Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 60 of 128 · 98 verses
Kumbhakarna Is Woken
Back in Lanka, his pride broken, terrified of Rama’s arrows, Ravana is overwhelmed like an elephant by a lion or a snake by Garuda. On his golden throne he tells the rakshasas: all my great austerity is in vain, since I, equal to great Indra, have been defeated by a man. Brahma’s terrible words have come true: “Know that your danger comes from men.” I asked to be safe from gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas and serpents, but I did not ask about men. I think this man is Rama, son of Dasharatha, of whom Anaranya of the Ikshvaku line said: a man of my line will be born who will kill you with your sons, ministers, army, horses and charioteer. And Vedavati cursed me when I violated her; she has been born as this fortunate Sita, daughter of Janaka. What Uma, Nandishvara, Rambha and Varuna’s daughter foretold has come upon me; the sages’ words are not false. Make every effort now; post rakshasas on the gate towers; and wake Kumbhakarna, of matchless depth, crusher of the pride of gods and danavas, who lies under Brahma’s curse.
He sleeps nine, seven, ten or eight months at a time, careless, his mind clouded by desire; he lay down nine days ago after our council. Wake him quickly; he is the hump of the bull, the foremost of all rakshasas in battle, and will soon kill the monkeys and the princes. What use is one as strong as Indra who sleeps through such a disaster?
The rakshasas hurry to Kumbhakarna’s cave, a league wide, fragrant with flowers; his breath blows them back. Inside, on a floor of gold and gems, he lies like a scattered mountain, hair bristling, breathing like a snake, his mouth wide as the underworld, smelling of fat and blood, with golden armlets and a crown bright as the sun. They heap before him a mountain of food: deer, buffaloes, boars, pots of blood and meat; anoint him with sandal, offer garlands and incense, praise him, roar like clouds, blow conches, slap their arms and shout; birds fall from the sky at the noise. He does not stir. They beat him with mountain peaks, pestles, maces, hammers and fists; his breath blows them away. Ten thousand of them surround him with drums and conches; they drive horses, camels, donkeys and elephants over him; they beat drums with all their strength and hit him with great logs; all Lanka rings, and he does not wake. They tear his hair, bite his ears, pour hundreds of pots of water into them, hit him with hammers and shataghnis; at last a thousand elephants run over his body, and, feeling a touch, he wakes. Ignoring the blows of rocks and trees, hungry from his long sleep, he springs up yawning, his mouth like the submarine fire, his eyes like blazing planets, like Time at the end of an age. He eats the boars and buffaloes, drinks the blood, fat and wine, and only then, satisfied, sees the rakshasas bowing round him.
Surprised, he asks why they have woken him with such respect: is the king well? Is there some danger? It must be great, for no one would wake one like me for a small reason; I will root it out, split great Indra or freeze fire. Yupaksha, the king’s minister, tells him: it is not the gods but a man who threatens us. Lanka is besieged by monkeys like mountains; we fear Rama, burning for Sita’s abduction; one monkey once burned this city and killed Prince Aksha; and the king himself has just been released by Rama in battle with “Go!”, spared from danger to his life, which gods, daityas and danavas never did to him. Kumbhakarna, eyes rolling, says: today I will defeat the monkey army and Rama with Lakshmana, and only then see Ravana; I will feed the rakshasas with the monkeys’ flesh and drink Rama’s and Lakshmana’s blood myself. Mahodara advises: hear Ravana first, weigh the merits and faults, then conquer the enemy. Kumbhakarna sets out; the rakshasas tell Ravana he is awake, and Ravana, delighted, asks to see him with due honour. Kumbhakarna washes his face, bathes, calls for drink, downs two thousand jars of wine, and, slightly flushed, blazing with strength like Death at the end of time, walks to his brother’s palace, shaking the earth with his steps, lighting up the royal road like the sun, surrounded by joined palms like Indra going to Brahma’s house. The monkeys outside the city see him, enormous as a mountain peak, crowned, touching the sun with his splendour, and are terrified: some run to Rama for refuge, some fall down, some lie on the ground in fear, and they scatter in every direction.
Press › to begin with verse 1.
स प्रविश्य पुरीं लङ्कां रामबाणभयार्दितः । भग्नदर्पस्तदा राजा बभूव व्यथितेन्द्रियः ॥ १ ॥
Having entered the city of Lanka, tormented by fear of Rama’s arrows, his pride broken, the king’s senses were then in distress.
