Narakasura Vadha – Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya

One of the important festivals that is part of the Deepavali celebrations is ‘Naraka Chaturdashi’, observed on the 14th day of the waning moon phase of the month of Ashwayuja. While also known for the offering of the ‘tarpana’ to Yama, the day is more widely celebrated as the day when Sri Krishna killed Narakasura, in company of his wife Satyabhama. 

Narakasura had accumulated great wealth in his city of Pragjyotishapura, and had built a seven layered fort around the city. He had become invincible due to many boons from Brahma and other Devatas. Due to these, his lust had gone out of control and he had kidnapped 16100 princesses from all over Bharata. 

The Devatas requested Sri Krishna to put an end to the tyranny of the Asura. Sri Krishna destroyed the impregnable fort, killed 5 of his ministers and 35 of the ministers’ warrior sons. Finally, with a little help from Satyabhama, he slew Narakasura. He obliged Narakasura’s last wish that he be remembered by all Dharmikas. Hence the day of his killing is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi all over Bharata. People get up early, have an oil bath, light deepas all over the house and worship Sri Krishna, before feasting on sweets and putting on new clothes.

Naraka Chaturdashi is a day when Dharmikas remember the dangers of excessive lust and desire, and resolve to keep it under control in order to pursue Dharma and Moksha, all with the blessings of the eternal Brahmachari Sri Krishna.

Following is the translation of the relevant section of Sri Madhwacharya’s Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya that gives a vivid description of Sri Krishna and Satyabhama’s march against Narakasura and his killing:

एवं विधान्यद्भुतानीह कृष्णे दृष्टानि वः शतसाहस्रशश्च ।
तस्मादेष ह्यद्भुतोऽत्युत्तमश्चेत्युक्ता नेमुस्तेऽखिला वासुदेवम् । २०.८१ ।

These kind of miracles of Sri Krishna have occurred hundreds, thousands and lakhs of times. Therefore he is amazing and the best amongst all” – when he (Sage Narada) said thus, all of them bowed to Sri Vasudeva. (20.81)

वाय्वाज्ञया वायुशिष्यः स सत्यमित्याद्युक्त्वा नारदो रुग्मिणीं च ।
स्तुत्वा पुष्पं पारिजातस्य दत्वा ययौ लोकं क्षिप्रमब्जोद्भवस्य । २०.८२ ।

Sage Narada, the shishya of Sri Vayu, as per his orders, described Sri Krishna’s greatness in detail and declared them all as the truth and, after praising Rugmini and offering her the Parijata flowers, returned to Brahmaloka. (20.82)

साक्षात्सत्या रुग्मिणीत्येकसं विद्द्विधाभूता नात्र भेदोऽस्ति कश्चित् ।
तथाऽपि सा प्रमदानां स्वभावप्रकाण्सनार्थं कुपितेवाऽस सत्या । २०.८३ ।

Mahalakshmi, one with knowledge, bliss and other auspicious attributes, had taken two forms as Rukmini and Satyabhama. There was absolutely no difference between the two of them. Still, in order to show the nature of women, Satyabhama Devi acted as if she was upset with Sri Krishna. (20.83)

साकं रुग्मिण्या राजमध्ये प्रवेशात्स्तवादृषेः पुष्पदानाच्च देवीम् ।
कोपाननं दर्शयन्तीमुवाच विडम्बार्थं कामिजनस्य कृष्णः । २०.८४ ।

Entering the midst of Kings with Rukmini, the arrival of Sage Narada who praised Rukmini and the handing over of Parijata flowers to her – these were the reasons cited by Satyabhama Devi to put up a frown on her face. Sri Krishna, in order to show how people who have fallen in love behave, said to her. (20.84)

दातास्म्यहं पारिजातं तरुं त इत्येव तत्राथाऽगमद्वासवोऽपि ।
सर्वैर्देवैर्भौमजितोऽप्यदित्यास्तेनैवाथो कुण्डलाभ्यां हृताभ्याम् । २०.८५ ।

“I shall give you the entire Parijata tree”. At that time, Indra too arrived there. He, along with all the other Devatas, had lost to Narakasura. Apart from that, the son of Earth (son of Bhumi – Bhauma – Narakasura) had stolen the ear-rings of his mother Aditi. (20.85)

तदैवाऽगुर्मुनयस्तेन तुन्ना बदर्यास्ते सर्व एवाऽशु कृष्णम् ।
ययाचिरे भौमवधाय नत्वा स्तुत्वा स्तोत्रैर्वैदिकैस्तान्त्रिकैश्च । २०.८६ ।

