September 1 - Sargas 71 and 72 of Aranya Kanda.
Kabandha discloses that his present form is the result of a curse from a a sage whom he had tormented. He has also a boon that once Sri Rama comes and cuts off his remaining limbs, i.e. his long arms, and cremates him, he will attain heaven.
Once Kabandha is released from his form, he manifests in his astral form to advise Sri Rama to forge an alliance with the vanara king Sugriva who will surely find Sita for him.
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Kabandha is a celestial being of demonic origin (son of Danu) who once was extremely handsome and could take any form and do whatever he pleased. Once, just for fun, he assumed a grotesque, huge, body and went to torment a rishi by name Sthulashiras. The sage uttered a curse that Kabandha would henceforth be confined in that grotesque form and forever lose his beauty. When Kabandha was penitent and begged mercy, the sage told him:
यदा छित्त्वा भुजौ रामस्त्वां दहेद् विजने वने ।
तदा त्वं प्राप्स्यसे रूपं स्वमेव विपुलं शुभम् ॥
"Kabandha, you will regain your original beautiful form only when Sri Rama comes and cuts off your arms and cremates this grotesque form in the uninhabited forest."
Before this, Kabandha had done a lot of penance and obtained the boon from Lord Brahma that he would live for very long. Interpreting this to mean he was invincible, he went and waged a war on Indra. Indra promptly wielded his vajrayudha and cut off Kabandha's head and legs. Kabandha then begged Indra that he should end his life. But Indra reminded him of Brahma's boon of longevity and told him that he had to wait for Sri Rama to come and liberate him. For him to function in the forest in the meanwhile, Indra gave him mile-long arms to grab his unwary prey, as well as a mouth and eyes in his belly.
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Now that Sri Rama is here and has cut off his limbs, Kabandha requests that he be duly cremated. When Sri Rama realises that this being is a celestial, he asks for help to find Sita who has been abducted. Sri Rama's distress is because he knows nothing about Ravana's whereabouts or his powers or even how he looks. Kabandha promises to help Sri Rama once Kabandha attains his celestial form and powers.
Lakshmana works hard and sets up a huge fire and the brothers cremate Kabandha. Then a very beautiful being in divine adornments in a celestial vehicle emerges from the fire. Kabandha now offers advice.
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राम षड् युक्तयो लोके याभिः सर्वं विमृश्यते ।
परिमृष्टो दशान्तेन दशाभागेन सेव्यते ॥
"Dear Rama, the wise in this world know that there are six military expedients for someone like you to accomplish his goal - peace, war, invasion, non-alignment, alliance, and befriending the enemy of one's enemy.
"Also it is time-honoured wisdom that one can find a true friend amidst one's misery and predicament only in a person who is also displaced from his status and is therefore miserable. In your case, you have been banished from your kingdom, and now your wife has been abducted. You are just two brothers going to fight against a big demon king. Therefore it is of paramount importance whom you approach and make your ally."
श्रूयतां राम वक्ष्यामि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः ।
भ्रात्रा निरस्तः क्रुद्धेन वालिना शक्रसूनुना ॥
वानरेन्द्रो महावीर्यस्तेजोवानमितप्रभः ।
सत्यसंधो विनीतश्च धृतिमान् मतिमान् महान् ॥
"Dear Rama, please listen to this. There is a vanara (a kind of mighty ape) by name Sugriva. He has been driven away by his elder brother Vali who is the son of Indra.
"This Sugriva is the king of vanaras. Do not think they are monkeys. They are divinely gifted and can assume any form. Sugriva is the son of Surya and a great warrior. He is full of the radiance of intelligence and confidence. He adheres to truth, and is also not arrogant. He has forbearance and wisdom in plenty."
"Sugriva has been wronged by his brother. He is camping on Rishyamuka mountain along with four companions. Go and offer him your friendship. Forge an alliance with him with the sacred fire as your witness. Help Sugriva.
"Sugriva is extremely knowledgeable and resourceful. He will summon a mighty army and set out to help you. There is no place on earth that Sugriva does not know or cannot reach."
वानरांश्च महाकायान् प्रेषयिष्यति राघव ।
दिशो विचेतुं तां सीतां त्वद्वियोगेन शोचतीम् ।
अन्वेश्यति वरारोहां मैथिलीं रावणालये ॥
"Dear Rama, if you forge a proper alliance with Sugriva, he will despatch mighty vanaras in all directions to go and find Sita, who is pining for you in this separation. He will surely search out the beautiful Maithili in whatever abode Ravana may have hidden her."
Thus, Kabandha, before departing to heaven in his celestial form, gives crucial and invaluable advice to Sri Rama and Lakshmana on their proper course of action assuring them of success through alliance with the vanara king Sugriva.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
