If the title scares you, good. I hope it scares Rama, too. 

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As Goddess Bhumi, I sustain all life and consider all living beings my children. Unfortunately, not all my of my children are good....

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One of my children was an asura named Narakasura, and he was, unfortunately, a very naughty child. My wonderful friend Brahma didn't think so, though - Narakasura did austere penances for many years to Brahma, and, in return, Brahma gave him a boon that he could die at the hands of no one but his mother. If you couldn't tell by now, Brahma tends to be the cause of ruin of many things. 

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Drunk on his new near-immortality, Narakasura wreaked havoc on the mighty city of Pragjyotishpura, and ruled it tyrannically as he pleased. Still dissatisfied, however, he decided to attack the abode of the gods and took over Indra's kingdom. The gods could do nothing to stop him, and Narakasura had the power to do anything he wanted. 

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It was under this dire circumstance that the gods came to Krishna (the then-avatar of Vishnu) and asked for his help. 

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Let me remind you that I, as the Supreme Goddess, orchestrated this entire event. Part of this involves some background: Krishna had once done a favor for Dwaraka's treasurer Satrajit, and, in return, Satrajit offered his daughter Satyabhama for marriage. Who is this dame Satyabhama, you ask? 

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Me. I, Bhumi, decided to incarnate as Satyabhama, who became one of Krishna's wives. Smart, eh?

 

When Krishna went off to battle Narakasura, he took only three things: his vehicle (the eagle Garuda), some weapons, and Satyabhama. When he arrived at the corrupted asura's palatial lair, he yelled out loudly, "Narakasura! Come outside and face your destruction!" Taunted, the demon came out of his lair adorned in all the jewels that he stole from the gods and armed with a gamut of weapons. Then, Krishna and Narakasura began fighting to the death.

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The fighting was vicious; Krishna fought as hard as he could, but Narakasura, who was strengthened by Brahma's boon, was unwavering. He deflected every weapon that Krishna threw at him: every mace, arrow, spear, and even the powerful Sudarshana Chakra, which was Krishna's favorite and most powerful weapon. He retaliated with equal force, but Krishna also deflected with equal ease. Satyabhama stood and watched the fighting anxiously. 

 

After five days and five nights of fighting, something ominous happened: Krishna mistimed his deflection of one of Narakasura's blows, and Narakasura was able to knock Krishna unconscious. Narakasura bellowed with laughter, preparing to end Krishna's life - but Satyabhama was distraught and overcome with anger. Her husband had been knocked out cold! "Face your end, demon!" she yelled, grabbing Krishna's bow. 

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"Ha ha, how could a meek woman like you dest-" Narakasura began. The sharp swift arrow that Satyabhama shot interrupted him, ripping straight through his heart. Narakasura could feel his life leaving his body, but couldn't understand how. 

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Then, he realized. "Mother Bhumi, is that you? How could you kill your own son like this?" he exclaimed. Satyabhama (me) looked at him, sharp anger burning in her eyes.

 

"Yes, son, it is me. I don't care whether you are a mighty god or my own son; I will defend what is right," she said. And, with that, the corrupted, vile Narakasura breathed his last as his killer Satyabhama stood triumphant over him. 

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Don't take me or my power for granted, Rama, or you will regret it.

 

 

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Author's Note: The original story of Krishna and Narakasura closely resembles what was written in this story; it is Krishna's wife Satyabhama, an incarnation of Bhumi, that kills Narakasura because of the boon that he is bestowed. This story is pivotal in the background of the story as a whole, which concerns Bhumi's attitude toward Rama based on the way he treats Sita. In choosing to write my story from Bhumi's perspective, I, again, emphasize the power of the Goddess in orchestrating all events, and, at the end, reveal that the message that the Goddess is trying to send out through her orchestration of these events is that she is capable of anything - including killing her own son. In the fourth story, I will draw off of the power that Bhumi has demonstrated that she has to display how she will react to Rama in the situation described in the introduction. 

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Bibliography: "Satyabhama," Wikipedia. Link to source

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