Chapter LX: Section LX

And entering the city of Lanka, the king afflicted with the fear of Rama's arrows, with his pride humbled, was undergoing great torments. And overpowered by the high-souled Raghava, the king resembled an elephant defeated by a lion or a serpent defeated by Garuda. And remembering Raghava's arrows resembling a comet risen at the universal wreck, and of the splendour of live lightning, the Rakshasa-chief was aggrieved. And seated on a superb golden seat, Rama, eying the Rakshasas, spoke,--"Forsooth all the austere asceticism I have performed goeth for nothing, for although resembling the redoubtable Indra, I have been overcome by a mortal. And this dire speech of Brahma also reverts to my remembrance,--'Know thou that thy fear cometh from a human being. Thou art incapable of being slain by deities and Danavas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas and serpents. But thou hast not asked for immunity from men.' And I deem even this son of Dacaratha as the occasion of my fear. And I was formerly cursed by that lord of the Ikshwaku line--Anaranya--saying,--'O worst of Rakshasas, a person shall spring in my race, who, O wicked-minded one, shall slay thee in battle along with thy sons and courtiers and forces and horses and charioteers.' And I was also cursed by Vedavati, who was formerly outraged by me. And she is (perchance) born as the exalted daughter of Janaka. And what had also been uttered by Uma and Nandicwara and Rambha and Varuna's daughter,[189] hath come to pass.[190] And taking note of this, ye should strive (to the uttermost.) And let the Rakshasas be posted at the gateways, highways, and the walls. And do ye wake up that destroyer of the pride of the deities and the Danavas--Kumbhakarna, endowed with unparalleled gravity, overwhelmed with the curse of Brahma". And seeing himself worsted and Prahasta also slain, that Raksha endowed with dreadful power issued his orders to that fearful force. "Do ye vigilantly guard the gates and mount the wall. And do ye wake up Kumbhakarna come under the sway of slumber. And deprived of his senses through lust, he sleepeth secure. And the Rakshasa sometimes sleepeth nine, seven, ten, or eight months away. Of measureless might he hath slept for nine months. And foremost of all the Rakshasas in fight, that long-armed one shall speedily slay the monkeys as well as the princes. He is a very banner in battle, and the crown of all the Rakshas. But intent on common pleasure, Kubhakarna, with his senses stupified, sleepeth ever. I have been worsted in fierce fight by Rama; but on Kumbhakarna being awakened, my grief shall go. If he doth not help me in such high peril, what shall I do with his strength resembling the strength of Sakra himself?" Hearing the speech of the lord of the Rakshasas, the Rakshasas, bestirring themselves, went to the abode of Kumbhakarna. And desired by Ravana, those feeding on flesh and blood went off hurriedly, taking perfumes and wreaths and a mass of food. And entering Kumbhakarna's charming cave having a wide gateway, measuring a _yojana_ breathing around perfumes of flowers,--those highly powerful ones, pushed off by Kumbhakarna's breath, with the utmost energy they could summon up stood their ground and entered the cave. And then entering that charming cave having floors paved with gold and gems, those Nairitas endowed with great strength, saw that one of dreadful prowess, lying down. And then they together set about waking up the slumbering Kumbhakarna looking like a hill extended,--and sunk in profound slumber; with his body having its down standing on end; lying down; like a sighing serpent; rolling people[191] with his powerful breath,--reposing; possessed of dreadful prowess; having a huge nose; of a person vast as the nether sphere; lying stretched at length; smelling of fat and blood; decked with golden _angadas_; and waring a diadem endowed with the splendour of the Sun. And (they) saw that subduer of enemies and foremost of Nairitas--Kumbhakarna. And then they piled up Meru-like animals for conferring rare gratification, and heaps of deer and buffaloes and boars. And the Rakshasas made an astounding heap of rice. And then the enemies of the immortals put up before Kumbhakarna jars of blood and various kinds of food, and smeared that repressor of foes with excellent sandal, and made him inhale perfumes and the aroma of wreaths. And they made (the place) rife with the incense of _dhupa_, and extolled that smiter of enemies. And then the Yatudhanas roared around here and there like clouds. And they winded conchs beaming moon-like. And they incapable of being beaten shouted in full chorus. And the night-rangers shouted and struck at their arms with their hands and began to pull him. And for rousing Kumbhakarna, mighty was the din that they raised. And hearing those loud sounds of conchs and drums and _panavas_; and those proceeding from persons