Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 61

ततो रामो महातेजा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्। किरीटिनं महाकायं कुम्भकर्णं ददर्श ह॥
Then the exceedingly energetic Rāma possessed of prowess, taking his bow, saw Kumbhakarņa, having a huge body and decked with a diadem.

तं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसश्रेष्ठ पर्वताकारदर्शनम्। क्रममाणमिवाकाशं पुरा नारायणं यथा॥ सतोयाम्बुदसंकाशं काञ्चनाङ्गदभूषणम्। दृष्ट्वा पुनः प्रदुद्राव वानराणां महाचमूः॥
Seeing that foremost of Rākşasas looking like a mountain; filling all the heavens as formerly Nārāyaṇa had done; resembling clouds charged with rain; and adorned with golden Angadas, the mighty army of monkeys began to run away at the top of its speed.

विदूतां वाहिनीं दृष्ट्वा वर्धमानं च राक्षसम्। सविस्मितमिदं रामो विभीषणमुवाच ह॥
Seeing the army scamper and the Rākşasa swelling, Rāma struck with surprise, said to Vibhisana. mass

कोऽसौ पर्वतसंकाशः किरीटी हरिलोचनः। लङ्कायां दृश्यते वीरः सविद्युदिव तोयदः॥
Who is that tawny-eyed one, decked with a diadem, and looking like a hill? And in Lankā the hero appear like a of clouds embosoming lightning.

पृथिव्यां केतुभूतोऽसौ महानेकोऽत्र दृश्यते। यं दृष्ट्वा वानराः सर्वे विद्रवन्ति यतस्ततः॥
And alone he seem like an ensign of the Earth; and seeing him the monkeys dart away hither and thither.

आचक्ष्व सुमहान्कोऽसौ रक्षो वा यदि वासुरः। न मयैवंविधं भूतं दृष्टपूर्वं कदाचन।७।।
Tell me who he is, whether a Rākṣasa or an Asura. The like of him mine eyes had never before lighted on.

संपृष्टो राजपुत्रेण रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। विभीषणो महाप्रज्ञः काकुत्स्थमिदमब्रवीत्॥
Accosted by the king's son-Rāma of untiring deeds-the exceedingly wise Vibhīşaņa said to Kakutstha.

येन वैवस्वतो युद्धे वासवश्च पराजितः। सैष विश्रवसः पुत्रः कुम्भकर्णः प्रतापवान्।। अस्य प्रमाणसदृशो राक्षसोऽन्यो न विद्यते॥
By whom in battle Vivasvata's offspring* and Vasava himself had been vanquished this is hethe wondrous powerful Kumbhakarņa, son to Visravā. No Rākṣasa is there that equals this one in size. *Yama-son of Vivasvata or the Sun.

एतेन देवा युधि दानवाश्च यक्षा भुजंगाः पिशिताशनाश्च। गन्धर्वविद्याधरपन्नगाश्च सहस्रशो राघव संप्रभग्नाः॥
O Rāghava, this one in battle has brought down Dānavas and Yakşas and Serpents' and flesh-feeders and Gandharvas and Vidyādharas and Pannagas by thousands. 1. Bhujanga:-semi-divine serpents. 2. Semi-divine serpents.

शूलपाणिं विरूपाक्षं कुम्भकर्म महाबलम्। हन्तुं न शेकुस्त्रिदशा: कालोऽयमिति मोहिताः॥
The immortals themselves thinking the darthanded and fierce-eyed Kumbhakarņa possessed of great strength, as the Destroyer himself, were overwhelmed with stupor and were foiled in their exertions to slay him.

प्रकृत्या ह्येष तेजस्वी कुम्भकर्णो महाबलः। अन्येषां राक्षसेन्द्राणां वरदानकृतं बलम्॥
The exceedingly powerful Kumbhakarņa is mighty by nature: the strength of other redoubtable Rākşasas is owing to boons obtained by them.

बालेन जातमात्रेण क्षुधार्तेन महात्मना। भक्षितानि सहस्राणि प्रजानां सुबहून्यपि॥
As soon as this high-souled one was born and was a babe, he began to devour up countless creatures by the thousand.

