ज्ञानबिन्दुः

बहिरेव अन्विष्य तृषित बहुनिष्फलः ।

पिब तवात्मनि भरितपीयूषकलशात्॥

हृदि पश्य प्रेममयगुरुरस्ति तावके।

हरति तव कार्पण्यमथ भावदीनताम् ॥

Free translation:

Oh, man! You look unsuccessfully to quench your thirst outside! Drink instead from the brimming pot of true Amrutha=bliss that quenches your worldly thirst forever, ready in your own bosom ! 

Similarly see the Guru, full of endless unconditional love seated in your heart. Realize that he will forever remove your misery and despair accumulated from your outer disappointments. 

 

Valmiki Ramayana - January 7

January 7 - Sarga 69 (shlokas 70-96) and Sarga 70 of Yuddha Kanda.

I shall try and be brief today, as I am in a "Thank God it is Friday" mood,  and have no appetite for detailed descriptions of the killing spree unleashed  on his own folk by the intransigent and blindly selfish Ravana.

***

ज्वलन्तं प्रासमुद्यम्य सङ्ग्रामाग्रे नारान्तकः ।

ददाह हरिसैन्यानि वनानिव विभावसुः       ॥

"Like a blazing forest fire that burns every piece of forest life mercilessly, Narantaka unleashed his destructive fiery lance and killed entire swathes of vanara soldiers."

The vanaras had no time to gather their missiles and launch them. Many ran away, many lay low on the ground, but none escaped his deathly thrust.

Sugriva looked around and saw that this attack by Narantaka was no different from the one earlier by Kumbhakarna that had accounted for severe casualties among vanaras. He called out to Prince Angada and ordered,

गच्छैनं राक्षसं वीरं योऽसौ तुरगमास्थितः ।

क्षोभयन्तं हरिबलं क्षिप्रं प्राणैर्विसर्जय     ॥

"Oh Prince, go at once and deal with this Narantaka, riding on his splendid horse, who is on a killing spree attacking our vanaras. Put an end to his life-breath, as otherwise our losses would be too great,"

Angada at once sprang into action. His very name meant one with divine bracelets. He now looked huge like a mountain that shines with precious minerals. 

Angada, unarmed, confronted Narantaka, needling him to let go of ordinary soldiers and come instead with his lance at him. Narantaka thrust his lance at him in rage. But Angada's diamantine chest shattered that lance to pieces! Now Angada gave a terrific blow with his open palm to that splendid horse. That one blow killed the horse with his eyes and tongue gouged out. Narantaka was unable to take this, and he gave a hard blow to Angada's head, which started bleeding copiously. But unfazed, Angada attacked with his fist that went and shattered Narantaka in his chest. Narantka spat blood and collapsed to his death.

Narantaka's death at Angada's hands brought great cheer to the gods and the vanaras. Sri Rama himself commended the valorous prince.

***

Seeing Narantaka's end, the three - Devantaka, Trishiras, and Mahodara came together and attacked Angada. Angada was equal to their attack and counterattacked with a huge tree. Trishiras blew away that missile into bits. Then Angada rose in the sky and rained rocks and trees. But Mahodara used his parigha to destroy all those missiles. He also struck Angada on his chest with a thunderbolt-like tomara.

Devantaka also came and delivered a big blow to Angada and escaped. Angada was unperturbed. He now gave a fatal blow to Mahodara's elephant. He broke its tusk and rushed to attack Devantaka with it. 

Devantaka took some time to recover, and then he struck Angada with his parigha. Angada was momentarily down but leapt up again. Meanwhile, Trishiras attacked Angada's forehead with deadly arrows. 

Hanuman saw how Angada had to deal with a threesome attack. He rushed along with Nila there.

Trishiras successfully warded off the attack from Nila who rained rocks on him. Now Devantaka attacked Hanuman with his parigha. Hanuman leapt into the air to sidestep the blow and in turn gave a deadly blow with his diamantine fist to Devantaka's head while roaring terrifically. Devantaka's head shattered and he died a gruesome death.

Trishiras was still engaging Nila with his rain of arrows.  Meanwhile, Mahodara found a new elephant to ride and mount his attack from. He also rained arrows on Nila. Nila fainted, presenting a bloody picture with the arrow wounds. But he soon recovered (remember these are not ordinary vanaras but special divine beings born to serve Sri Rama) and picked up a huge tree to strike Mahodara with. That one blow killed Mahodara as well as his elephant.

