The Slaying of Narakasura and the Freeing of the Princesses

Riding Garuda with Satyabhama, Krishna destroyed the demon Mura and Narakasura at Pragjyotisha and gave honour and shelter to the sixteen thousand one hundred princesses held captive there.

Narakasura, also called Bhaumasura because he was the son of Bhumi, the Earth goddess, ruled from the city of Pragjyotisha. Drunk with power, he troubled the three worlds. He took away the royal umbrella of Varuna, seized a mountain peak of the gods, and even snatched the divine earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods. Worst of all, he carried off thousands of princesses from many kingdoms and kept them imprisoned in his palace. Indra came to Dwarka and begged Krishna for help.

Krishna mounted Garuda and took Satyabhama with him. Pragjyotisha was guarded by rings of mountains, weapons, water, fire and wind, and by the deadly nooses of the demon Mura. With his mace Krishna broke the mountain walls, with his arrows the weapons, with his chakra the fire, water and wind, and with his sword the nooses. When he blew his conch Panchajanya, the five-headed Mura rose from the waters and rushed at him. Krishna cut off all five heads with the Sudarshana chakra. Because he slew Mura, the Lord is called Murari, the enemy of Mura. Mura's sons also fell in battle.

Then Narakasura himself came out on an elephant with his army. After a fierce fight Krishna severed his head with the Sudarshana chakra. In popular tradition, Satyabhama fought bravely at Krishna's side in this battle. Bhumi Devi then came before the Lord with Aditi's earrings and other treasures, offered prayers, and asked him to protect Naraka's son Bhagadatta. Krishna gave the boy fearlessness and the kingdom.

Entering the palace, Krishna found sixteen thousand one hundred princesses. As soon as they saw him, each of them chose him in her heart as her husband. Knowing that society would not accept them after their captivity, Krishna sent them to Dwarka with honour and later married them all, giving each a palace of her own, so that no one could ever look down on them. Krishna then went to the heavens and returned Aditi's earrings to her.

In popular tradition, the day of Naraka's death is remembered as Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali. In Gujarat it is observed as Kali Chaudas, when families pray for protection from evil and fear, and lamps are lit as a sign of light winning over darkness.

This leela teaches that the Lord not only destroys evil but also restores dignity to those who have suffered from it, and that true protection includes honour and acceptance.

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, ch. 59

Place

Dwarka – Pragjyotishapura

Lesson

The Lord not only destroys evil but restores dignity to those who suffered under it.