striking at their arms with their hands; and leonine roars,--rushing on all sides and riving the very heavens,--birds suddenly dropped down. And when the high-souled Kumbhakarna sleeping soundly did not awake at that terrific tumult, the Rakshasas took up _Bhushandis_[192] and maces. And then the Rakshasas, drawing near, smote Kumbhakarna sleeping sweetly in the chest with mountain-peaks, maces and clubs. But the Rakshasas could not stay before Kumbhakarna owing to the hurricane heaving at his breath. Then tightening their cloth[193] (about their waist), those Rakshasas of dreadful prowess sounded _mridangas_ and _panavas_, conchs and kumbhas. And ten thousand Rakshasas together surrounded that one resembling a heap of dark-blue collyrium and fell to rousing him. But albeit assailed with shouts and smit with weapons, he did not wake up. And when they succeeded not in rousing him, they more than ever exerted themselves. And then they smote him with horses and camels, and mules and snakes, rods and lashes and hooks, and with might and main sounded kettledrums and conchs and _mridangas_. And they struck his body with innumerable huge blocks of wood. And summoning up their dearest energy, they dealt him blows with maces and clubs. And at that mighty uproar, entire Lanka was filled with her woods and hills; yet he did not wake up. And then they simultaneously sounded a thousand kettle-drums beaten with sticks of polished gold. And coming under the sway of the curse,[194] when that one sunk in slumber did not wake up, the night-rangers were wrought up with wrath. And overcome with choler, they endowed with dreadful prowess addressed themselves vigorously to awakening him; and others put forth their energy. And others smote the kettle-drums, and others set up loud cries. And others cut off his hair, and others bit his ears. And others poured into his ears a thousand vessels of water. But Kumbhakarna come under the spell of a mighty slumber did not wink. And others--strong ones--armed with poniards (_kutas_) and maces, made their poniards and maces alight on his person. And struck with _sataghnis_ bound with cords,[195] that huge-bodied one did not wake up. And then when a thousand elephants rushed against his body, recovering his consciousness, he awoke. And assailed with mountain-peaks and trees descending on his body, he, without minding those tremendous blows,--on sleep having been dispelled, suddenly got up, yawning,--suffering the pangs of hunger. And then that night-ranger resembling an elephant or a serpent or a mountain-peak, casting about his arms superior in force to the thunder-bolt itself, and opening his deformed mouth like unto that of a mule, yawned (again and again). And as he yawned, his mouth resembling the subterraneous regions, looked like the Sun stationed at the summit of Meru. And that night-ranger possessed of unwieldly strength woke up, yawning. And the breath that he breathed resembled a storm raging in a mountain. And then as he sat up, Kumbhakarna's form appeared like that of the Destroyer himself at the universal wreck,--intent upon consuming all creatures. And the large eyes of that one, resembling a live flame and endowed with the splendour of lightning, appeared like a pair of glowing planets. And then they pointed unto him all those heaps of edibles, various and profuse,--bears and buffaloes,--and that powerful (Rakshasa) fell to. And hungering, he fed on flesh and athirst, drank blood. And then that enemy of Sakra drank vesselfuls of fat and blood. And concluding that he was replete, the night rangers came up; and bowing down their heads, stood circling him on all sides. And then with his eyes discolored and drooping from drowsiness, he casting his eyes around, addressed those night-rangers. And that foremost of Nairitas cheered all those Nairitas; and surprised at his having been roused,--spoke unto the Rakshasas,--"Why, being honored, have I been awakened by you? Is it well with the king? Or hath any fear sprung up here? Or hath a mighty fear presented itself forsooth from among others; for which I have been speedily awakened by you? This very day will I uproot quite the fear of the sovereign of the Rakshasas. I will split up the great Indra himself,--or make Fire himself give up his heat. One doth not awaken my like for a light cause. Therefore do ye give the real truth of the cause of your awakening me". Thereat a minister of the king, named Yupaksha, with joined hands said unto that humbler of foes--Kumbhakarna--wrought up with wrath, who was thus speaking,--"No fear anywise springs to us from the Deities. But, O king, a great fear doth cross us, coming from a mortal. And never fear so cometh unto us anywise from Daityas or Danavas, as it hath arrived from a man, O king. This Lanka hath been hemmed in by monkeys resembling mountains. And terrific is the terror that cometh even from Rama scorched with fire springing from