Trishiras was rattled, seeing his two brothers and uncle die. He attacked Hanuman with arrows. Hanuman launched a mountainous rock at him. But Trishiras was able to shatter that rock with his arrows. Hanuman now rained a whole lot of trees on him. But they were also futile. Hanuman now rushed and tore open (yes, tore open) the head of that splendid horse that Trishiras was riding, with his fingernails! Trishiras now resorted to a special Shakti to attack Hanuman. Hanuman saw that resplendent, divine Shakti coming at himself, caught it in midair, and broke it with his bare hands. This raised a huge cheer among the vanaras.

Trishiras picked up his sword and attacked. He struck Hanuman on his chest. Hanuman landed a big blow on Trishiras's chest with his fist. The rakshasa fainted. His sword slipped to the ground. Hanuman snatched that sword and struck terror among the rakshasas as he roared. That roar woke up Trishiras who now struck Hanuman with his fist. Hanuman was enraged. He caught Trishiras by his crown and using the same sword, cut off all the three heads of Trishiras with their crowns and ear ornaments. That was the end of Trishiras.

Mahaparshva had just witnessed the death of his brother and three of his nephews. He brought a huge iron mace, spiked and dripping with the remnants of his enemies, riding his elephant that compared to celestial elephants. 

Rishabha, a famed vanara warrior who was the son of Lord Varuna, now confronted Mahaparshva. He was struck by that mace of Mahaparshva and tottered for a while. But soon, he was up and looked like a mountain as he rushed and gave a blow with his fist to Mahaparshva. Rishabha roared and snatched that mace as the rakshasa collapsed. But soon, Mahaparshva recovered and struck Rishabha. He lost consciousness momentarily but recovered to deal a blow to Mahaparshva with his own mace that he twirled a la Jadeja. The rakshasa tried his best to snatch back his mace but Rishabha was relentless. He soon killed Mahaparshva.

The rakshasa army had had enough. They dispersed in utter dismay, abandoning all their vehicles and weapons.

***

॥       श्रीरामजयम्       ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - January 6

January 6 - Sarga 68 and shlokas 1-60 of sarga 69 of Yuddha Kanda.

On hearing of the gory death of Kumbhakarna, his dear brother, there is a brief, hesitant and tentative appearance of a better sense in the door to Ravana's mind, before he is pulled back into his "might is right" mood by his worthy sons and half brothers.

***

विद्राव्य वानरीं सेनां भक्षयित्वा च वानरान् ... प्रतपित्वा मुहूर्तं तु प्रशान्तो रामतेजसा -

"Oh King! The glorious Kumbhakarna who personified the god of death killed and devoured the vanaras incessantly for the better part of the day, burning bright with his might before he was overcome by the radiance of Sri Rama's prowess and his life extinguished in battle. His limbs were dismembered and flew hither and thither, his headless torso slipped into the ocean, and the terrifying, huge head of Kumbhakarna now lies blocking the main gate of Lanka."

This gory report from the rakshasas makes Ravana faint. His sons loudly bemoan their uncle's death. Ravana's half-brothers and ministers, Mahodara and Mahaparshva, are deeply distressed.

Ravana recovers, but to lament inconsolably. "Oh, brother Kumbhakarna! You were hitherto undefeated even by Indra's Vajra (thunderbolt)! कालाग्निप्रतिमो ह्यद्य राघवेण रणे हतः -"How come you, who resembled the fire of final dissolution in your valour, have been killed today by Raghava Sri Rama!?"

Ravana knows that the gods and sages in heavens would be celebrating Kumbhakarna's death. He fears the vanaras will now successfully break into Lanka. 

"Oh, what is Sita now to me!? I have lost my right hand as it were. Brother! If I do not avenge your death by killing the enemy, I don't deserve to live."