तेषु संभक्ष्यमाणेषु प्रजा भयनिपीडिताः। यान्ति स्म शरणं शक्रं तमप्यर्थं न्यवेदयन्॥
On these having been devoured, creatures, afflicted with affright consequent on those having been eaten up, sought the shelter of Sakra and told him what had happened.

स कुम्भकर्ण कुपितो महेन्द्रो जघान वज्रेण शितेन वज्री। स शक्रवज्राभिहतो महात्मा चचाल कोपाच्च भृशं ननाद॥
Thereat the great Indra, waxing wroth, smote Kumbhakarna with the whetted levin. And hit at with Sakra's thunder bolt, that high-souled (hero) shook, and in wrath set up roars.

तस्य नानद्यमानस्य कुम्भकर्णस्य रक्षसः। श्रुत्वा निनादं वित्रस्ताः प्रजा भूयो वितत्रसुः॥
Hearing the roars of the Raksasa-Kumbhakarna, as he kept crying, creatures, seized with fear, were greatly agitated.

ततः क्रुद्धो महेन्द्रस्य कुम्भकर्णो महाबलः। निष्कृष्यरावताहन्तं जघानोरसि वासवम्॥
Thereat, enraged with the great Indra, the mighty Kumbhakarņa plucking a tusk of Airāvata, hurled it at Vāsava's chest.

कुम्भकर्णप्रहारा” विजज्वाल स वासवः। ततो विषेदुः सहसा देवा ब्रह्मर्षिदानवाः।। प्रजाभिः सह शक्रश्च ययौ स्थानं स्वयंभुवः॥
With blood overflowing his person, Vāsava looked as if aflame. Thereat, all of a sudden the gods and the Brahmarşis and the Dānavas were dispirited. Then ſakra Then Śakra alongwith alongwith others proceeded to the abode of Brahma.

कुम्भकर्णस्य दौरात्म्यं शशंसुस्ते प्रजापतेः। प्रजानां भक्षणं चापि शशंसुस्ते दिवौकसाम्।। आश्रमध्वंसनं चापि परस्त्रीहरणं तथा॥ एवं प्रजा यदि त्वेष भक्षयिष्यति नित्यशः। अचिरेणैव कालेन शून्यो लोको भविष्यति॥
Then they informed the lord of creatures touching the ravages of Kumbhakarna, and informed the gods about Kumbhakarna's devouring up, destroying asylums and outraging others, wives. If this one devour creatures constantly, in a short space the world would be empty of any.

वासवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकपितामहः। रक्षास्यावाहयामास कुम्भकर्म ददर्श ह॥
Hearing Vasava's speech, the Great-father of all creatures called up* the Rākṣasas and saw Kumbhakarņa (before him). *By reciting a certain scriptural formula.

कुम्भकर्म समीक्ष्यैव वितत्रास प्रजापतिः। कुम्भकर्णमथाश्वस्तः स्वयंभूरिदमब्रवीत्॥
Seeing Kumbhkarņa, Prajāpati* was seized with exceeding great fear. And then pacifying Kumbhakarma, the Self-sprung addressed him, saying. *Lit. lord of creatures.

ध्रुवं लोकविनाशाय पौलस्त्येनासि निर्मितः। तस्मात्त्वमद्यप्रभृति मृतकल्पः शयिश्यसे॥
Forsooth for compassing the destruction of creatures, have you been begot by Paulasta* Therefore from this day forth, you shall lie down as one dead. *ViSravana.

ब्रह्मशापाभिभूतोऽथ निपपाताग्रतः प्रभोः। ततः परमसंभ्रान्तो रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
Stricken with the of Brahma, Kumbhakarma fell down before the Lord. Then, "extremely agitated, Ravana said. curse

प्रवृद्धः काञ्चनो वृक्षः फलकाले निकृन्त्यते। न नप्तारं स्वकं न्याय्यं शप्तुमेवं प्रजापते॥
You hew down a golden tree when about to bear fruit. O lord of creatures, you ought not to curse thus your own grandson.

