Shabdh

Bohut samay pehle, Narakasura naam ka ek asur raja tha.Woh Pragjyotishpur naam ke rajya par raaj karta tha aur bohut hi cruel aur ahankaari tha. Usne bhagwan se vardaan liya tha ki use sirf uski maa hi maar sakti thi. Is wajah se uska mann aur bigad gaya. Usne devtaon ko hara diya, unka swarg lok cheen liya, aur 16,000 rajkumariyon ko bandi bana kar apne mahal mein rakh liya. Devta bhagwan Krishna ke paas gaye aur unse madad maangi. Krishna apni patni Satyabhama ke saath Narakasura se ladne gaye. Yudh ke dauraan, Narakasura ne Krishna ko ghaayal kar diya. Krishna ko chot lagte hi Satyabhama ne dhanush uthaya aur Narakasura ko ek teer se maar diya — kyunki woh Narakasura ki maa ka roop thi.

Marnese pehle Narakasura ne apne paapon ke liye shama maangi aur kaha ki log uski mrityu ka utsav manayein, deep jalaakar. Tab se Naraka Chaturdashi ke roop mein Diwali ka ek din manaya jaata hai, jo buraai par achchai ki jeet ka prateek hai.

The Story of Narakasura

Long ago, there was a powerful demon king named Narakasura. He ruled over the kingdom of Pragjyotishpur (near present-day Assam) and became very arrogant and evil. Narakasura was blessed with a boon that he could only be killed by his mother, so he thought no one could ever defeat him. He started attacking heaven, defeating gods, and capturing 16,000 princesses, locking them in his palace. The gods went to Lord Krishna for help. Krishna took his wife Satyabhama, who was the earthly incarnation of Narakasura’s mother (unknowingly), and rode to battle in his chariot. During the fierce battle, Narakasura injured Krishna. Seeing Krishna hurt, Satyabhama picked up a bow and arrow and shot Narakasura, fulfilling the prophecy.

With his last breath, Narakasura realized his sins and asked for forgiveness. He requested that people celebrate his death as a festival of light, not sadness. The day before Diwali (called Naraka Chaturdashi) is celebrated in South India as the victory of good over evil.