Narakasura Vadth

The following story is my modest retelling of an extract from Sri Pothana Bagavatam, which is very revered in Andhra Pradesh. I have however, modified it in at certain places to meet the norms of our modern society, while trying to keep the values and essence of the story intact. 

      All of us know Krishna. He has always amazed us, be it with his charming looks, mighty deeds or sometimes simple mischief. But today, let us listen to the story of how his own wife Satyabama amazed him with her charming looks, mighty deeds and …..hmmm..probably one would not call that just mischief?

It was a cozy afternoon. Krishna and his wife Satyabama were engaged in their usual banter when many anxious villagers reached their doorstep with an appeal for help.

What could bother Krishna more than the worries of his dear people? He rushed outside, Satyabama by his side.

      -“My Lord, its this Rakshasa Narakasura.”

      -“He does not allow us to light lamps. His own house is dimmed by his pride.”

      -“ He denies us of food. His own stomach is swelled up by his greed.”

- “ Anything delicate or beautiful, be it flowers, bees, birds or even animals, tremble at his the sight, dreadful with wrath and arrogance.”

      - “My Lord, please save us from this monster.”

“ This darkness shall be dispelled. His pride, greed and wrath put to rest. The Rakshasa shall be slayed”. Krishna promised. The people were relieved. Just that word from Krishna was an assurance, a great source of strength.

As soon as the villagers left, Krishna hastened to fetch his bow and arrow. “ The rakshasa has to been slain. I will be back” , he told Satyabama.

“Krishna”, his wife commanded. “ Grant me a wish, right now.”

Krishna was puzzled. What could she want now, when she knew that his attention was needed elsewhere? Nevertheless, he agreed to her.

“I wish to slay this Rakshasa. I shall wage the war against him with my bow and arrow.” She told him calmly.

Krishna smiled at his wife. “Blinded by love for me, arent you? Have I not slayed countless rakshasas and emerged scarless? Do you fear my safety, dear? ”

But Satyabama shook her head returning his smile. “I know of your valor and I am certain you will be able to slay him if you fight him. But I want to kill this rakshasa”

Krishna looked at his wife wondering if she was still in her playful mood. But she looked quite serious. There was no sign of humor on her face. There was no trace of fear too, fear of Krishna’s safety. 

“Why do you want to kill him Satyabama?” he asked looking at her tender eyes. Would she even be able to look at a rakshasa so terrible with greed, pride and wrath? 

“I just want to kill him.”, she replied and strided inside to fetch her own set of bow and arrow.

Krishna looked at his wife. He saw her long hair reaching her knees, swinging and swaying back and froth as she walked. He saw her long skrit training the floor. He saw the heavy chains on her neck, her dangling earrings, tinkeling bangles.

“Ah! Now I know how to stop her. “, he told himself.

 

“Satyabama, are you sure you want to kill this rakshasa.”, he asked her. “You might have to knot your long hair, change into clothes like mine and ofcouse put away all the jewellery. How can you war with all those things on you?”

The he quickly added, “I will kill the rakshasa, so you do not have to compromise any of your things.

“Do not worry. I will be able to fight the rakshasa. None of thes would be of any trouble at all.”She said touching her waistband. She was unrelenting.

Krishna now thought of a stronger reason.

“ Oh! Satyabama, Mother of all the souls on this Earth! Be it a hermit or a rakshasa, arent you the mother of everyone without any distinction. Are you going to kill your own child?”

He asked hoping that this argument would dissaude her.

“ With his greed, pride and wrath has Narakasura not created much distress for himself? Which mother wants to see her son in such pain? I shall slay him and help him.” She stood stubborn on what she wanted.

Krishna now knew that he had to concede to his wife’s decision. Nevertheless, he was concerned about her. “You may slay the rakshasa. But I shall come along with you. You have to oblige to this.” He said.

And if master and his mistress were out on a mission to slay a terrible rakshasa could Garuda, their very dear Eagle-child stay back? So, the couple mounted on the huge bird, she with the bow and arrow ready to strike, he staring at her with amazement.

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In the battlefield the Mother faced the Rakshasa army, mounted on Garuda along with her beloved husband, her long hair swaying across her knees, her long skirt flowing under the bird’s legs, heavy chains adorning her neck, long earings dangling on her ears and her bangles tinkling.

She held the bow in her left hand, stringing the bow with her right hand she shoot arrows at her targets. Neither the trumpets of the elephants nor the dusty winds raised by the horses swift hooves bothered her one bit.

While this time, it was the turn of the rakshasas to be shocked from the intensity of the war waged against them, our dear Krishna sat back to enjoy the music of Satyabama’s tinkling bangles and the dance of her glowing eyes on her calm confident face.

When the rakshahas decided to bring forward more stronger and experienced rakshahas to out do her, her war only became more naunced and fiercer.

But when she returned back to them even the shrieks and howls with which they tried to dissuade her, Narakasura stepped down himself to face her. Might and strong in physique, terrible in looks, he thundered into the warfieldon his chariot. She looked at him unperplexed, and striked right at his heart which was dimmed by wrath, greed and pride.

And, the rakshaha fell down on the grounds breathing his last, wondering how this lady could take over him so easily. But for Krishna who sat next to Satyabama strength of her mind, purity of her heart and her stable body seemed very glaring.

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The news of the death of the raksahsa spread quickly around the village and people started to rejoice.

Beautiful lamps and diyas were lit, new fresh clothes were worn, delicacies prepared in every house.

But, the happiest of all was none other than Krishna. Not not was fearmongreing rakshasa slain but the deed was accomplished by his dear wife.

He beamed from ear to ear, his face raditaing the light of the lamps around. “Lights, sweets, rangolis and new clothes! Let the warmth of all this reside in our hearts too. Let all of us strive to kill the pride, greed and wrath in our hearts and bring peace to ourselves. Let all of us remember this day year after year”

So, when people went back home, they told the story of this day to children and celebrated it just like Krishna asked them to. When the children grew up to have their own children, the new children too heard this story. And on and on, generation after generation children heard the story from their elders and this day was cherished with lamps, sweets, rangolis and new clothes. I too heard it from my mom every Diwali and here I am telling all my children too this story, this DIWALI. I hope you follow suit.