Commentary on the whole sarga
Kumbhakarna Is Woken 1 min read.
Read the commentary
मातंग इव सिंहेन गरुडेनेव पन्नगः । अभिभूतोऽभवद् राजा राघवेण महात्मना ॥ २ ॥
Like an elephant by a lion, like a serpent by Garuda, the king was overpowered by great-souled Raghava.
ब्रह्मदण्डप्रतीकानां विद्युच्चलितवर्चसाम् । स्मरन् राघवबाणानां विव्यथे राक्षसेश्वरः ॥ ३ ॥
Remembering Raghava’s arrows, like Brahma’s rod, with the flashing radiance of lightning, the lord of the rakshasas was distressed.
स काञ्चनमयं दिव्यमाश्रित्य परमासनम् । विप्रेक्षमाणो रक्षांसि रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ४ ॥
Sitting on his heavenly golden throne, looking at the rakshasas, Ravana said:
सर्वं तत् खलु मे मोघं यत् तप्तं परमं तपः । यत् समानो महेन्द्रेण मानुषेण विनिर्जितः ॥ ५ ॥
“All that supreme austerity I practised has surely been in vain, since I, equal to great Indra, have been defeated by a man.
इदं तद् ब्रह्मणो घोरं वाक्यं मामभ्युपस्थितम् । मानुषेभ्यो विजानीहि भयं त्वमिति तत्तथा ॥ ६ ॥
“This is that terrible word of Brahma come upon me: ‘Know that your danger is from men.’ So it is.
देवदानवगन्धर्वैर्यक्षराक्षसपन्नगैः । अवध्यत्वं मया प्रोक्तं मानुषेभ्यो न याचितम् ॥ ७ ॥
“I asked for immunity from gods, danavas and gandharvas, from yakshas, rakshasas and serpents; I did not ask for it from men.
तमिमं मानुषं मन्ये रामं दशरथात्मजम् । इक्ष्वाकुकुलजातेन अनरण्येन यत् पुरा ॥ ८ ॥
“I think this man is Rama, son of Dasharatha, of whom Anaranya, born of the Ikshvaku line, said long ago:
उत्पत्स्यति हि मद्वंशपुरुषो राक्षसाधम । यस्त्वां सपुत्रं सामात्यं सबलं साश्वसारथिम् ॥ ९ ॥
“’A man of my line will be born, vilest of rakshasas, who will kill you with your sons, ministers, army, horses and charioteer
निहनिष्यति संग्रामे त्वां कुलाधम दुर्मते । शप्तोऽहं वेदवत्या च यथा सा धर्षिता पुरा ॥ १० ॥
“’in battle, you lowest of your line, evil-minded one.’ And I was cursed by Vedavati, when she was violated by me long ago.
सेयं सीता महाभागा जाता जनकनन्दिनी । उमा नन्दीश्वरश्चापि रम्भा वरुणकन्यका ॥ ११ ॥
“She has been born as this fortunate Sita, delight of Janaka. And as Uma, Nandishvara, Rambha and Varuna’s daughter
यथोक्तास्तन्मया प्राप्तं न मिथ्या ऋषिभाषितम् । एतदेव समागम्य यत्नं कर्तुमिहार्हथ ॥ १२ ॥
“foretold, so it has come to me; the sages’ words are not false. Knowing this, you should make an effort here.
राक्षसाश्चापि तिष्ठन्तु चर्यागोपुरमूर्धसु । स चाप्रतिमगाम्भीर्यो देवदानवदर्पहा ॥ १३ ॥
“Let the rakshasas stand on the tops of the guard-houses and gate towers. And he of unequalled depth, crusher of the pride of gods and danavas,
ब्रह्मशापाभिभूतस्तु कुम्भकर्णो विबोध्यताम् । समरे जितमात्मानं प्रहस्तं च निषूदितम् ॥ १४ ॥
“Kumbhakarna, overcome by Brahma’s curse, let him be woken.” Knowing himself defeated in battle and Prahasta killed,
ज्ञात्वा रक्षोबलं भीममादिदेश महाबलः । द्वारेषु यत्नः क्रियतां प्राकारश्चाधिरुह्यताम् ॥ १५ ॥
the mighty one ordered the terrible rakshasa army: “Let effort be made at the gates; let the walls be manned.
