Naraka Chaturdashi 1960

From the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana

Naraka, also called Bhauma, "son of the Earth", ruled the city of Pragjyotisha. The Vishnu Purana says he was born to the Earth goddess from the touch of Lord Vishnu when, as the Boar, Vishnu lifted the Earth out of the waters.

Naraka grew proud and cruel. He carried off maidens from the families of gods, sages, demons and kings and shut them up in his palace. He took the umbrella of Varuna, the lord of the waters, and a jewelled peak of Mount Mandara, and he snatched away the earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods.

Indra, the king of the gods, came to Dvaraka and told Krishna all this. Krishna called Garuda, his eagle. He seated his queen Satyabhama on Garuda's back, mounted with her, and flew to Pragjyotisha.

The city was guarded by walls of rock, rings of weapons, fire, water and wind, and nets of sharp nooses set by the demon Mura. Krishna broke through them all, cutting the nooses with his discus. When he blew his conch, the five headed Mura woke in the moat and charged at Garuda with a trident. Krishna broke the trident with his arrows and cut off Mura's heads with his discus. Mura's seven sons attacked next, and they too fell. The Vishnu Purana adds that Krishna also slew the demons Hayagriva and Panchajana.

Then Naraka himself came out on an elephant with a great army. Krishna and Garuda scattered the army. Naraka struck Garuda with a spear, but Garuda did not even flinch. As Naraka raised his trident, Krishna cut off his head with his discus. The sages and gods showered flowers.

Then the Earth goddess, Naraka's mother, came before Krishna. She gave him Aditi's earrings, Varuna's umbrella and the jewelled peak, and she praised him. She asked him to protect Naraka's frightened son, and Krishna gave the boy his protection. The Vishnu Purana says she also asked the Lord to forgive Naraka, since death at his hand had purified him.

Inside the palace Krishna found the captive princesses, sixteen thousand of them (the Vishnu Purana says sixteen thousand one hundred). He gave them fresh clothes and sent them to Dvaraka in palanquins, with treasure, horses and elephants. Then he flew with Satyabhama to the home of the gods and gave Aditi back her earrings.

Another story

This is the katha popularly told for Naraka Chaturdashi, especially in the South; no Purana source was found for it. In this telling Satyabhama is the Earth goddess born again, and so she is Naraka's own mother. Krishna takes her with him to the battle, and it is Satyabhama who strikes down Naraka. Before he dies, Naraka repents of his cruelty, and Krishna and Satyabhama grant that the day of his death will be remembered every year with joy and celebration.