At the same time, many sages who had been tormented by Narakasura came there from Badari, prompted by Indra. All of them prayed to Sri Krishna with Vedic and Tantric stotras and begged him to kill the son of Bhumi. (20.86)

इन्द्रेण देवैः सहितेन याचितो विप्रैश्च सस्मार विहङ्गराजम् ।
आगम्य नत्वा पुरतः स्थितं तमारुह्य सत्यासहितो ययौ हरिः । २०.८७ ।

When Sri Krishna was thus requested by the Devatas, including Indra, and by the sages, he remembered Garuda, the King of birds. Immediately, Garuda came and stood in front of him. Sri Hari climbed that bird, along with Satyabhama, and left. (20.87)

नित्यैव या प्रकृतिः स्वेच्छयैव जगच्छिक्षार्थं द्वादशीं भीमसञ्ज्ञाम् ।
उपोष्य बभ्रे कोटिधाराजलस्य विष्णोः प्रीत्यर्थं सैव हि सत्यभामा । २०.८८ ।

Satyabhama was Mahalakshmi, verily eternal Prakruti herself. Still, in order to teach the world and due to her devotion to Sri Hari, she performed the vrata known as Bhima Dwadashi and bore crores of water pourings on her head. (20.88)

Note: The details of the Bhima Dwadashi vrata are available in the Matsya Purana. The person is supposed to sit on a Krishnajina on Ekadashi day and water is continuously poured on to the head from a vessel with numerous holes. Milk is similarly poured on to the murthy of Sri Hari. The next day, on Dwadashi, milk is consumed first followed by food.

तया युक्तो गरुडस्कन्धसं स्थो दूरानुयातो वज्रभृताऽप्यनुज्ञाम् ।
दत्वाऽमुष्मै प्रययौ वायुजुष्टामाण्सां कृष्णो भौमवधे धृतात्मा । २०.८९ ।

Along with Satyabhama, Sri Krishna climbed the shoulders of Garuda and left. Indra followed him for quite a distance and then took leave. Sri Krishna, having decided to kill the son of Bhumi, proceeded towards the North Eastern side. (20.89)

भौमो ह्यासीद्ब्रह्मवरादवध्यो न शस्त्रभृज्जीयस इत्यमुष्मै ।
दत्तो वरो ब्रह्मणा तद्वदेव तस्यामात्यानां तद्वदवध्यता च। २०.९० ।

Narakasura had conquered death due to the boon of Brahma. “You cannot be defeated when you bear a weapon in your hand” – saying thus Brahma had granted him a boon. His ministers too had received a similar boon, and consequently freedom from death, from Brahma. (20.90)

भौमेन जय्यत्वमपि ह्यमीषां दत्तं भौमाय ब्रह्मणा क्रोडरूपात् ।
विष्णोर्जातायास्य दुर्गं च दत्तं प्राग्ज्योतिषं नाम पुरं समस्तैः । २०.९१ ।

Narakasura had received an additional boon that only he should be able to defeat his ministers (and keep them under control). He was born from the Varaha Avatara of Sri Mahavishnu and Brahma had also granted him an extremely fortified city called Pragjyotisha. (20.91)

आसीद्बाह्ये गिरिदुर्गं तदन्तः पानीयदुर्गं मौरवं पाण्सदुर्गम् ।
तस्याप्यन्तः क्षुरधारोपमं तत्पाण्साण्स्च ते षट्सहस्राण्स्च घोराः ।
अभेद्यत्वमरिभिरतार्यता च दत्ता दुर्गाणां ब्रह्मणाऽराधितेन । २०.९२ ।

On the outer side, there was a fort made of mountains. Inside it, there was a fortification from water (moats). Inside that was a fort made of chains. This was designed by Mura. This fort had six thousand chains that were like sheaths of swords. Due to Narakasura’s penance, Brahma had granted a boon that these forts could never be breached nor could they be damaged. (20.92)

च्च्xलिव्.तस्यामात्याः पीठमुरौ निसुम्भहयग्रीवौ पञ्चजनश्च शूराः ।
सङ्कल्प्य तान् लोकपालानहं च ब्रह्मेत्यद्धा भाषमाणः स आस्ते । २०.९३ ।

He had five brave ministers called Peetha, Mura, Nishumbha, Hayagriva and Panchajana. He had nominated them as Lokapalakas (keepers of the world) and called himself Brahma. (20.93)

हन्तुं कृष्णो नरकं तत्र गत्वा गिरिदुर्गं गदया निर्बिभेद ।
वायव्यास्त्रेणोदकं शोषयित्वा चकर्त खड्गेन मुरस्य पाण्सान् । २०.९४ ।

