Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 60

60. Kumbhakarṇa Woken Up

[When Rāvaṇa sees there is no other go, he orders people to wake up Kumbhakarṇa. With lot of difficulty he is woken up. After satiating his great hunger and thirst he comes to meet Rāvaṇa. Seeing him from outside the city, the monkey army is greatly scared.]

That king entered the city of Lanka after with great fear for arrows of Rāma, with his pride destroyed and was greatly troubled in his senses. 60.1

The king was overcome by the great Rāma like, the elephant fears the lion and the serpent fears the Garuda. 60.2

The king of Rākṣasas became mad when he remembered the arrows of Rāma which were like the staff of Brahma and had great splendour. 60.3

Resting on the auspicious great seat made of Gold, he looked at the other Rākṣasas and spoke the following words. 60.4

"All the great penance that I did has become useless for I who am like Indra has been defeated by a mere human being." 60.5

"The terrible words of Brahma which were told to me that "Please be afraid of human beings" seems to have come true." 60.6

"I sought from him immunity from death by Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, serpents but I did not mention about the human being." 60.7

"Rāma the son of Dasaratha is the man I think of whom Anaraṇya who was born in the Ikshvāku dynasty formerly spoke, saying: 'O, the worst of Rākṣasas, the worst of your race and the wretched one, In my race will be born a man who will slay you in battle with your sons, ministers, army, horses and charioteer." 60.8-60.9

"Long ago I was cursed by Vedavatī when I humiliated her. I think that Vedavatī in now born as the greatly fortunate Sītā to the king Janaka. 60.10

"What was predicted by Pārvatī the consort of Shiva, Nandikeśvara the attendant of Shiva, Rambha the wife of Nalakūbara and Punjikasthala the daughter of Varunda has now become true for the words of the sages never prove false." 60.11

"Because of all these you must all put in very great effort for my sake. Let all the Rākṣasas go to the top of the Charya mountain." 60.12

"Awaken that Kumbhakarṇa who is matchless in his great prowess and who is capable of humbling the pride of all devas and Rākṣasas and who has been cursed by Lord Brahma. 60.13

Already knowing that Prahasta has been defeated and killed in the battle, Rāvaṇa gave a great order to the Rākṣasa army. 60.14

"Guard all the gates with great care and climb and man the Ramparts and also please awaken Kumbhakarṇa who is sleeping soundly". 60.15

"Now Kumbhakarṇa is sleeping happily with his mind not disturbed by time and that Rākṣasa sleeps either nine or seven or ten or eight months." 60.16

"Nine days he participated in discussion with me and has then fallen asleep. Quickly awaken that mighty Kumbhakarṇa." 60.17

"The very strong Kumbhakarṇa, the greatest among all Rākṣasas will soon kill all the monkeys and the two princes in the battle." 60.18

"This Kumbhakarṇa, the chief among all Rākṣasas performs greatly in battle but being fond of rustic comforts always stupidly sleeps." 60.19

"If Kumbhakarṇa is awakened there is no worry for me, who has been defeated in the battle by Rāma." 60.20

"What is the use of Indra like strength to me in this time of great sorrow, if he is not able to help me." 60.21

Those Rākṣasas as soon as they heard these words of the king of Rākṣasas, very briskly with alertness went to the house of Kumbhakarṇa." 60.22

Entering the beautiful cave of Kumbhakarṇa, with a large door, having an area of a Yojana on all sides and bearing a floral perfume, the mighty Rākṣasa, though shaken off by Kumbhakarṇa's breaths, remained stable forcefully with difficulty in that cave. 60.23-60.24

Entering that pretty cave inlaid with gold and precious stones those tigers among Rākṣasas saw the greatly valorous one sleeping. 60.25

They together tried to awaken Kumbhakarṇa who was sleeping in an irregular manner like a spread- out mountain in a great slumber. 60.26

His limbs were covered with hairy blanket which stood to the end and he was breathing like a serpent,. Kumbhakarṇa of irresistible valour emitted dreadful snores through his horrible nostrils, and his mouth was like a gaping hell. Stretched to his full length on the earth, he gave forth an odour of marrow and blood, and his limbs were adorned with golden armlets and he also wore a crown as bright as the sun. Like this that lion among Rākṣasas, Kumbhakarṇa, the slayer of his enemies slept. 60.27-60.29

Then those great Rākṣasas in order to satisfy Kumbhakarṇa when he wakes up kept in front of him a heap of properly cooked meat of hunted animals as high as mount Meru. 60.30

