1893.] 
271 
E. A. Gait — -The Koch Kings of Kamarupa. 
daughter of the king of Vidarbha or Kundina. Naraka was greatly- 
favoured by Vishnu who placed him in charge of Kamakhya, and told 
him that so long as that goddess was pleased with him he would do 
well, but that if he angered her, he would suffer, and that he himself 
would then desert him. It is said that Naraka carried off 10,000 girls 
as wives, and that he became so proud that he asked Kamakliya to 
marry him. To this the goddess assented on condition that he erected 
a temple to her on Nilachala and also constructed a tank and a road 
to the temple in a single night. Naraka accepted the terms and had 
almost accomplished his task, when the goddess caused a cock to crow 
before dawn, and saying that that was a proof that day had come, 
evaded her promise and refused to marry him. Overcome with rage, 
Naraka slew the cock, and the place where he did this is still known as 
Kukuta-Kata ( the place where the cock was killed). But Kanaka's 
crowning misfortune was his refusal to permit Vasishtha Muni to go 
to worship at Kamakhya, in consequence of which the Muni cursed 
Naraka and Kamakhya, saying that thence forward no one who wor- 
shipped at Kamakhya’s shrine should see the fulfilment of his desire. 
By the aid of S'iva, the duration of this curse was limited to three 
hundred years, but Naraka had now completely alienated both Kama- 
khya and Vishnu and was eventually slain by the latter in the incarna- 
tion of Krishna. Krishna’s invasion of Pragjyotishapura is described in 
the Bhagavata and Vi shim Buninas, in the latter of which it is stated that 
his attack on Naraka was instigated by Indra.* The capital was defend- 
ed by sharp panjis and by numerous outworks erected by the Asura Muni, 
but Krishna cut his way through with his discus and slew Muru and 
his sons. He then entered the city and engaged in a terrible combat 
with Naraka, and after killing thousands of daityas, he clove Naraka in 
twain with his discus. He recovered the golden earrings of Aditi and 
other property seized by him, and sent the 10,000 girls imprisoned in his 
harem together with his 6,000 elephants and his horses to Dvaraka. 
Naraka left two sons, Bhagadatta and Vajradat.ta, of whom the 
former was appointed by Krishna to succeed 
him as king of Pragjyotisha. Bhagadatta 
is frequently referred to in the Mahdbharata. In the Sabha Parvan, 
it is related that he was defeated by Arjuna after a battle which 
lasted for eight days.f Later on, when the forces of the Kau- 
ravas and Pandavas were being mustered for the last struggle, 
* Bhagavata Purana (Edition published at the Bangobashi press) X, 59, and 
Vishnu Purana, pp. 81 — 83 ( V, 29) 
t Sabha Parvan, secs. XXVI and XXVII. His troops are described as a host 
of Kiratas and Chinas, and numerous other warriors that dwelt on the seacoast. 
J. i. 35 
Bhagadatta. 