Having decided to kill him, Sri Krishna reached there and destroyed the mountain-fort with his gada. He released the Vayavya astra and dried the moat. Using his sword, Sri Krishna destroyed the fortification made of chains, that was built by Mura. (20.94)

अथाभिपेतुर्मुरपीठौ निसुम्भहयग्रीवौ पञ्चजनश्च दैत्याः ।
ताञ्छैलशस्त्रास्त्रशिलाभिवर्षिणण्स्चक्रे व्यसूं श्चक्रनिकृत्तकन्धरान् । २०.९५ ।

After that, the Daityas Mura, Peetha, Nishumbha, Hayagriva and Panchajana rushed at him and attacked him with boulders, rocks, weapons and astras. Sri Krishna killed all of them by decapitating them with his chakra. (20.95)

Note: Sri Krishna is known as Murari due to his killing of the daitya Mura.

तेषां सुताः सप्तसप्तोरुवीर्या वरादवध्या गिरिशस्याभिपेतुः ।
तानस्त्रशस्त्राभिमुचः शरोत्तमैः समर्पयामास स मृत्यवेऽच्युतः । २०.९६ ।

Each of them had seven sons each, all of whom where great warriors. Due to Shiva’s boons, they were invincible. They too rushed to battle. Even as they were attacking him with weapons and astras, Sri Krishna offered them to (the Lord of) death using excellent arrows. (20.96)

हत्वा पञ्चत्रिं शतो मन्त्रिपुत्रान् जगाम भौमस्य सकाण्समाण्सु ।
श्रुत्वा भौमः कृष्णमायातमारादक्षोहिणीत्रिं शकेनाभ्ययात्तम् । २०.९७ ।

Having killed thirty-five sons of the ministers thus, Sri Krishna proceeded towards Bhauma. Hearing the news of his arrival, Narakasura faced him along with an army of thirty akshouhinis. (20.97)

जघ्ने सेनां गरुडः पक्षपातैः पादं शेषां केशवः सायकौघैः ।
अथाऽससादाऽशु भौमोऽच्युतं तं मुञ्चञ्छरानस्त्रसम्मन्त्रितान् द्राक् ।
विव्याध तं केशवः सायकौघैर्भौमः शतघ्नीं ब्रह्मदत्ताममुञ्चत् । २०.९८ ।

अच्छेद्योऽभेद्यो नित्यसं वित्सुखात्मा नित्याव्ययः पूर्णण्सक्तिः स कृष्णः ।
निगीर्य तां देववरः शतघ्नीं नित्याण्स्रान्तोऽदर्शयच्छ्रान्तवच्च । २०.९९ ।

Garuda destroyed a quarter of that army by flapping his wings. Sri Krishna destroyed the remaining army with a flood of arrows. Later, Narakasura released arrows powered by the mantras of astras and faced Sri Krishna. In turn, Sri Krishna hurt him with a shower of arrows. Bhauma employed a shataghni given by Brahma.

Sri Krishna, the one who cannot be hurt, one who can never be overcome, one who is the very personification of knowledge and bliss, one who is eternally unchanged, one whose strength is unlimited and one who is the best amongst Devatas, swallowed that shataghni. Although he is never tired, he acted as if he was weak, in order to cause illusion to Asuras. (20.98-99)

बहून् वरान् ब्रह्मणोऽन्येष्वमोघान्मोघीकृतान् वीक्ष्य परात्परेशः ।
भवेत्कथञ्चिद्बहुमानेन युक्त इत्येव कृष्णोऽदर्शयच्छ्रान्तवत्स्वम् । २०.१०० ।

Having falsified many boons of Brahma when it came to the rest (his ministers), Sri Krishna, the best amongst the best, wanted to make sure that Narakasura did not feel disrespect for Brahma. Hence he showed himself as being tired. (20.100)

Note: Asura-mohana is what Paramatma does when he wants to confuse Asuras. In our itihasa and puranas, such Asura-mohana incidents are many.