निद्रावशसमाविष्टः कुम्भकर्णो विबोध्यताम् । सुखं स्वपिति निश्चिन्तः कामोपहतचेतनः ॥ १६ ॥
“Let Kumbhakarna, overcome by the power of sleep, be woken. He sleeps happily, without a care, his mind struck by desire.
नव सप्त दशाष्टौ च मासान् स्वपिति राक्षसः । मन्त्रं कृत्वा प्रसुप्तोऽयमितस्तु नवमेऽहनि ॥ १७ ॥
“For nine, seven, ten or eight months the rakshasa sleeps; he went to sleep after taking counsel, nine days ago from today.
तं तु बोधयत क्षिप्रं कुम्भकर्णं महाबलम् । स हि संख्ये महाबाहुः ककुदं सर्वरक्षसाम् । वानरान् राजपुत्रौ च क्षिप्रमेव हनिष्यति ॥ १८ ॥
“Wake mighty Kumbhakarna quickly. For the mighty-armed one is the hump of all the rakshasas in battle; he will kill the monkeys and the princes very quickly.
एष केतुः परं संख्ये मुख्यो वै सर्वरक्षसाम् । कुम्भकर्णः सदा शेते मूढो ग्राम्यसुखे रतः ॥ १९ ॥
“He is the supreme banner in battle, the chief of all the rakshasas; Kumbhakarna always sleeps, foolish, delighting in vulgar pleasures.
रामेणाभिनिरस्तस्य संग्रामेऽस्मिन् सुदारुणे । भविष्यति न मे शोकः कुम्भकर्णे विबोधिते ॥ २० ॥
“When Kumbhakarna has been woken, I will have no grief, though I was beaten back by Rama in this very terrible battle.
किं करिष्याम्यहं तेन शक्रतुल्यबलेन हि । ईदृशे व्यसने घोरे यो न साह्याय कल्पते ॥ २१ ॥
“What will I do with him, equal in strength to Shakra, who is no help in such a terrible calamity?”
ते तु तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य राक्षसाः । जग्मुः परमसम्भ्रान्ताः कुम्भकर्णनिवेशनम् ॥ २२ ॥
Hearing those words of the king of the rakshasas, the rakshasas went in great haste to Kumbhakarna’s dwelling.
ते रावणसमादिष्टा मांसशोणितभोजनाः । गन्धं माल्यं महद्भक्ष्यमादाय सहसा ययुः ॥ २३ ॥
Ordered by Ravana, the eaters of flesh and blood, taking perfumes, garlands and great quantities of food, went quickly.
तां प्रविश्य महाद्वारां सर्वतो योजनायताम् । कुम्भकर्णगुहां रम्यां पुष्पगन्धप्रवाहिनीम् ॥ २४ ॥
Entering that lovely cave of Kumbhakarna, with its great door, a league wide on every side, wafting the scent of flowers,
कुम्भकर्णस्य निःश्वासादवधूता महाबलाः । प्रतिष्ठमानाः कृच्छ्रेण यत्नात् प्रविविशुर्गुहाम् ॥ २५ ॥
blown back by the breath of Kumbhakarna, the mighty ones, standing with difficulty, entered the cave with effort.
तां प्रविश्य गुहां रम्यां रत्नकाञ्चनकुट्टिमाम् । ददृशुर्नैर्ऋतव्याघ्राः शयानं भीमविक्रमम् ॥ २६ ॥
Entering that lovely cave, its floor paved with gems and gold, the tigers among nairritas saw him lying there, of terrible valour.
ते तु तं विकृतं सुप्तं विकीर्णमिव पर्वतम् । कुम्भकर्णं महानिद्रं समेताः प्रत्यबोधयन् ॥ २७ ॥
They together set about waking that misshapen sleeper, like a scattered mountain, Kumbhakarna, in deep sleep:
ऊर्ध्वलोमाञ्चिततनुं श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम् । भ्रामयन्तं विनिःश्वासैः शयानं भीमविक्रमम् ॥ २८ ॥
his body with hair standing up, breathing like a serpent, whirling them with his breaths, lying there, of terrible valour,
भीमनासापुटं तं तु पातालविपुलाननम् । शयने न्यस्तसर्वाङ्गं मेदोरुधिरगन्धिनम् ॥ २९ ॥
with terrible nostrils, his mouth wide as the underworld, all his limbs spread on the bed, smelling of fat and blood,
काञ्चनाङ्गदनद्धाङ्गं किरीटेनार्कवर्चसम् । ददृशुर्नैर्ऋतव्याघ्रं कुम्भकर्णमरिंदमम् ॥ ३० ॥
his limbs bound with golden armlets, with a crown bright as the sun: the tigers among nairritas saw Kumbhakarna, tamer of enemies.