Those excellent Rākṣasas piled up a great mass of wonderful food with the meat of deer, buffaloes and pigs. 60.31

Also the Rākṣasas placed pots of blood and various kinds of meat in front of Kumbhakarṇa. 60.32

Then they rubbed the destroyer of the enemies with, the most rare sandalwood paste so that he would be refreshed as also kept divine flowers garlands and sweet smelling scents near him. 60.33

Then those Rākṣasas burnt various types of scented incenses and sang hymns of praises about him who was killer of his enemies and shouted and made loud noises all around him. 60.34

They blew conches which resembled the full moon in colour and without patience, created tumultuous sound all together. 60.35

Those Rākṣasas created sounds by clapping their hands, in order to awaken Kumbhakarṇa and also shook him and created a great clamour. 60.36

The birds passing through the sky ran helter-shelter and fell down as soon as they heard the sounds of the conches, drums, gongs, clapping of hands and lion like roars. 60.37

When the great soul Kumbhakarṇa was not waking up in spite of this great sound, the Rākṣasa took hold of pestles, iron rods and maces and ran towards him. 60.38

Then, those cruel demons struck that sleeping Kumbhakarṇa on his chest with mountain-tops, pestles, maces, hammers and their fists. 60.39

In spite of all their strength, the Rākṣasas could not stand upright before the breathing of that Kumbhakarṇa Rākṣasa. 60.40

Then those greatly valorous Rākṣasas sat firmly among Kumbhakarṇa and began to beat drums, cymbals, Kettle drums and play on different type of conches and trumpets. 60.41

Ten thousand Rākṣasas surrounded him and all at once started beating that giant who was like a heap of collyrium and tried to wake him up but in spite of that he did not wake up. 60.42

Since they were not able to wake him up they started adopting more energetic and horrifying methods. 60.43

They starting beating horses, camels, donkeys and elephants with sticks, thongs and whips so that they trample upon him and made al beings blast conches and drums kettle drums. 60.44

They lifted with all their strength and crushed his limbs under very heavy logs and pillars. 60.45

Due to that great sound the huge city of Lanka along with its mountains and groves was filled with sound but yet he did not wake up. 60.46

Then they started playing one thousand huge drums all around him with sticks of refined gold. 60.47

In spite of all this he did not wake up from his profound sleep as he was under the spell of a curse and because of this all the Rākṣasas became angry. 60.48

All those very greatly valorous ones were greatly enraged and those Rākṣasas joined together all their strength. 60.49

Some beat huge drums, some made great sound and some of them tore their hair and some others bit his ears. 60.50

Some of them poured hundreds of pitchers of water in his ears and that Kumbhakarṇa who was very deep sleep did not even stir. 60.51

Some strong ones, armed with rocks and hammers, struck the rocks and hammers on his head, chest and other limbs. 60.52

Though wounded by fire missiles on all sides or tied by several ropes on all sides, that huge bodied Rākṣasa did not wake up. 60.53

When a thousand elephants ran up and down on his body then Kumbhakarṇa lightly woke up and became aware of the pressure. 60.54

Being insensible to those violent blows of huge stones and trees which were hurled upon him, but under the prompting of extreme hunger, Kumbhakarṇa suddenly sprang up from sleep, yawning due to loss of sleep. 60.55

Waving his arms which were like serpent's coils or the peaks of mountains and which were hard as cut diamonds, that Rākṣasa opened his monstrous mouth like the face of a submarine fire and yawned. 60.56

When he yawned horribly, his mouth was something like the nether world and appeared like the sun raising up under the peak of Meru mountain. 60.57

After yawning greatly that Rākṣasa woke up and heaved a sigh which was like a storm from the mountain. 60.58

When Kumbhakarṇa woke up and stood up, his form resembled the world at deluge when it is prepared to swallow all beings. 60.59

His huge greatly fire like flaming eyes had a glitter similar to lightning and appeared like the lustrous great planets. 60.60

Then, the Rākṣasas showed to him various kinds of eatables, boar and buffalo. The mighty Kumbhakarṇa devoured all of them. 60.61

The very hungry enemy of devas ate all the meat and being thirsty drank all the blood and gulped several pitchers of fat and wine. 60.62

Understanding that he is satiated of his hunger the Rākṣasas saluted him with a bent head and surrounded him from all sides. 60.63

With a sleep tied eyes which was completely confused and blurred, he directed his glance on every one of those Rākṣasas and told them. 60.64

That great Rākṣasa then soothingly spoke to all other Rākṣasas, as he was surprised to be woken up and said. 60.65