तदिदं मामनुप्राप्तं विभीषणवचः शुभम् ।

यदज्ञानान्मया तस्य न गृहीतं माहात्मनः ॥

विनाशोऽयं समुत्पन्नो मां व्रीडयति दारुणः  

तस्यायं कर्मणः प्राप्तो विपाको मम शोकदः ।

यन्मया धार्मिकः श्रीमान् स निरस्तो विभीषणः ॥   

"Alas! I did not heed the good advice of my high-souled brother Vibhishana then, owing to my stubborn ignorance. Now I have reaped this gory outcome which torments me severely! This tragedy is directly the fruit of my disregarding and banishing my righteous and innately virtuous Vibhishana."

As Ravana continues to lament like this, Trishiras, one of his many sons schooled in Ravana's evil ways, addresses him.

"Father! Oh, glorious supreme monarch of rakshasas! This mood is totally unbecoming of you and befits a piffling obscure king. Don't you know that none in the three worlds remains to be conquered by you!? Do you forget all the mighty weapons bestowed as boons by Lord Brahma himself on you? Indeed you ride a glorious chariot that is drawn by a thousand donkeys and rumbles like a thundercloud! (सहस्रखरसंयुक्तो रथो मेघसमस्वनः)"

"Oh Lord! I suggest you tarry here. I shall go into battle myself and kill Rama, like Garuda destroys serpents and Vishnu killed Naraka (note: This Naraka is different from Narakasura. This is the son of Simhika and brother of Vatapi Ilvala)."

रावणो पुनर्जातमिवात्मानं मन्यते कालचोदितः Valmiki remarks that this thrust of encouragement from his son Trishiras brings back Ravana's usual mood like in one reborn, and he is himself again, surely instigated by the hand of Fate.

Devantaka, Narantaka, and Atikaya, all brothers of Trishiras, and sons of Ravana, join the chorus and say they will also go and kill the enemy.

All of them have great weapons that they have earned as boons. They have impressive CVs with deeds of mayhem caused to the enemy forces in many great battles. Their fame has spread in the three worlds. 

On Ravana's instruction, his half-brothers Mahodara and Mahaparshva join and intend to give protective cover to their redoubtable nephews in battle. 

Ravana warmly embraces his sons and the six heroes prepare to lead the rakshasas into battle.

***

Valmiki describes at length the march of the rakshasa army under the leadership of the six heroes. The six are armed to the teeth, dressed up for the occasion, and press forward कालचोदिताः "egged on by Fate".

Mahodara rides a great black elephant born in the lineage of the divine Airavata. He carries great weapons. Trishiras drives in a chariot fully equipped with a wonderful bow and other weapons. He wears three splendid crowns on his three heads.

The most lustrous son of Ravana. Atikaya, a formidable archer, also rides in a splendid chariot.

Narantaka rides a glorious horse similar to Ucchaishravas. He carries a Shakti and resembles Lord Karttikeya. Devantaka carries a parigha and reminds one of Vishnu. Mahaparshva carries a magnificent mace (gada).

***

As the glorious rakshasa army marched under their leadership, the six heroes were thinking,

मरणं वाऽपि निश्चित्य शत्रूणां वा पराजयम् "We shall kill the enemy or be killed, there is no other possibility (ie no retreat ever)!"

As the earth shook and the skies almost split to the deafening sounds of the rakshasa march, they witnessed the huge vanara army ready to strike with their typical weapons like rocks, boulders, and trees.

The two sides increased the decibel level of their war cries. They met in the middle in a fierce battle. The vanaras attacked the rakshasas from all sides and sometimes took the aerial route to bombard them with their rocks and trees. The rakshasas responded with their deadly weapons.

There was soon extensive damage to the rakshasa army. The rakshasas also retaliated in kind. Many vanaras seized the enemy weapons and used them effectively.

रिपुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गास्तत्र वानरराक्षसाः "Both the vanaras and rakshasas presented a gruesome sight covered and drenched as they were with much enemy blood."

***

॥     श्रीरामजयम्      ॥ 
 

Valmiki Ramayana - January 5

January 5 - Shlokas 52 to 177 of Sarga 67 of Yuddha Kanda.

I read today an unusually long sarga devoted to the battle of Kumbhakarna and how he was finally killed by Sri Rama. The chapter is long and bloody with an extremely grotesque battle scene of gore and gut and blood and bones strewn all over it rendering to my imagination the sacred book itself looking to be soaked in blood. I shall save from you too much detail but tell you the story as it happened.

