English
The Slaying of Narakasura
Source: Shrimad Bhagavata Purana, Book 10 (chapter 59)
In Pragjyotishpura ruled a mighty asura named Bhauma. He was the son of Bhudevi, the Earth goddess, and so was called Bhauma, but because of his deeds people called him Narakasura.
His arrogance had grown so great that he seized the royal umbrella of Varuna, took the earrings of Aditi, mother of the gods, and even captured Maniparvata, the gods' seat on Mount Mandara.
Not only that: he had carried off princesses from many kingdoms and kept them captive in his palace. They numbered sixteen thousand.
The distressed Indra came to Dwarka and told Lord Krishna everything. Krishna called Garuda to mind and, taking his queen Satyabhama with him, flew on Garuda towards Pragjyotishpura.
Naraka's city seemed impregnable. Around it stood a wall of mountains, a ring of weapons, rings of water, fire and wind, and over all of them thousands of strong nooses laid by an asura named Mura.
Krishna broke the mountains with his mace, cut through the ring of weapons with arrows, pierced the rings of water, fire and wind with the Sudarshana discus, and slashed Mura's nooses with his sword. Then he blew his conch, Panchajanya.
At the roar of the conch the five-headed demon Mura rose from the water and charged with a trident. And after him… riding his huge elephant, Narakasura himself came onto the battlefield.
With his Sudarshana discus Krishna ended the demon Mura. Then Mura's seven sons, led by Pitha, came to fight, but they too could not stand before the Lord's arrows.
Then Narakasura came with his army of elephants. He hurled a shakti weapon at Krishna, but the Lord cut it down in mid-air. Garuda too scattered the asura army with his wings and beak.
At last, as Narakasura raised a trident, Krishna in that very instant cut off his head with the razor-edged Sudarshana discus, as he sat upon his elephant. The gods showered flowers from the sky.
Then Bhudevi herself came there. Bringing Aditi's earrings, the Vaijayanti garland, Varuna's umbrella and the jewel, she stood before Krishna and, with folded hands, sang his praises.
Bhudevi pleaded, “Lord, this is Narakasura's son Bhagadatta, and he is afraid. Grant him your protection.” Krishna assured Bhagadatta of his safety and gave him the kingdom.
Then Krishna went into Narakasura's palace, where the sixteen thousand princesses were held. The Bhagavata says that on seeing the Lord they all accepted him in their hearts as their husband. Krishna set them free, sent them to Dwarka with honour in palanquins, and later married them all with due rites, giving them a place of dignity.
After this Krishna went to heaven with Satyabhama and returned the earrings to Aditi, mother of the gods. The gods welcomed the Lord with honour.
By tradition this victory took place on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi. In its memory the day is called Narak Chaturdashi, and people bathe before dawn and light lamps, as if celebrating the victory of light over darkness and tyranny.
What this story teaches
However great arrogance grows, it cannot stand before dharma. And the Lord's compassion reaches both the family of the defeated and those who suffered.
On Narak Chaturdashi (Roop Chaudas, Chhoti Diwali) it is customary to bathe before dawn after applying ubtan and oil (abhyang snan) and to light lamps in the evening. In the Bhagavata it is Krishna who slays Narakasura with Satyabhama at his side; some other traditions and South Indian folk tellings have Satyabhama herself slay him. The link of this story to the date of Narak Chaturdashi comes from tradition.
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