No, Satyabhama Devi is not jealous or conceited. Both Rukmini and Satyabhama are Lakshmi avatars. Rukmini is Sridevi, whereas Satyabhama is Bhudevi. This Bhudevi, or Bhu roopi Lakshmidevi, is different from Bhudevi, the mother earth. Mother Earth is also the wife of Lord Vishnu, but She has the avesha of Bhu roopi Lakshmidevi. And this Bhu roopi Lakshmidevi is Satyabhama.
The scriptures do mention Lord Krishna’s pastimes with Satyabhama Devi. It is said that once Sage Narada came to Dwaraka, gave a Parijata flower to Krishna, and asked Him to give that flower to His favorite wife. So, Krishna gave that flower to Rukmini. Here, Satyabhama learns about Krishna giving the Parijata flower to Rukmini. She went to the Krodhaagaara (In ancient times, if a woman was angry, she would go to a room known as Krodhaagaara). She had removed all Her ornaments and had opened Her hair.
Krishna came to know about this and thought, ‘O Satyabhama must be angry with me.’ Thinking thus, Krishna went inside and tried to convince Her, but She wouldn’t be convinced. She said, “You gave that Parijaata flower to Rukmini, and not me? You always say, ‘O Satyabhama! You are my breath, my life?’ and now, when the turn came, you gave it to Rukmini? Didn’t you remember your life (Satyabhama)? Huh, I understand; all your sweet words are just merely an illusion.”
She further said, “O Krishna! How could you allow Sage Narada to praise Rukmini as a great queen? You didn’t even care to think of me? By handing that flower to Rukmini, you have insulted me and allowed the world to think that I am secondary. Do you care so little about my honor and my love? I could have just taken Sanyaasa and would have become a Sanyasini. But there are some rules. One needs the permission of the husband. I am waiting for it. Give the permission. I would go and take Sanyaasa.”
Krishna said, “Satya, it’s just a little flower; why are you so worried about that?” Satyabhama looked at Krishna in anger and said, “A little flower? A SINGLE LITTLE FLOWER is an insult! If you love me as you claim, then go to heaven and uproot the Parijata tree for me, and fight and defeat all the devatas, and bring it for me. That’s it.” Krishna said, “Okay, I promise to bring you the whole Parijata flower from Svarga! Is my Bhama happy now?” And then, Indra came to Krishna, pleading to kill Narakasura. Krishna went to Garuda and Satyabhama and killed Narakasura. While coming, Satyabhama reminded Him to uproot the Parijata tree.
Krishna went to Svarga, returned the earrings of Aditi (mother of Indra), which Narakasura had stolen, and then Indra welcomed Him. Krishna and Satyabhama were walking in the Nandana garden of Svarga, and Satyabhama said to Krishna, “This Indra’s wife, Shachi, has grown very arrogant! She didn’t even talk to me properly…I want to shatter her arrogance. Krishna! Uproot the Parijaata!” Krishna said, “My dear Satya, we must not do that…” But Satyabhama said, “No, uproot the Parijaata; you promised me, or else I would consider your love for me fake!” At this, Krishna agreed and uprooted the Parijaata tree itself and kept it on Garuda.
Indra and other devatas attacked Krishna, but Krishna defeated all and came back to Dwaraka with Satyabhama. Krishna planted that Parijaata Tree in Satyabhama’s garden, near Her wall boundary. On the other side of the wall was Rukmini’s garden. Satyabhama was very satisfied. Now, this Parijaata tree is the property of Svarga. So, Indra, still being the king os Svarga, required a scriptural or spiritual reason to be presented for taking the property of Svarga. Now, though everything belongs to Krishna (Ishavasyamidam sarvam), Krishna also followed the norm to keep the cosmic order.
Now, Sage Narada came to Satyabhama and told Her to do a vrata named Punyaka Vrata. By doing this, a Pativrataa woman would attain undivided and unwavering faith and devotion towards Her husband. So, the rules of this Vrata were to donate one’s husband to a sage and acquire the husband back by paying the Sage. For this Vrata, many Pativrata women had gathered, like Aditi, Diti, Danu, Vinata, Kadru, etc., the 13 wives of Sage Kashyapa, Arundhati, etc. Rishi Patnis had come to attend the Vrata. Even Krishna’s wives, Rukmini, Jambavati, etc., were present there. Now, Satyabhama did the Punyaka Vrata and bound Krishna to the Parijata tree with a garland, and poured water in Krishna’s hands and gave Him as a gift to Sage Narada.
After that, Satyabhama took Krishna back by gifting Sage Narada a lot of wealth, cows, etc. After that, Sage Narada left from there. Thus, this was the story of Satyabhama and Krishna. One thing we need to know here is that Satyabhama Devi was showing us how great Bhakti is. How? See, Rukmini Devi is Sridevi. And Sridevi is the presiding deity of knowledge and Satva Guna. Therefore, in that form, Lakshmidevi showed Bhakti, surrender, and a calm nature.
Whereas Satyabhama Devi is Bhu roopi Lakshmidevi, and She is the presiding deity for Rajoguna (the mode of passion). So that’s why Lakshmidevi, in this form, showed what a quarreling and stubborn wife is like. Actually, Satyabhama doesn’t possess any kind of malice or jealousy for Rukmini, but by acting as if She was jealous of Rukmini, She was highlighting how great Bhakti is. Lakshmidevi, as Rukmini showed Bhakti and how great it is, is shown by the act of jealousy done by the same Lakshmidevi as Satyabhama.
So yeah, Satyabhama Devi is not jealous, but is the Kalpavriksha, which can bestow anything. She is Lakshmidevi, who gave Brahma Padavi to Brahma, Rudra Padavi to Shiva, and Indra Padavi to Indra. She is the presiding deity for the three gunas, as Sri, Bhu, and Durga, respectively, but is above all three gunas and is always devoted to Srihari’s lotus feet. She and Rukmini Devi are the Lakshmidevi, for whose grace the devatas yearn. So, do you think such a great Mahalakshmi can possess jealousy? So, this was done to prove how great Bhakti is, by both Rukmini and Satyabhama. Both know Krishna is the Supreme Paramatma and is their Bhagavan, but both showed Bhakti, Sharanagati, and Pranaya kalaha and kopa.
Hope this helps!
Jay SriRam!
ShriRukmini Satyabhama Sameta ShriKrishnarpanmastu!