***

From whatever we have read thus far about Sugriva, three things are clear. He enjoyed total power over the vanaras and bears who obeyed him implicitly. He was also extremely loyal to Sri Rama. Coming to his military prowess, no doubt he was formidable in size and speed and capable of taking on anyone. But unlike Hanuman, or even Angada, it appears that he often bit off more than he could chew (an appropriate pun as you will see presently.)

Sugriva brought a huge piece of a mountain and threatened Kumbhakarna, saying that the rakshasa's acts of bravery so far were laudable but had been confined to the vast rank and file of vanaras and he was yet to experience a battle with someone like Sugriva.

सहसैकं निपातं मे पर्वतास्यास्य राक्षस - "Oh Rakshasa, now let me see you withstand this piece of a mountain I am hurling at you!"

Kumbhakarna responded, "Sugriva, I shall let your bravado pass as you are the grandson of Prajapati and the son of Riksharaja." When Surgiva launched that mountain piece at Kumbhakarna's chest, it met its target but shattered to pieces. Kumbhakarna was peeved and spun around his terrific trishul much like Ravindra Jadeja twirls his bat when he scores a fifty. He then launched it fiercely at Sugriva most menacingly. Hanuman, the ever-alert, the ever-capable,and the ever-prompt, intercepted the trishul and broke it on his thigh much like a Hindi film hero like Shah Rukh breaks ganna and impresses Kajol.

Valmiki even gives the density and weight of that trishul with impressive numbers.

Kumbhakarna was non-plussed, the rakshasas were terrified, and the vanaras, who had been taking much chewing up from the enemy, let out a hurrah.

Kumbhakarna was now like a serpent struck and provoked. He plucked the Malaya mountain peak on the outskirts of Lanka and launched it unerringly at Sugriva. The vanara king was hit and fell to the ground, motionless and unconscious.

Kumbhakarna rushed to the spot, and picking up Sugriva easily, crushingly held him under his left arm and ran away back into Lanka. He was confident that the battle had been won, given that Sugriva would presently die and the vanaras would simply disperse to save their lives, leaving behind Sri Rama and Lakshmana as easy targets.

As the entire Lanka was applauding their hero and he was being showered with flowers and auspicious laaja corn, the gods in heaven were grieving the setback. 

Hanuman's brain was in overdrive. He well knew that he could swell up to a mountainous size and thrash Kumbhakarna easily to death. But would it augur well for Sugriva's reputation!? Given that the vanara king was helplessly caught by the enemy and unconscious, the vanaras would rather that he himself recovered, managed to fight back, and win the duel.

Hanuman decided to simply work on marshalling the vanara forces and thereby give an opportunity for Sugriva to get his own back.

Meanwhile, Sugriva regained his consciousness and beheld the splendid turrets, towers, and palaces lining the highway within the heaven-like city of Lanka. He was beaten but not defeated. He decided on the best course of action. In a flash, he used his sharp-nailed two hands to quickly tear up the pot-like ears of an unwary Kumbhakarna. Even before the rakshasa could scream in pain, Sugriva leapt up and bit off his nose! The rakshasa felt great pain and bled profusely as he reacted by thumping Sugriva on the ground. But Sugriva was back with all his verve and leapt up instantly into the sky, and reached in one quick parabolic flight right where Sri Rama was standing.

Kumbhakarna was now bleeding, feeling somewhat ashamed that his enemy made such an easy escape, and angry that his powerful trishul had been destroyed. He turned back to the battleground and started again eating up the vanaras and bears by handfuls. I don't have the stomach to describe as Valmiki does all the ugly sights.

The vanaras rushed to Sri Rama for succour. Lakshmana decided to take on Kumbhakarna. He shot fierce arrows incessantly at Kumbhakarna, and the arrows embedded themselves in his splendid impenetrable armour.

Kumbhakarna shrugged off Lakshmana's arrows and spoke:

अन्तकस्याप्यकष्टेन युधि जेतारमाहवे युध्यता मामभीतेन ख्यापिता वीरता त्वया बालेनाऽपि

"Oh, tender, young Lakshmana! You have earned high praise for taking on me, someone who twiddled with and defeated even the god of death in battle. I have no interest in fighting you. Please let me proceed to tackle Sri Rama. My objective is to kill him and thereby conclude this war."