तदा दृप्तं नरकं वीक्ष्य देवी सत्याऽददे कार्मुकं शार्ङ्गसञ्ज्ञम् ।
चकार तं यतमानं च भौमं निरायुधं विरथं च क्षणेन । २०.१०१ ।

Then, Satyabhama saw Narakasura beaming with ego and picked up Sri Krishna’s bow that was known as Sharnga. In spite of him trying hard, she rendered him weaponless and chariot-less in an instance. (20.101)

आलिङ्ग्य कृष्णः सत्यभामां पुनश्च रथान्तरे सं स्थितं भौममुग्रम् ।
सृजन्तमस्त्राण्यरिणा निकृत्तकन्धं मृत्योरर्पयामास शीघ्रम् । २०.१०२ ।

Sri Krishna embraced Satyabhamaa. He got into his chariot again and decapitated the terrible Narakasura, who was firing many astras, and handed him over to death. (20.102)

स मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रिपुत्रैः समेतो जगाम कृष्णावज्ञयाऽन्धं तमश्च ।
तदाविष्टो वायुरगाच्च कृष्णमन्तः पुरं प्राविशत्सत्ययेशः । २०.१०३ ।

Narakasura, along with his ministers and their sons, reached Andhantamas, due to their hatred for Sri Krishna. Sri Vayu, who was present inside him as Avesha, entered Sri Krishna. Along with Satyabhama, Sri Krishna entered his inner palace. (20.103)

च्च्xल्व्.तदा भूमिः पञ्चभूतावरा या यस्यां जज्ञे नरकः श्रीवराहात् ।
मूलप्रकृत्यैव भूम्या नितान्तमाविष्टा या साऽगमत्कृष्णपादौ । २०.१०४ ।

Bhudevi, who is the last amongst the five elements (pancha-bhuta) had the presence of Mahalakshmi, the presiding deity of prime matter, with her ‘Bhudevi’ form. Such a Bhudevi had given birth to Narakasura through Sri Varaha. Bhudevi fell at the feet of Sri Krishna. (20.104)

Note: Sri Vayu, by the name of Sujeeva, was present inside Narakasura.

साऽदित्यास्ते कुण्डले पादयोश्च निधाय पौत्रं भगदत्तसञ्ज्ञम् ।
समर्पयामास तस्याभिषेकं प्राग्ज्योतिषे कारयामास कृष्णः । २०.१०५ ।

She placed the ear-rings of Aditi at the feet of Sri Krishna, and handed over her grandson Bhagadatta to him. He consecrated him as the ruler of the land at Pragjyotisha. (20.105)

सं स्थाप्य तं सर्वकिरातराज्ये भौमाहृतं वैश्रवणाद्बलेन ।
शिवेन दत्तं धनदायातिसत्त्वं भगदत्ते न्यदधात्सुप्रतीकम् । २०.१०६ ।

Sri Krishna made him the King of all the Kiratas. He also gave him an elephant called Suprateeka, that was forcefully obtained by Narakasura from Kubera. That elephant was given by Shiva to Kubera. (20.106)

करीन्द्रमेकं तं निधायैव तस्मिन् कृत्वा प्रसादं च वसुन्धरायाः ।
चतुर्दन्तान् षट्सहस्रान् करीन्द्रान् पयोब्धिजान् प्राहिणोद्द्वारवत्यै । २०.१०७ ।

Sri Krishna gave only that elephant to Bhagadatta. He blessed Bhumi Devi. Sri Krishna sent six thousand other elephants, each of which had four tusks, to Dwaraka. Those elephants had appeared at the time of the Samudra Mathana. (20.107)

नराधिपान् देवगन्धर्वनागान् जित्वाऽनीतं हेमरत्नोच्चराण्सिम् ।
शतद्वयं योजनानां समृद्धं समन्ततः प्राहिणोत्स्वां पुरीं सः । २०.१०८ ।

Sri Krishna also sent to Dwaraka gold, jewels and wealth that were spread across two hundred yojanas, all of which had been obtained by Narakasura by defeating the Devatas, Gandharvas, Nagas and Kings. (20.108)

महावीर्यैर्नैरृतै राक्षसेन्द्रैर्भौमानीतैर्निरृतिं योधयित्वा ।
स प्राहिणोत्सर्वरत्नोच्चराण्सिं गजां श्च नारायण आदिदेवः । २०.१०९ ।

Sri Krishna, the primordial Deva, sent all that wealth and the elephants to Dwaraka through some warrior Rakshasas, who had been kept by Narakasura after defeating Nirrti. (20.109)

तत्रापश्यत्कन्यका भूमिपानां भौमानीताः समरे तान् विजित्य ।
द्व्यष्टौ सहस्राणि शतं च रूपशीलोदारा अक्षताः सद्व्रतस्थाः । २०.११० ।

Sri Krishna then saw many kanyas there. They had been kidnapped and brought by Narakasura after defeating Kings in battle. They were sixteen thousand and one hundred in number. All of them possessed excellent beauty and auspicious character. Since all of them were engaged in excellent vratas, they had not been violated by Narakasura and had still remained kanyas. (20.110)

