Part 18

[179] The mountain so named.

[180] This meaning is the commentator's.

[181] Some other than the celebrated hero slain by Rama at the very outset of his sojourn in Dandaka.--T.

[182] On account of lapises set on it.

[183] Having, according to the commentator, _goodly_ persons. But _dehavadvi_ is literally _having bodies_; and this sense, with reference to spirits, I fancy, fits in with the context.--T.

[184] The generallissimo of the celestials.

[185] The mountain so named.

[186] _Bhujantaram_ is vague. It may also mean _the chest_.--T.

[187] The Asura--Vali.

[188] _Janami_--lit. _I know_. The commentator says that here this word means _I permit_. But the literal sense answers.--T.

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.

SECTION LXI.

And then the exceedingly energetic Rama possessed of prowess, taking his bow, saw Kumbhakarna, having a huge body and decked with a diadem. And seeing that foremost of Rakshasas looking like a mountain; filling all the heavens as formerly Narayana 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. Seeing the army scamper and the Rakshasa swelling, Rama struck with surprise, said unto Bibhishana,--"Who is that tawney-eyed one, decked with a diadem, and looking like a hill? And in Lanka the hero appeareth like a mass of clouds embosoming lightning. And alone he seemeth like an ensign of the Earth; and seeing him the monkeys dart away hither and thither. Tell me who he is,--whether a Raksha or an Asura. The like of him mine eyes had never before lighted on". Accosted by the king's son--Rama of untiring deeds--the exceedingly wise Bibhishana said unto Kakutstha,--"By whom in battle Vivascwata's offspring[197] and Vasava himself had been vanquished, this is he--the wondrous powerful Kumbhakarna--son unto Vicravan. No Rakshasa is there that equalleth this one in size. O Raghava, this one in battle hath brought down Danavas and Yakshas and Serpents[198] and flesh-feeders and Gandharvas and Vidyadharas and Pannagas[199] by thousands. The immortals themselves thinking the dart-handed and fierce-eyed Kumbhakarna possessed of great strength, as the Destroyer himself,--were overwhelmed with stupor and were foiled in their exertions to slay him. The exceedingly powerful Kumbhakarna is mighty by nature: the strength of other redoubtable Rakshasas is owing to boons obtained by them. As soon as this high-souled one was born and was a babe, he began to devour up countless creatures by the thousand. And 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. And thereat the great Indra, waxing wroth, smote Kumbhakarna with the whetted levin. And hit at with Sakra's thunderbolt, that high-souled (hero) shook, and in wrath set up roars. And hearing the roars of the Rakshasa--Kumbhakarna--as he kept crying, creatures, seized with fear, were greatly agitated. And thereat, enraged with the great Indra, the mighty Kumbhakarna plucking a tusk of Airavata, hurled it at Vasava's chest. And with blood overflowing his person, Vasava looked as if aflame. And thereat, all of a sudden the gods and the Brahmarshis and the Danavas were dispirited. And then they informed the lord of creatures touching the ravages of Kumbhakarna, and informed the gods about Kumbhakarna's devouring up creatures, destroying asylums and outraging others' wives. "If this one devour creatures constantly, in a short space the world would be empty of any". Hearing Vasava's speech, the Great-father of all called up[200] the Rakshasas and saw Kumbhakarna (before him). And seeing Kumbhakarna, Prajapati[201] was seized with exceeding great fear. And then, pacifying Kumbhakarna, the Self-sprung addressed him, saying,--"Forsooth for compassing the destruction of creatures, hast thou been begot by Paulasta.[202] Therefore from this day forth, thou shalt lie down as one dead". Stricken with the curse of Brahma, Kumbhakarna fell down before the Lord. Then, extremely agitated, Ravana said,--"Thou hewest down a golden tree when about to bear fruit. O lord of creatures, thou ought not to curse thus thine own grandson. Thy words will never go for naught; sleep he will, without doubt. But do thou appoint a time for his sleeping and one for his awaking". Hearing Ravana's speech, the Self-sprung said,--"Having slept for six months, he shall wake for one day. 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 hath spread far and wide. And now king Ravana struck with terror at thy prowess, encompassed with peril, hath waked up Kumbhakarna. And that hero possessed of dreadful prowess, wrought up with high wrath, sallying forth from his camp, rusheth about, eating up monkeys. And soon as the monkeys see Kumbhakarna, they fly away. And How can they resist in battle the enraged Kumbhakarna? Do thou tell the monkeys this is an uplifted engine. Thus assured, the monkeys shall take heart". Hearing Bibhishana's words informed with reason and tending to the good (of the monkeys), Raghava then addressed general Nila; saying,--"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". Thus instructed by Raghava, that powerful monkey, Nila--general of the forces--accordingly issued his orders to the monkey-hosts. And then Givaksha and Sarabha and Hanuman and Angada, themselves endowed with the splendour of mountain-summits, taking up mountain-tops, drew towards the gateway. And hearing Rama's words,[203] the heroic monkeys inspired with intrepidity, fiercely fell on the foe with trees. And then that dreadful army of monkeys, upraising crags and holding trees in their hands, appeared like mighty masses of scowling clouds bordering a mountain.[204]

[197] Yama--son of Vivacwata or the Sun.

[198] _Bhujangah_:--semi-divine serpents.

[199] Semi-divine serpents.

[200] _By reciting a certain scriptural formula_.

[201] _Lit._--lord of creatures.

[202] Vicrava.

[203] Namely, "that is an uplifted engine".

[204] This is apt, seeing that Lanka was situated on a hill.--T.

SECTION LXII.