Lakshmana laughed as he responded, "Surely, oh Kumbhakarna, I know of your victories in the past over Indra and others, and you have put up a formidable display in today's battle. Praise be to you. Of course, don't worry, Sri Rama is very much here waiting for you, एष दाशरथी रामस्तिष्ठत्यद्रिरिवाचलः standing unshakeable and strong like a mountain."

Kumbhakarna ignored Lakshmana and paced up to Sri Rama with earth-shaking strides. Sri Rama set the Rudrastra to his bow and struck Kumbhakarna bang on his chest. The rakshasa spewed fire in pain but continued to attack Sri Rama. As Sri Rama shot even more powerful arrows at him, the gada (mace) he held, poised to strike Sri Rama with, was dislodged from his grasp. Soon no weapons could be reached up to by Kumbhakarna as they were all destroyed one by one. Kumbhakarna now started using his fists to attack and eat up vanaras and bears. 

In a shock move, a much injured and badly bleeding Kumbhakarna suddenly launched a huge mountain rock at Sri Rama. But Sri Rama simply dispelled that rock with seven arrows. The effect was that the rock fell to the ground crushing many vanaras. 

Lakshmana drew Sri Rama's attention. "Brother, this rakshasa is so badly hurt and senseless that he is unable to distinguish vanaras from rakshasas! It would be better if all the vanara chiefs (formidable in size) simply attack and climb on to him to incapacitate him." Sri Rama acquiesced and at once the vanaras climbed up all over Kumbhakarna. He was uncontrollably angry now and shook them all off. 

Sri Rama realized that Kumbhakarna needed sterner measures. He picked up a splendid new bow and rushed towards the rakshasa. He attacked Kumbhakarna with his deadly bow and quiverful of arrows, instilling much confidence and encouragement in the vanaras all around. 

The rakshasa was not a pretty sight, but extremely terrifying in size and bleeding copiously from his mouth, face and body. He had continued meanwhile to chew on all the vanaras and bears he could catch. 

Sri Rama twanged his bow. The noise was loud enough to shake Kumbhakarna into an enraged reaction. 

Some versions of the Valmiki Ramayana contain shlokas at this point about a confrontation between Vibhishana carrying his gada and Kumbhakarna who taunts him about his desertion. Vibhishana finally withdraws from a duel.

Sri Rama now invited Kumbhakarna to a battle one-on-one. 

Kumbhakarna screamed, "Oh Rama! Don't take me to be like Viradha, Kabandha, Khara and Mareecha. You have not met anyone like me yet.  Look at this terrifying hammer in my hand. I have thrashed many enemies with it before. Don't taunt me that I have lost my nose and ears. Their loss doesn't matter to me one bit. I shall presently eat you up but I am giving you a chance to showcase what you can do in battle."

Sri Rama shot splendid arrows at Kumbhakarna. No doubt they met their targets eminently, but Sri Rama's arrows that once pierced seven sala trees in one line, and killed Vali with one shot, were now proving ineffectual!

Kumbhakarna soaked up the arrows and wielded his hammer to scuttle many of them. 

Sri Rama now shot Vayuvyastra (invoking the Wind-god) and severed the right arm of Kumbhakarna that held the hammer. The severed hand fell with the hammer with a big thud and crushed many soldiers from both sides. Kumbhakarna shrieked in pain but managed to reach out with his left hand now for a big palm tree. He wanted to attack Sri Rama with the tree. Sri Rama shot Indrastra and severed that hand with its missile too.

The grotesque sight of those two huge arms falling over many soldiers and crushing them to death was not enough. Now Sri Rama shot arrows and severed Kumbhakarna's legs. Those legs shot up and crashed far apart. Kumbhakarna now lunged forward in one last attempt to swallow up Sri Rama. Sri Rama filled his open mouth with so many arrows that the rakshasa could not speak anymore.

Sri Rama now took up an astra that reminded one of Indra, Surya, Agni, Vayu and so on. It was radiant and infallible. As it left Sri Rama's bow, it streaked across like a huge comet and found its target and decapitated Kumbhakarna.

The head dislodged from Kumbhakarna's body was a mighty ball of blood and gore and went and crashed right in the middle of Lanka.

Kumbhakarna's headless limbless torso now slithered into the ocean.