काण्स्चित्तत्राऽसन् देवगन्धर्वकन्यास्तासां प्रधाना त्वष्टृपुत्री कशेरुः ।
पुत्रा अग्नेः पूर्वमासं श्च तेऽथ स्त्रीत्वप्राप्त्यै चक्रुरुग्रं तपश्च । २०.१११ ।

Some of them were Deva kanyas. A few others were Gandharva kanyas. Kasheru, the daughter of Tvashtru Prajapati, was the chief amongst them. Originally all of them were the sons of Agni. They had performed excellent tapas in order to obtain womanhood. (20.111)

भार्यात्वार्थे वासुदेवस्य योषित्तनुं तासामिच्छतीनां समीरः ।
अदाद्वरं तपसाऽराधितः सन् स्त्रीभूतास्ते बदरीं स प्रजग्मुः । २०.११२ ।

Possessing the desire to becomes wives of Sri Krishna, they had been granted the same boon by Sri Vayu after he was worshipped by them through their tapas. Being born as women, they had left for Badari. (20.112)

नारायणं तत्र शुश्रूषमाणाः प्राप्याप्सरस्त्वं राजकुलेषु जाताः ।
काण्स्चित्स्वर्गे ता निशाम्यैव कृष्णं वव्रुः पतिं सर्वगुणाभिरामम् । २०.११३ ।

There, they worshipped Sri Narayana and later they obtained the life of Apsaras. Some of them were born in the lineage of Kings. Some of them were born in Swarga. As soon as they saw Sri Krishna, the one who had all auspicious traits and who was enchanting, they took him as their husband. (20.113)

आजानदेवैः सर्वगुणैः समास्ताः स्वभावतोऽथेन्दिरावेशतोऽतः ।
गुणाधिकास्ताः शिबिकासु कृष्ण आरोपयित्वा प्राहिणोद्द्वारवत्यै । २०.११४ ।

All of them were equivalent to the Ajanaja Devatas in terms of their inherent ability. Due to the Avesha of Ramaa (Lakshmi), they were slightly higher (than them). Sri Krishna placed them in palanquins and sent them to Dwaraka. (20.114)

समन्ततो योजनानां शते द्वे प्रवृद्धमिन्द्रस्य स रत्नपर्वतम् ।
नित्यामृतस्रावि जलेश्वरस्य च्छत्रं च दोर्भ्यां गरुडे न्यधाद्धरिः । २०.११५ ।

Sri Krishna lifted Indra’s mountain of jewels, that was two hundred yojanas in height and Varuna’s white umbrella, that always showered Amruta, and placed it on Garuda. (20.115)

स्वयं च सत्यासहितः समारुहत्स चाण्स्रमेणैव ययौ त्रिविष्टपम् ।
अभिप्रयातोऽखिललोकपालैर्जनार्दनः शक्रगृहं विवेश । २०.११६ ।

Sri Krishna, along with Satyabhama, climbed on to Garuda. Without any trace of tiredness, Garuda reached Swarga. There, all the Dikpalakas welcomed him. Sri Krishna entered the palace of Indra. (20.116)

सम्पूजितः सत्यभामासहायः शक्रेण ण्सच्या सहितेन सादरम् ।
ददावदित्या अपि कुण्डले शुभे समस्तदेवैर्मुनिभिश्च वन्दितः । २०.११७ ।

Sri Krishna, along with Satyabhama, was especially worshipped with devotion by Indra and Shachi. Sri Krishna gave Aditi her auspicious ear-rings. All the Devatas and Sages bowed to him. (20.117)

तमासुरावेशवशादजानती सत्यां च सर्वप्रभवौ जगत्प्रभू ।
निर्दोषसौख्यैकतनू ण्सुभाण्सिषस्ताभ्यां ददौ साऽदितिरात्मपुत्रवत् । २०.११८ ।

Having come under the Avesha of Asuras, Aditi blessed Sri Krishna and Satyabhama as if they were her children, forgetting that they were the Lords of all, the Lords of the Universe, without any blemish and possessed pure bliss as their bodies. (20.118)

अथो सदानन्दचिदात्मदेहः न नन्दनोद्यानमजोऽनुरूपया ।
अनन्तशक्तिः सह सत्यभामया विवेश रन्तुं प्रिययाऽखिलेश्वरः । २०.११९ ।

Later Sri Krishna, the one whose body is nothing but bliss and knowledge, one who possesses infinite strength, one who has no defects such as birth and others, entered the Nandana gardens along with Satyabhama, who was always agreeable to him and was extremely dear. (20.119)