ततश्चक्रुर्महात्मानः कुम्भकर्णस्य चाग्रतः । भूतानां मेरुसंकाशं राशिं परमतर्पणम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Then the great souls made in front of Kumbhakarna a heap of creatures like Meru, supremely satisfying.
मृगाणां महिषाणां च वराहाणां च संचयान् । चक्रुर्नैर्ऋतशार्दूला राशिमन्नस्य चाद्भुतम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Heaps of deer, buffaloes and boars the tigers among nairritas made, and a wondrous heap of food.
ततः शोणितकुम्भांश्च मांसानि विविधानि च । पुरस्तात् कुम्भकर्णस्य चक्रुस्त्रिदशशत्रवः ॥ ३३ ॥
Then the enemies of the thirty put pots of blood and meats of many kinds in front of Kumbhakarna.
लिलिपुश्च परार्घ्येन चन्दनेन परंतपम् । दिव्यैराश्वासयामासुर्माल्यैर्गन्धैश्च गन्धिभिः ॥ ३४ ॥
They anointed the scorcher of foes with costly sandal and comforted him with heavenly garlands and fragrant perfumes.
धूपगन्धांश्च ससृजुस्तुष्टुवुश्च परंतपम् । जलदा इव चानेदुर्यातुधानास्ततस्ततः ॥ ३५ ॥
They released the scents of incense and praised the scorcher of foes; and the yatudhanas roared here and there like clouds.
शङ्खांश्च पूरयामासुः शशाङ्कसदृशप्रभान् । तुमुलं युगपच्चापि विनेदुश्चाप्यमर्षिताः ॥ ३६ ॥
They blew conches bright as the moon, and, impatient, roared tumultuously all together.
नेदुरास्फोटयामासुश्चिक्षिपुस्ते निशाचराः । कुम्भकर्णविबोधार्थं चक्रुस्ते विपुलं स्वरम् ॥ ३७ ॥
The night-wanderers roared, slapped their arms and threw things about; they made a great noise to wake Kumbhakarna.
सशङ्खभेरीपणवप्रणादं सास्फोटितक्ष्वेलितसिंहनादम् । दिशो द्रवन्तस्त्रिदिवं किरन्तः श्रुत्वा विहंगाः सहसा निपेतुः ॥ ३८ ॥
Hearing that din of conches, kettledrums and tabors, of arm-slapping, shrieks and lions’ roars, birds flying in all directions and filling the sky suddenly fell down.
यदा भृशं तैर्निनदैर्महात्मा न कुम्भकर्णो बुबुधे प्रसुप्तः । ततो भुशुण्डीर्मुसलानि सर्वे रक्षोगणास्ते जगृहुर्गदाश्च ॥ ३९ ॥
When the great soul Kumbhakarna, sleeping, did not wake at those loud noises, all those hosts of rakshasas took up bhushundis, pestles and maces.
तं शैलशृङ्गैर्मुसलैर्गदाभि- र्वक्षःस्थले मुद्गरमुष्टिभिश्च । सुखप्रसुप्तं भुवि कुम्भकर्णं रक्षांस्युदग्राणि तदा निजघ्नुः ॥ ४० ॥
With mountain peaks, pestles and maces, with hammers and fists on his chest, the fierce rakshasas then struck Kumbhakarna as he slept happily on the ground.
तस्य निःश्वासवातेन कुम्भकर्णस्य रक्षसः । राक्षसाः कुम्भकर्णस्य स्थातुं शेकुर्न चाग्रतः ॥ ४१ ॥
By the wind of the breath of the rakshasa Kumbhakarna, the rakshasas could not stand in front of Kumbhakarna.