There was a shudder of relief from mother earth and a huge roar of celebration from the gods who were witnessing this battle. They were joined by divine sages, celestials, and many other special entities.

Lanka was plunged into loud and bitter mourning. The vanaras celebrated like never before. Sri Rama was resplendent like the sun (Surya) after freeing himself from an eclipse (from Rahu).

***

॥      श्रीरामजयम्       ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - January 4

January 4 - Sargas 66 and 67 (shlokas 1- 52) of Yuddha Kanda.

Kumbhakarna proves to be a handful and none of the vanaras can match him or defeat him.

***

स लङ्घयित्वा प्राकारं ... ननाद च महानादं समुद्रमभिनादयन् "The mountain-like rakshasa Kumbhakarna simply stepped across over the big outer wall of Lanka and moved forward, uttering a roar that splashed up the ocean turbulently. "

***

Kumbhakarna, unconquerable by Varuna, Indra, or Yama even, strikes absolute terror in the vanaras. Prince Angada wants to stop the vanaras from running away. He calls the lieutenants Nala, Nila, Kumuda, Gavakshsa and says,

क्व गच्छत भयत्रस्ताः प्राकृता हरयो यथा ...विक्रमाद्वधिष्यामो निवर्तध्वं प्लवङ्गमाः "What is this!? You have all forgotten your antecedents and valour! You are all running away in terror like tame monkeys in the wild! Come on, gather back into action, let us kill the enemy by our prowess!"

***

Being goaded thus, the vanara chiefs managed with difficulty to gather the forces and assemble some weapons like rocks and trees. They attacked Kumbhakarna fiercely with all their missiles. But Kumbhakarna was not disturbed. In fact, the missiles were crashing down after being pulverized by the impact. Kumbhakarna on the other hand started to grind down the vanara army. He was hurling the vanaras everywhere bleeding. The vanaras again took to their swift feet and ran away, many falling into the ocean, many flying aerially and many simply disappearing into the landscape. Being pounded by Kumbhakarna, many ran away or crashed onto the bridge that they had built to Lanka.

Angada was vexed. He shouted, 'Where do you vanaras think you can run away to hide? Don't you know our King Sugriva's regime extends to the far corners of the earth? Can you escape his diktat to fight here?"

दारा प्युपहासिष्यन्ति स वै घातः सुजीवितम् "Your wives will ridicule you and your cowardice! Would it be meaningful, then, to live in such shame? You will be a blot on your high lineage having run away from battle! And you boast of your loyalty and sense of duty and discipline! Bah!"

शयामहे वा निहताः पृथिव्यामाल्पजीविताः ।

प्राप्नुयामो ब्रह्मलोकं दुष्प्रापं च कुयोधिभिः ॥

"Better we fight and lay down our lives in battle so that we reach the world of Brahma as worthy warriors who died in action, a prospect not available to cowards."

आप्नुयामः कीर्तिं वा निहत्वा शत्रुमाहवे - " It is also eminently possible that we will defeat and kill our enemy by our prowess!"

न कुम्भकर्णः काकुत्स्थं दृष्ट्वा जीवन्गमिष्यति - "And we know for sure that Kumbhakarna, once he encounters Sri Rama, will not return alive!"

But Angada's fierce exhortations did not change the vanaras' minds. 

गच्छामो दयितं जीवितं हि नः - "Look, chief! Our lives are precious to us, we won't come back!"

***

Angada persisted, and by cajoling the vanara warriors, managed to bring some military spirit.  

प्रहर्षमुपनीताश्च वालिपुत्रेण धीमता आज्ञा प्रतीक्षास्तस्थुश्च सर्वे वानरयूथपाः - "At last, cheered up by Angada's words of encouragement, the vanara chiefs reassembled to receive further orders."

Then a whole lot of great vanara chiefs all got together to mount an attack on Kumbhakarna.

***

चक्रुः सुतुमलं युद्धं वानरास्त्यक्तजीविताः - "Not caring for their lives, the vanaras then moved into battle, with an uproar."

Kumbhakarna was attacked with a rain of deadly missiles, all to no effect. He instead used his gada (mace) and flattened thousands of vanaras. Kumbhakarna was picking up handfuls of vanaras and devouring them. 