न मिथ्यावचनश्च त्वं स्वप्स्यत्येव न संशयः। कालस्तु क्रियतामस्य शयने जागरे तथा॥
Your words will never go for naught; sleep he will, without doubt. But do you appoint a time for his sleeping and one for his awaking,

रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स्वयंभूरिदमब्रवीत्। शयिता ह्येष षण्मासमेकाहं जागरिष्यति॥
Hearing Rāvana's speech, the Self-sprung said, "having slept for six months, he shall wake for one day.

एकनाह्वा त्वसौ वीरश्चरन्भूमिं बुभुक्षितः। व्यात्तास्यो भक्षयेल्लोकान्संवृद्ध इव पावकः॥
And for a single day, that hero, coming under the influence of hunger, shall range the earth, opening his mouth wide open, and devouring people like a fire that has spread far and wide.

सोऽसौ व्यसनमापन्नः कुम्भकर्णमबोधयत्। त्वत्पराक्रमभीतश्च राजा संप्रति रावणः॥
Now king Rāvaņa struck with terror at your prowess, encompassed with peril, has waked up Kumbhakarņa.

स एष निर्गतो वीरः शिविराद्भीमविक्रमः। वानरान्भृशसंक्रुद्धो भक्षयन्परिधावति॥
That hero possessed of dreadful prowess, wrought up with high wrath, sallying forth from his camp, rush about, eating up monkeys.

कुम्भकर्ण प्रतीक्ष्यैव हरयोऽद्य प्रदुद्रुवुः। कथमेनं रणे क्रुद्धं वारयिष्यन्ति वानराः॥
Soon as the monkeys see Kumbhakarna, they fly away. And How can they resist in battle the enraged Kumbhakarna?

उच्यन्तां वानराः सर्वे यन्त्रमेतत्समुच्छ्रितम्। इति विज्ञाय हरयो भविष्यन्तीह निर्भया:॥
Do you tell the monkeys this is an uplifted engine. Thus assured, the monkeys shall take heart.

विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा हेतुमत्सुमुखोद्गतम्। उवाच राघवो वाक्यं नीलं सेनापतिं तदा॥
Hearing Vibhīşaņa's words informed with reason and tending to the good (of the monkeys), Rāghava then addressed general Nila, saying.

गच्छ सैन्यानि सर्वाणि व्यूह्य तिष्ठस्व पावके। द्वाराण्यादाय लङ्कायाश्चर्याश्चास्याथ संक्रमान्॥ शैलशृङ्गाणि वृक्षांश्च शिलाश्चाप्युपसंहरन्। भवन्तः सायुधाः सर्वे वानराः शैलपाणयः॥
Let you, monkeys, equipped with weapons and holding hill tops in your hands, and furnished with mountain-summits and trees and rocks, stay, occupying the highways and the bridges.

राघवेण समादिष्टो नीलो हरिचमूपतिः। शशास वानरानीकं यथावत्कपिकुञ्जरः॥
Thus instructed by Rāghava, that powerful monkey, Nila-general of the forces-accordingly issue I his orders to the monkey-hosts.

ततो गवाक्षः शरभो हनूमानङ्गदस्तथा। शैलशृङ्गाणि शैलाभा गृहीत्वा द्वारमभ्ययुः॥
Then Gavākṣa and Sarabha and Hanumān and Angada, themselves endowed with the splendour of mountain-summits, taking up mountain-tops, drew towards the gateway.

रामवाक्यमुपश्रुत्य हरयो जितकाशिनः। पादपैरर्दयन्वीरा वानराः परवाहिनीम्॥
Hearing Rāma's words,* the heroic monkeys inspired with intrepidity, fiercely fell on the foe with trees. *Namely, "that is an uplifted engine.”

ततो हरीणां तदनीकमुग्रं रराज शैलोद्यतवृक्षहस्तम्। गिरेः समीपानुगतं यथैव महन्महाम्भोधरजालमुग्रम्॥
Then that dreadful army of monkeys, upraising crags and holding trees in their hands, appeared like mighty masses of scowling clouds bordering a mountain.* *This is apt, seeing that Larika was situated on a hill.