ततः परिहिता गाढं राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः । मृदङ्गपणवान् भेरीः शङ्खकुम्भगणांस्तथा ॥ ४२ ॥
Then the rakshasas of terrible valour, girding themselves tightly, with drums, tabors and kettledrums, and masses of conches and pots,
दश राक्षससाहस्रं युगपत्पर्यवारयत् । नीलाञ्जनचयाकारं ते तु तं प्रत्यबोधयन् ॥ ४३ ॥
ten thousand rakshasas surrounded him at once; and they tried to wake him, who looked like a heap of dark collyrium,
अभिघ्नन्तो नदन्तश्च न च सम्बुबुधे तदा । यदा चैनं न शेकुस्ते प्रतिबोधयितुं तदा ॥ ४४ ॥
striking and roaring; but he did not wake then. When they could not wake him,
ततो गुरुतरं यत्नं दारुणं समुपाक्रमन् । अश्वानुष्ट्रान् खरान् नागाञ्जघ्नुर्दण्डकशाङ्कुशैः ॥ ४५ ॥
they undertook a heavier, harsh effort: they drove horses, camels, donkeys and elephants with sticks, whips and goads,
भेरीशङ्खमृदङ्गांश्च सर्वप्राणैरवादयन् । निजघ्नुश्चास्य गात्राणि महाकाष्ठकटंकरैः ॥ ४६ ॥
beat kettledrums, conches and drums with all their strength, and struck his limbs with great logs and posts,
मुद्गरैर्मुसलैश्चापि सर्वप्राणसमुद्यतैः । तेन नादेन महता लङ्का सर्वा प्रपूरिता । सपर्वतवना सर्वा सोऽपि नैव प्रबुध्यते ॥ ४७ ॥
with hammers and pestles raised with all their strength. With that great noise all Lanka was filled, with its mountains and woods; yet he did not wake.
ततो भेरीसहस्रं तु युगपत् समहन्यत । मृष्टकाञ्चनकोणानामसक्तानां समन्ततः ॥ ४८ ॥
Then a thousand kettledrums were beaten at once, with polished golden sticks, unceasingly on every side.
एवमप्यतिनिद्रस्तु यदा नैव प्रबुध्यते । शापस्य वशमापन्नस्ततः क्रुद्धा निशाचराः ॥ ४९ ॥
Even so, when the deep sleeper did not wake, being in the power of the curse, the night-wanderers grew angry.
ततः कोपसमाविष्टाः सर्वे भीमपराक्रमाः । तद् रक्षो बोधयिष्यन्तश्चक्रुरन्ये पराक्रमम् ॥ ५० ॥
Then, filled with anger, all those of terrible valour, others, set to work to wake that rakshasa.
अन्ये भेरीः समाजघ्नुरन्ये चक्रुर्महास्वनम् । केशानन्ये प्रलुलुपुः कर्णानन्ये दशन्ति च ॥ ५१ ॥
Some beat drums, others made a great noise; some tore out his hair, others bit his ears.
उदकुम्भशतानन्ये समसिञ्चन्त कर्णयोः । न कुम्भकर्णः पस्पन्दे महानिद्रावशं गतः ॥ ५२ ॥
Others poured hundreds of pots of water into his ears; Kumbhakarna, under the power of deep sleep, did not stir.
अन्ये च बलिनस्तस्य कूटमुद्गरपाणयः । मूर्ध्नि वक्षसि गात्रेषु पातयन् कूटमुद्गरान् ॥ ५३ ॥
And other mighty ones, with hammers in their hands, brought down hammers on his head, chest and limbs.
रज्जुबन्धनबद्धाभिः शतघ्नीभिश्च सर्वतः । वध्यमानो महाकायो न प्राबुध्यत राक्षसः ॥ ५४ ॥
Struck on every side with shataghnis bound with ropes, the huge-bodied rakshasa did not wake.
वारणानां सहस्रं च शरीरेऽस्य प्रधावितम् । कुम्भकर्णस्तदा बुद्ध्वा स्पर्शं परमबुध्यत ॥ ५५ ॥
And a thousand elephants were made to run over his body; then Kumbhakarna, sensing a touch, woke at last.
स पात्यमानैर्गिरिशृङ्गवृक्षै- रचिन्तयंस्तान् विपुलान् प्रहारान् । निद्राक्षयात् क्षुद्भयपीडितश्च विजृम्भमाणः सहसोत्पपात ॥ ५६ ॥
Disregarding those great blows, with mountain peaks and trees falling on him, tormented by hunger at the end of his sleep, yawning, he suddenly sprang up.
स नागभोगाचलशृङ्गकल्पौ विक्षिप्य बाहू जितवज्रसारौ । विवृत्य वक्त्रं वडवामुखाभं निशाचरोऽसौ विकृतं जजृम्भे ॥ ५७ ॥
Flinging out his arms, like serpents’ coils or mountain peaks, stronger than the thunderbolt, opening his mouth like the submarine fire, the night-wanderer yawned hideously.