"Why have I been woken up by you so suddenly? Is the king all right? Is there any danger we are facing?" 60.66

"Or there must be some great danger from an external source, because you have woken me up so suddenly." 60.67

"I would now drive away the great fear of the king of Rākṣasa even if I have to cut Indra in to pieces or freeze the fire." 60.68

"Like this for some silly reason I am not normally woken up and so tell me the true reason for waking me up." 60.69

When Kumbhakarṇa, the destroyer of his enemies spoke like this excitedly, Yupaksha the minister of Rāvaṇa with hands folded in salutation told. 60.70

"There is not even a little fear created by Gods at any time but there is tumultuous fear created by a man who is driving us back." 60.71

"Oh king, It is not indeed the devas or Rākṣasas who have put us in such a peril as it comes to us from a man." 60.72

"Mountain like monkeys have surrounded the city of Lanka and there is great danger to us from Rāma who is greatly angry due to abduction of Sītā," 60.73

"Earlier a single monkey burned our city and also killed our prince Akṣa along with his attendants as well as elephants." 60.74

The King of Rākṣasas, who is the son of sage Pulastya and who is the killer of devas was told "You go now." By Rāma who is equal in lustre to the Sun God. 60.75

"That which the king has never suffered with devas, Rākṣasas and Dānavas, he had to suffer from Rāma, who released him from the danger of his life." 60.76

Hearing about the humiliation suffered by his brother from Yupaksha, Kumbhakarṇa replied Yupaksha, rolling his eyes. 60.77

"Oh Yupaksha, only after winning over the monkey army and Lakṣmaṇa and Rāma on the battle field, would I see Rāvaṇa." 60.78

"I would satisfy the Rākṣasas with the meat and blood of the monkeys and I myself would drink the blood of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa." 60.79

Hearing these words told by him with haughtiness and anger increased by his ferocity, a Rākṣasa chief called Mahodhara saluted him and told him. 60.80

"Even after hearing the words of Rāvaṇa and after analysing the pros and cons, oh great one, you can claim victory from the enemy." 60.81

Hearing the words of Mahodhara, the greatly lustrous ad very strong Kumbhakarṇa surrounded by other Rākṣasas, prepared himself to depart. 60.82

After waking up from sleep that Rākṣasa with a huge eyes, who has great body and great valour, the Rākṣasas went to the palace of ten necked one speedily. 60.83

When all of them went the ten necked one was seated on the throne and all the Rākṣasas together told him with hands held in salutation. 60.84

"Oh, Lord of Rākṣasas, Kumbhakarṇa, your brother, has woke up Is it your will that he should enter the battle field from there itself or do you desire him to come here and see you?" 60.85

Rāvaṇa to all those Rākṣasas who were standing before him told with a glad heart," I would like to see him here and so let him be honourably received in a befitting manner." 60.86

As commanded by Rāvaṇa all the Rākṣasas told him, "So be it", returned back to Kumbhakarṇa and told him. 60.87

"The king of all the Rākṣasas wants to see you and so go and tell him what is in your mind and make him happy." 60.88

Kumbhakarṇa who is difficult to be defeated, obeying the orders of his brother saying "So be it", got from his seat to depart. 60.89

Washing his face and bathing, refreshed and delighted, adorning himself well and feeling thirsty, he hastened them to bring him a drink which can boost up his strength. 60.90

Then, those Rākṣasas brought him quickly the wine and various kinds of eatables there, in their hurry to take Kumbhakarṇa with them as per Rāvaṇa's commands. 60.91

After having drunk two thousand pots, he started on his strip slightly dizzy and flushed but full of energy. 60.92

The angry Kumbhakarṇa, who was going to his brother's house along with other Rākṣasas, appeared like Yama, the God of Death at the end of time and he caused the earth to tremble with his footsteps. 60.93

He illuminated the royal avenue by the shine of his body which resembled the thousand rayed sun illuminates the earth, surrounded by a circle of Rākṣasas who were saluting him and he resembled Indra, the lord of devas approaching the abode of Lord of Brahma. 60.94

Seeing that destroyer of enemies walking in the royal avenue, all the monkeys who were standing outside the town along with their leaders were frightened suddenly. 60.95

Some of them sought protection from Rāma, who protects others, some of them tottered and fell down; some ran away scared and some of them were lying down on earth in great fear. 60.96

Seeing that huge giant appearing like a great peak, having a crown and who seemed to touch the sun with his brilliance, the monkeys were seized with great fear and had grown immensely in size or fled hither and thither. 60.97

This is the end of Sixtieth Sarga of Yuddha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.