, Vasuman, Dravida, and Kratu. From a young age, Balarama trained Samba in the use of weapons.

Samba Births an Iron Rod

This story is told in the Mahabharata, Mausala Parva and Vishnu Purana

One day, a group of powerful sages, including Vishwamitra, Asita, Kanva, Durvasa, Bhrigu, Angiras, Kashyapa, Vamadeva, Atri, Vashishta, and Narada, visited Krishna in Dwarka. After spending some time there, the sages decided to continue their journey and went to a holy place called Pindraka.

The Yadava Princes Plan a Prank

Meanwhile, some young princes of the Yadava dynasty wanted to have some fun. They thought of playing a trick on the sages. They dressed up Samba, one of Krishna’s sons, as a pregnant woman by wrapping cloth around his stomach to make him look like he was carrying a baby.

Then, they approached the sages and said, “Oh wise sages, this woman is the wife of Babhru and is about to give birth. Since you are so powerful, can you tell whether the baby will be a boy or a girl?”

The sages, being wise and blessed with divine vision, immediately understood that this was not a real woman but a mockery. They were deeply insulted and angered by the Yadavas’ disrespect.

The Curse of the Sages

With fury in their voices, the sages cursed them, saying:
“This fake pregnancy will become real! But instead of a child, Samba will give birth to an iron club, and that club will be the cause of the destruction of the entire Yadava dynasty!”

Hearing this curse, the Yadava princes were shocked and terrified.

The Curse Comes True

Soon, just as the sages had said, Samba felt severe pain in his stomach. Before their eyes, he gave birth to a huge iron club. The princes panicked and rushed to king Ugrasena to tell him what had happened.

King Ugrasena understood that the curse was unavoidable. He ordered the club to be broken into pieces and thrown into the sea.

Remember this iron club, as it will reappear later in the story…

Cursed by his own Father (Bhagwan Krishna)

This story is told in the Samba Purana (one of the 18 Upapuranas), the part about Samba and Krishna’s wives is in the Padma Purana, Shrsti Khanda

One day, Krishna’s junior wives were bathing in a beautiful pond, enjoying the cool water and the warm sunshine. Just then, Samba, Krishna’s handsome son, arrived at the pond. The wives saw him and were captivated by his beauty. Overcome with desire, they consorted with him in the water, forgetting all boundaries.

When Krishna heard about this, he was furious. “You have committed a terrible sin!” he said to Samba. In his anger, Krishna cursed Samba with leprosy, a painful disease that would make his body weak and disfigured.

Then, Krishna turned to his junior wives and cursed them too. “You will be abducted by bandits,” he declared. The wives were heartbroken and begged for forgiveness. Seeing their sorrow, Krishna softened slightly. “After suffering for many years, Sage Dalbhya will teach you a special vrata (ritual) that will free you,” he told them.

Samba Seeks a Cure

Samba could not bear his painful disease. He desperately sought help and went to Sage Kataka, hoping for a cure. The wise sage told him, “The only way to heal is to please Surya, the Sun God. Go to the Chandrabhaga river in Mitravana, build a temple for Surya, and perform penance.”

Samba followed the sage’s advice. He traveled to Mitravana, near the Chandrabhaga river, and there, he built a magnificent temple dedicated to Surya. He then began a strict penance that lasted twelve long years.

Samba Abducts Lakshmanaa

This story is told in the Vishnu Purana

Duryodhana organized a swayamvara for his daughter Lakshmanaa, inviting many kings but not the Pandavas or Yadavas. However, Krishna’s son, Samba, who loved Lakshmanaa, refused to be left out. He boldly broke into the assembly and kidnapped her.

The Kauravas were furious and chased after Samba. As they caught up, Lakshmanaa pleaded with Samba not to harm her family, so he held back. Seizing the opportunity, Karna, Duryodhana, Bhishma, and others captured Samba and took him back to Hastinapura, where he was imprisoned.

When the Yadavas heard the news, they were enraged and wanted to attack Hastinapura. But Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother, decided to handle things alone. He traveled to Hastinapura, where he was welcomed with respect. However, when he demanded Samba’s release in the name of King Ugrasena, the Kurus refused.

Furious, Balarama’s eyes turned red with rage. He struck the ground with his plough, shaking the city and dragging it with his immense power. Terrified, the Kauravas surrendered and placed Samba and Lakshmanaa before him.