तस्य जाजृम्भमाणस्य वक्त्रं पातालसंनिभम् । ददृशे मेरुशृङ्गाग्रे दिवाकर इवोदितः ॥ ५८ ॥
As he yawned, his mouth, like the underworld, was seen like the sun risen on the top of Meru.
स जृम्भमाणोऽतिबलः प्रबुद्धस्तु निशाचरः । निःश्वासश्चास्य संजज्ञे पर्वतादिव मारुतः ॥ ५९ ॥
Yawning, the very mighty night-wanderer woke, and his breath came out like wind from a mountain.
रूपमुत्तिष्ठतस्तस्य कुम्भकर्णस्य तद् बभौ । युगान्ते सर्वभूतानि कालस्येव दिधक्षतः ॥ ६० ॥
The form of Kumbhakarna as he rose shone like Time wishing to burn all beings at the end of an age.
तस्य दीप्ताग्निसदृशे विद्युत्सदृशवर्चसी । ददृशाते महानेत्रे दीप्ताविव महाग्रहौ ॥ ६१ ॥
His great eyes, like blazing fire, with the radiance of lightning, were seen like two great blazing planets.
ततस्त्वदर्शयन् सर्वान् भक्ष्यांश्च विविधान् बहून् । वराहान् महिषांश्चैव बभक्ष स महाबलः ॥ ६२ ॥
Then they showed him all the many foods of many kinds; the mighty one ate boars and buffaloes.
आदद् बुभुक्षितो मांसं शोणितं तृषितोऽपिबत् । मेदःकुम्भांश्च मद्यांश्च पपौ शक्ररिपुस्तदा ॥ ६३ ॥
Hungry, he ate meat; thirsty, he drank blood; and the enemy of Shakra then drank pots of fat and wines.
ततस्तृप्त इति ज्ञात्वा समुत्पेतुर्निशाचराः । शिरोभिश्च प्रणम्यैनं सर्वतः पर्यवारयन् ॥ ६४ ॥
Then, knowing him satisfied, the night-wanderers came forward, bowed with their heads and surrounded him on every side.
निद्राविशदनेत्रस्तु कलुषीकृतलोचनः । चारयन् सर्वतो दृष्टिं तान् ददर्श निशाचरान् ॥ ६५ ॥
His eyes heavy with sleep, his vision clouded, casting his gaze all round, he saw those night-wanderers.
स सर्वान् सान्त्वयामास नैर्ऋतान् नैर्ऋतर्षभः । बोधनाद् विस्मितश्चापि राक्षसानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ६६ ॥
The bull among nairritas comforted all the nairritas and, surprised at being woken, said this to the rakshasas:
किमर्थमहमादृत्य भवद्भिः प्रतिबोधितः । कच्चित् सुकुशलं राज्ञो भयं वा नेह किंचन ॥ ६७ ॥
“Why have I been woken by you with such respect? I hope all is well with the king, or that there is no danger here?
अथवा ध्रुवमन्येभ्यो भयं परमुपस्थितम् । यदर्थमेव त्वरितैर्भवद्भिः प्रतिबोधितः ॥ ६८ ॥
“Or surely some great danger from others has arisen, for which I have been woken by you in such haste.
अद्य राक्षसराजस्य भयमुत्पाटयाम्यहम् । दारयिष्ये महेन्द्रं वा शीतयिष्ये तथानलम् ॥ ६९ ॥
“Today I will root out the danger of the king of the rakshasas: I will split great Indra or cool fire.
न ह्यल्पकारणे सुप्तं बोधयिष्यति मादृशम् । तदाख्यातार्थतत्त्वेन मत्प्रबोधनकारणम् ॥ ७० ॥
“For no one would wake one like me, asleep, for a small reason. So tell me truly the reason for my waking.”
एवं ब्रुवाणं संरब्धं कुम्भकर्णमरिंदमम् । यूपाक्षः सचिवो राज्ञः कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥ ७१ ॥
To Kumbhakarna, tamer of enemies, speaking so in agitation, Yupaksha, the king’s minister, said with joined palms:
न नो देवकृतं किंचिद् भयमस्ति कदाचन । मानुषान्नो भयं राजंस्तुमुलं सम्प्रबाधते ॥ ७२ ॥
“No danger caused by the gods ever comes to us; a tumultuous danger from a man presses on us, king.
