[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.1248 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1248 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1248 - **Language:** English ### [c5.1248](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1248) NARAKA. An Asura, son of the Earth. In the Mahā-bhārata and Vishnu Purāna he is said to have carried off the ear-rings of Aditi to the impregnable castle of Prāg-jyotisha, but Krishna, at the request of the gods, went there and killed him and recovered the jewels. In the Hari-vansa the legend differs. According to this, Naraka, king of Prāg-jyotisha, was an implacable enemy of the gods. He assumed the form of an elephant, and having carried off the daughter of Viswa-karma, he subjected her to violation. He seized the daughters of the Gandharvas, and of gods and of men, as well as the Apsarasas themselves, and had more than 16,000 women, for whom he built a splendid residence. He also appropriated to himself jewels, garments, and valuables of all sorts, and no Asura before him had ever been so horrible in his actions. - [Previous: c5.1247](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1247) - [Next: c5.1249](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1249) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) ## Cites (3) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Harivaṃśa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.harivamsa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Viṣṇupurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1248](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1248) · Pramāṇa