Chapter LXVIII: Section LXVIII

Seeing Kumbhakarna slain by the high-souled Raghava, the Rakshasas conveyed the tidings to the lord of the Rakshasas--Ravana; (and addressed him, saying), "O king, that one resembling the Destroyer himself, urged on by Death,--having scoured the monkey-army and eaten up monkeys,--and for a while displayed his prowess, hath met with his quietus at the hands of Rama exerting his energy. And with half his body immersed in the dreadful deep, thy brother, Kumbhakarna, with his nose and ears cut off, and blood besmearing his body,--with his head and limbs hewn away, and his body uncovered,--mountain-like blocketh up the gate of Lanka with his person,--and resembleth a tree that hath been consumed by a forest-fire". Hearing the mighty Kumbhakarna slain in battle, Ravana burning in grief, swooned away and dropped to the earth. And hearing their uncle slain, Triciras[237] and Atikaya--destroyers of gods and men,--began to weep, oppressed with sorrow. And Mahodara[238] and Mahaparcwa[239] hearing of their uncle slain by Rama of untiring deeds, were overcome with grief. Then regaining his senses with extreme exertion, that foremost of Rakshasas, distressed in consequence of the destruction of Kumbhakarna, mourned with his senses overwhelmed, saying,--"O hero! O humbler of the pride of the foe! O mighty Kumbhakarna! Leaving me, thou through Destiny, hast gone to the abode of Yama. O exceedingly powerful one, leaving me (lone) whither dost thou wend, without extracting my dart as well as that of thy friends? Now really I am not, inasmuch as my right arm hath dropped. Backed by this one, I would not fear celestials and Asuras. How to-day forsooth hath such a hero--crusher of the hauteur of gods and Danavas--resembling the Fire arisen at the hour of universal wreck,--been slain in fight by Raghava? He who could not be harmed by the concussion of the thunder-bolt itself--how can he, smitten with Rama's arrows, sleep soundly on the earth? These gods stationed in the sky along with the saints,--beholding thee slain in battle, are shouting in glee. Surely to-day the monkeys overjoyed,--finding occasion, will scale all the gateways and fortifications of Lanka. I have nothing to do with empire. And what shall I do with Sita? And deprived of Kumbhakarna, I do not even wish to live. If I do not slay in encounter that slayer of my brother--Raghava,--certainly death is even that which is good for me,--otherwise, this life is useless. This very day will I repair to that place where my younger brother is. Forsaking my brother, I forsooth dare not live for a moment; for the gods shall laugh on seeing me, who had formerly wronged them. But, how, O Kumbhakarna, thou having been slain, shall I conquer Indra? Now the beneficial words of Bibhishana have been verified. And as through blindness I did not accept the advice of that high-souled one, Kumbhakarna and of Prahasta, this disaster arisen, shameth me sore. And as I had disgraced the virtuous and graceful Bibhishana, this peril producing grief, hath been the consequence of my conduct". Having thus piteously and long lamented Kumbhakarna, the Ten-necked one, with his inmost soul overwhelmed with sorrow, and sore distressed in consequence of grief,--fell down, knowing his brother--the enemy of Indra--slain in battle.

[237] Three-headed.--T.

[238] Huge-bellied.--T.

[239] Mighty-flanked.--T.