न दैत्यदानवेभ्यो वा भयमस्ति न नः क्वचित् । यादृशं मानुषं राजन् भयमस्मानुपस्थितम् ॥ ७३ ॥
“We have no danger anywhere from daityas or danavas such as the danger from a man that has come upon us, king.
वानरैः पर्वताकारैर्लङ्केयं परिवारिता । सीताहरणसंतप्ताद् रामान्नस्तुमुलं भयम् ॥ ७४ ॥
“This Lanka is surrounded by monkeys like mountains; we have a tumultuous fear of Rama, burning at Sita’s abduction.
एकेन वानरेणेयं पूर्वं दग्धा महापुरी । कुमारो निहतश्चाक्षः सानुयात्रः सकुञ्जरः ॥ ७५ ॥
“Before, this great city was burned by one monkey, and Prince Aksha was killed with his followers and elephants.
स्वयं रक्षोधिपश्चापि पौलस्त्यो देवकण्टकः । व्रजेति संयुगे मुक्तो रामेणादित्यवर्चसा ॥ ७६ ॥
“And the lord of the rakshasas himself, Paulastya, the thorn of the gods, was released in battle by Rama, bright as the sun, with ‘Go.’
यन्न देवैः कृतो राजा नापि दैत्यैर्न दानवैः । कृतः स इह रामेण विमुक्तः प्राणसंशयात् ॥ ७७ ॥
“What was never done to the king by the gods, nor by daityas or danavas, has been done here by Rama: he was released from danger to his life.”
स यूपाक्षवचः श्रुत्वा भ्रातुर्युधि पराभवम् । कुम्भकर्णो विवृत्ताक्षो यूपाक्षमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ७८ ॥
Hearing Yupaksha’s words, of his brother’s defeat in battle, Kumbhakarna, rolling his eyes, said this to Yupaksha:
सर्वमद्यैव यूपाक्ष हरिसैन्यं सलक्ष्मणम् । राघवं च रणे जित्वा ततो द्रक्ष्यामि रावणम् ॥ ७९ ॥
“Today, Yupaksha, having conquered in battle the whole monkey army with Lakshmana, and Raghava, then I will see Ravana.
राक्षसांस्तर्पयिष्यामि हरीणां मांसशोणितैः । रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चापि स्वयं पास्यामि शोणितम् ॥ ८० ॥
“I will sate the rakshasas with the flesh and blood of the monkeys, and I myself will drink the blood of Rama and Lakshmana.”
तत् तस्य वाक्यं ब्रुवतो निशम्य सगर्वितं रोषविवृद्धदोषम् । महोदरो नैर्ऋतयोधमुख्यः कृताञ्जलिर्वाक्यमिदं बभाषे ॥ ८१ ॥
Hearing those proud words of his, full of the fault of growing anger, Mahodara, chief of the nairrita warriors, said with joined palms:
रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा गुणदोषौ विमृश्य च । पश्चादपि महाबाहो शत्रून् युधि विजेष्यसि ॥ ८२ ॥
“Having heard Ravana’s words and weighed merits and faults, afterwards, mighty-armed one, you will conquer the enemies in battle.”
महोदरवचः श्रुत्वा राक्षसैः परिवारितः । कुम्भकर्णो महातेजाः सम्प्रतस्थे महाबलः ॥ ८३ ॥
Hearing Mahodara’s words, surrounded by rakshasas, radiant, mighty Kumbhakarna set out.
सुप्तमुत्थाप्य भीमाक्षं भीमरूपपराक्रमम् । राक्षसास्त्वरिता जग्मुर्दशग्रीवनिवेशनम् ॥ ८४ ॥
Having raised the sleeper, terrible-eyed, terrible in form and valour, the rakshasas went quickly to Ten-necked’s palace.
तेऽभिगम्य दशग्रीवमासीनं परमासने । ऊचुर्बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सर्व एव निशाचराः ॥ ८५ ॥
Approaching Ten-necked, seated on his supreme throne, all the night-wanderers said with joined palms:
कुम्भकर्णः प्रबुद्धोऽसौ भ्राता ते राक्षसेश्वर । कथं तत्रैव निर्यातु द्रक्ष्यसे तमिहागतम् ॥ ८६ ॥
“Your brother Kumbhakarna has woken, lord of the rakshasas. How shall he set out: from there, or will you see him come here?”