Balarama took them back to Dwarka, where they were married in the presence of Krishna and Jambavati. Their marriage turned out to be a happy and blessed union.

The Destruction of the Yadavas

This story is told in the Mahabharata, Mausala Parva and Vishnu Purana

The Iron Club’s Return

Long ago, the iron club that had cursed the Yadavas was thrown into the sea. But destiny had other plans. The bits of the club washed ashore and turned into sharp canes. The last unbreakable piece of iron was swallowed by a fish. Later, a fisherman named Jara caught the fish, found the iron spike inside, and fixed it to the tip of his arrow unaware of its future role in history.

Gandhari’s Curse Begins

After the Mahabharata War, Queen Gandhari had cursed the Yadavas, saying they would destroy themselves. In time, her curse began to come true. Strange and evil omens appeared throughout the Yadava kingdom. People became sinful and arrogant, and chaos grew day by day.

Lord Krishna, knowing that the curse was about to unfold, called a meeting in the royal court. He advised the Yadavas to go to Prabhasa-Kshetra to purify themselves. Everyone agreed and left for the holy place.

The Celebration Turns into Chaos

After the purification rituals, the Yadavas began celebrating. Music played, and fine wine flowed freely. Warriors boasted about their victories, while old rivalries resurfaced.

Among them were two powerful warriors Satyaki and Kritavarma. Satyaki was one of Krishna’s closest allies, while Kritavarma had fought on Duryodhana’s side in the Kurukshetra War.

As the night wore on, Satyaki, drunk with anger, mocked Kritavarma:
“You fought on the side of Kauravas! You killed sleeping warriors on the battlefield like a coward!”

Hearing this, Kritavarma’s face darkened. He responded, “And you! You were no saint! You too committed treacherous acts during the war!”

The drunken warriors around them cheered, picking sides in the argument. The mood turned hostile, and insults were thrown like arrows.

The First Bloodshed

In a fit of rage, Satyaki grabbed his sword and attacked Kritavarma, slashing off his head in front of everyone. The crowd gasped, and within seconds, chaos erupted.

Kritavarma’s supporters, furious at Satyaki, attacked him like wild animals. Satyaki fought back bravely but was soon overpowered and killed.

The Iron Canes: The Curse Comes to Life

Seeing this madness, Krishna’s son Samba and other warriors grabbed weapons. But fate had already decided their doom.

The iron club that was once cursed by Sages Vishwamitra and Narada had been thrown into the ocean, broken into pieces, and washed ashore. These iron bits had turned into sharp canes, which the warriors picked up in their frenzy, unaware of their dark origin.

As soon as the Yadavas grabbed the iron canes, their minds were consumed with rage. Friends turned against friends, brothers fought brothers, and the holy land of Prabhasa became a battlefield.

• Samba fought bravely, but in the madness, he was struck down and killed.
• Pradyumna, another of Krishna’s sons, also perished in the slaughter.
• Warriors smashed each other’s skulls, stabbed, and crushed one another in a drunken fury.

The once invincible Yadava clan, who had fought together in the greatest war in history, were now killing each other with no mercy.

The Aftermath: Only Krishna and Balarama Remain

As the sun rose, the battlefield of Prabhasa-Kshetra was silent. Thousands of Yadava warriors lay dead.

Only Krishna and Balarama remained, looking at the horrifying destruction of their own people. The Yadava dynasty was no more.

Balarama, heartbroken, sat down under a tree and left his mortal body.

Krishna, knowing that the end of his time on Earth had come, sent a messenger to Arjuna, instructing him to save the Yadava women before Dwarka sank into the ocean.

This was the end of the mighty Yadava dynasty, just as Gandhari had cursed. Samba’s birth, his curse, and his death all played a crucial role in fulfilling the prophecy.

The Tragic Fate of Samba

Samba, the son of Krishna and Jambavati, was a warrior destined for misfortune. From his cursed birth to his painful exile, and finally, his tragic death in the Yadava war, his life was shaped by fate. Though he was strong and fearless, he could not escape the curse that followed him.

His actions, whether it was his pranks on sages or his dedication to Surya, played a role in the downfall of the Yadava dynasty. In the end, Samba perished in the great Yadava war, marking the beginning of the final chapter of Krishna’s time on Earth. His life remains a reminder that no one, not even the mighty, can escape destiny.