the ravishment of Sita. Ere this by a single monkey was this splendid city burnt down. And the prince Aksha hath been slain along with his following and elephants. And that thorn in the sides of deities, that lord of the Rakshasas--Pulasta's son himself--hath been set free in conflict by Raghava endowed with the splendour of the Sun,--saying---'Go thou.' And what had been done unto the king by neither the gods nor the Daityas nor yet the Danavas, hath been done by Rama; and he hath been set free, having come to a pass imperilling his life". Hearing Yupaksha's speech and hearing of the defeat of his brother, Kumbhakarna, with his eyes whirling, spoke unto him, saying,--"To day, O Yupaksha, after vanquishing in battle the monkey-army together with Lakshmana and Raghava, shall I see Ravana. And I shall regale the Rakshasas with the flesh and blood of the monkeys, and myself drink the blood of Rama and Lakshmana". Hearing his words as he haughtily spoke thus with his spirit of insolence magnified by much, that foremost of the Nairita soldiers, Mahodara, with joined hands observed,--"O long-armed one, having at first heard Ravana's words and considered their justice or otherwise, thou wilt afterwards defeat the foe in fight". Hearing Mahodara's words, the exceedingly energetic and mighty (Kumbhakarna) surrounded by the Rakshasas, prepared to depart. And having roused from his slumbers that one of terrific prowess having dreadful eyes,--the Rakshasas speedily arrived at the residence of the Ten-necked one. And presenting themselves before the Ten-necked one seated on a superb seat, all the night-rangers spoke with joined hands,--"O lord of the Rakshasas, thy brother, Kumbhakarna, hath been roused. Shall he march from there; or wilt thou see him come here?" Thereat, Ravana, pleased, spoke unto those Rakshasas who had presented themselves,--"I wish to see him here, and do ye honor him fittingly". Thereat, saying 'So be it', the Rakshasas, directed by Ravana, going back, spoke unto Kumbhakarna,--"That foremost of all the Rakshasas--the king--wisheth to see thee. So mind thou going, and gladden thy brother". And the irrepressible Kumbhakarna possessed of prodigious prowess, learning the mandate of his brother, saying,--'So be it,'--rose up from his bed. And washing his face, and having bathed, that one, feeling refreshed and enjoying exceeding exhilaration of spirit,--wishing to drink, urged (the Rakshasas) to bring the nerve-conferring draught. And then the Rakshasas, at the command of Ravana speedily procured wine and various kinds of viands. And having drunk two thousand vessels (of wine), he prepared to go. And slightly swolen and flushed, Kumbhakarna, attaining access of strength and fire, waxed wroth, and resembled the Doom and Destroyer--Yama himself. And striding to the residence of his brother backed by the Raksha force, Kumbhakarna shook the earth with his tread. And illuming the highway with the splendour of his person, like the thousand-rayed (Sun) discovering the earth with his rays, (Kumbhakarna) went on, engirt around by joined hands resembling wreaths,--like Satakratu[196] going to the abode of the Self-sprung. And suddenly seeing that slayer of foes of immeasurable prowess, resembling a mountain-summit,--walking along the highways, the wood-rangers stationed outside (the monkey-camp), along with the leaders of bands, were seized with affright. And then some sought the shelter of Rama, worthy of being so sought; and some, stricken (with panic), dropped to the earth; and some, suffering (from fear), lied to the cardinal points; and some through stress (of apprehension) lay down on the ground. And seeing that one resembling a very mountain-peak, decked with a diadem, seeming to touch the Sun himself with his energy, of colossal altitude, and wonderful to behold,--the wood-rangers, tormented with fright, began to scamper on all sides.

[189] Punjikasthala.

[190] Punjikasthala cursed Ravana that he should come by death if he
should use violence on a woman against her inclination. Ravana had
_not_ been cursed by Rambha herself, but by Nala Kuvera in _her_
interest. 'Thy head shall be sundered in seven when thou forcest a
female against her will.' Uma had cursed Ravana that for a woman
he should meet with death on the shaking of the peak of
Kailaca.--Nandicwara had cursed him that as he had slighted and
scoffed at him, he should find his fate at the hands of the
monkeys, being emanations of himself.--T.

[191] An instance of the material sublime unsurpassed in all literature.
Kumbhakarna himself is the emblem of the material as contrasted
with the spiritual typified by Rama.--T.

[192] A variety of the mace.

[193] Another reading is, _Tatah prapuritah garham_--then densely
filling the cave--T.

[194] Brahma had cursed him, as will appear afterwards.--T.

[195] What does this mean?

[196] Lit. _him of an hundred sacrifices_--an appellation of Indra.--T.