रावणस्त्वब्रवीद्धृष्टो राक्षसांस्तानुपस्थितान् । द्रष्टुमेनमिहेच्छामि यथान्यायं च पूज्यताम् ॥ ८७ ॥
Ravana, delighted, said to those rakshasas who had come: “I want to see him here, and let him be honoured properly.”
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे पुनरागम्य राक्षसाः । कुम्भकर्णमिदं वाक्यमूचू रावणचोदिताः ॥ ८८ ॥
Saying “So be it”, all those rakshasas went back and, urged by Ravana, said this to Kumbhakarna:
द्रष्टुं त्वां काङ्क्षते राजा सर्वराक्षसपुङ्गवः । गमने क्रियतां बुद्धिर्भ्रातरं सम्प्रहर्षय ॥ ८९ ॥
“The king, bull among all the rakshasas, wishes to see you. Make up your mind to go, and gladden your brother.”
कुम्भकर्णस्तु दुर्धर्षो भ्रातुराज्ञाय शासनम् । तथेत्युक्त्वा महावीर्यः शयनादुत्पपात ह ॥ ९० ॥
Unassailable Kumbhakarna, knowing his brother’s command, saying “So be it”, the very valiant one sprang up from his bed.
प्रक्षाल्य वदनं हृष्टः स्नातः परमहर्षितः । पिपासुस्त्वरयामास पानं बलसमीरणम् ॥ ९१ ॥
Washing his face, bathed, delighted, greatly pleased, thirsty, he hurried them for drink that stirs strength.
ततस्ते त्वरितास्तत्र राक्षसा रावणाज्ञया । मद्यं भक्ष्यांश्च विविधान् क्षिप्रमेवोपहारयन् ॥ ९२ ॥
Then those rakshasas there, quick at Ravana’s command, swiftly brought wine and many kinds of food.
पीत्वा घटसहस्रे द्वे गमनायोपचक्रमे । ईषत्समुत्कटो मत्तस्तेजोबलसमन्वितः ॥ ९३ ॥
Having drunk two thousand jars, he set out to go, slightly flushed, drunk, endowed with splendour and strength.
कुम्भकर्णो बभौ रुष्टः कालान्तकयमोपमः । भ्रातुः स भवनं गच्छन् रक्षोबलसमन्वितः । कुम्भकर्णः पदन्यासैरकम्पयत मेदिनीम् ॥ ९४ ॥
Angry, Kumbhakarna shone like Yama, the ender at the end of time. Going to his brother’s palace, joined with the rakshasa army, Kumbhakarna made the earth shake with his footsteps.
स राजमार्गं वपुषा प्रकाशयन् सहस्ररश्मिर्धरणीमिवांशुभिः । जगाम तत्राञ्जलिमालया वृतः शतक्रतुर्गेहमिव स्वयंभुवः ॥ ९५ ॥
Lighting up the royal road with his body, as the thousand-rayed sun lights the earth with its rays, he went there surrounded by a garland of joined palms, like Shatakratu going to the Self-born’s house.
तं राजमार्गस्थममित्रघातिनं वनौकसस्ते सहसा बहिःस्थिताः । दृष्ट्वाप्रमेयं गिरिशृङ्गकल्पं वितत्रसुस्ते सह यूथपालैः ॥ ९६ ॥
Seeing that slayer of enemies on the royal road, immeasurable, like a mountain peak, the forest-dwellers standing outside were suddenly terrified, with their troop leaders.
केचिच्छरण्यं शरणं स्म रामं व्रजन्ति केचिद् व्यथिताः पतन्ति । केचिद् दशश्च व्यथिताः पतन्ति केचिद् भयार्ता भुवि शेरते स्म ॥ ९७ ॥
Some go for refuge to Rama, the refuge; some, distressed, fall; some, stricken, fall in the ten directions; some, tormented by fear, lie on the ground.
तमद्रिशृङ्गप्रतिमं किरीटिनं स्पृशन्तमादित्यमिवात्मतेजसा । वनौकसः प्रेक्ष्य विवृद्धमद्भुतं भयार्दिता दुद्रुविरे यतस्ततः ॥ ९८ ॥
Seeing him like a mountain peak, crowned, touching the sun with his own splendour, grown wondrous, the forest-dwellers, tormented by fear, ran here and there.