It called for great guts but vanaras persisted and hurled their rocks and trees at him.

Dvivida launched a big piece of a mountain at Kumbhakarna. But it missed its target and crashed on the rakshasa army. It killed several elephants, horses, and soldiers. The rakshasa archers now mounted a counterattack on vanaras, killing many of their chiefs. The vanara chiefs in their turn continued to wreak much havoc. 

Hanuman went up into the sky and rained rocks and boulders and huge trees on Kumbhakarna. But the rakshasa warded them off with his trident and instead attacked and killed many vanaras relentlessly with his weapon.

Hanuman now directly launched himself with a piece of a mountain at Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna was hurt badly and profusely bled and was disoriented. But he recovered quickly and struck Hanuman on his chest with his trident violently. Hanuman bled from his mouth and shrieked in pain. The rakshasas watching this let out a  roar of celebration. Then Nila came at Kumbhakarna with a huge mountain rock. Kumbhakarna defended himself with his huge fist that pulverized the rock midway. Rishabha, Nila, Gavaksha, and Gandhamandana now attacked him together. They were raining boulders, hitting him with their fists, and striking him with their palms, from all sides. 

Kumbhakarna felt nothing! He caught Rishabha and crushed his shoulders such that the vanara fell down vomiting blood. Kumbhakarna now pummelled Sharabha, pressed Nila down with his knee, and kicked hard at Gandhamadana. They all dispersed, hurt very badly.

Now several vanaras attacked Kumbhakarna together. They were catching him, slapping him, biting him, and clawing him hard.  But Kumbhakarna was radiant in his imperturbability. He continued to devour the vanaras. He was gulping them so hard that some of them came out of his ears and nostrils! He now improved his technique and started to chew them fiercely before swallowing.

Angada went to stem the tide. He threatened the rakshasas with a huge mountain and finally managed to hit it hard on Kumbhakarna's head. The rakshasa reeled from the blow. When he recovered, he went in utter rage after Angada and hurled his trident at him. Angada managed to step aside adroitly and now came and leapt to strike Kumbhakarna on his chest hard. Kumbhakarna fell down unconscious. But he recovered rather quickly and caught Angada with a left hook that floored the prince. 

Seeing Angada immobile, Kumbhakarna now rushed at Sugriva with his trident. Sugriva leapt up high with a roar and brought a mountain peak and spun it fiercely before launching it at Kumbhakarna.

***

॥               श्रीरामजयम्               ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - January 3

January 3 - Sargas 64 and 65 of Yuddha Kanda.

Before Kumbhakarna actually enters the battlefield, there is some kind of comic relief from the intercession by Mahodara, one of Ravana's chiefs, who plays the devil's advocate. In fact, I don't know how many devils were there in Ravana's court!

***

Mahodara steps forward and denounces the "empty" boast of Kumbhakarna as well as his "ill-conceived" advice to Ravana.

कुम्भकर्ण कुले जातो धृष्टः प्राकृतदर्शनः ।

अवलिप्तो न शक्नोषि कृत्यं सर्वत्र वेदितुम् ॥

न हि राजा न जानीते कुम्भकर्ण नयानयौ ।

श्रेयं पापीयसां  चात्र फलं भवति कर्मणाम् ।

अनुपासितवृद्धेन कः कुर्यात्तादृशं बुधः    ।

"Oh. Kumbhakarna! Hold on! What makes you think you are brave and wise? Your birth in a high lineage like Ravana's has been wasted by your evil nature and crude view of life. You have no locus standi to give advice on what should be done. What makes you think our King is unaware of what is the right way to conduct himself and what is the wrong way? The pursuit of sense pleasures and the goal of the heavenly afterlife can be pursued simultaneously. Indeed whatever actions one undertakes may give unpredictable results -good and pleasant results sometimes or occasionally adverse results (i.e. the abduction of Sita could very well have turned out as a big win also). Well, how would you know all this, you never served your elders and gained wisdom!"

"Kumbhakarna, coming to your boast about facing the enemy alone, what a foolish thing you say! Don't you know Rama killed fourteen thousand of our rakshasas in Janasthana? Some of them who fled from there and now live here shudder out of extreme fright just to think of him. Rama is an irresistible lion when provoked!"

सर्पं सुप्तमहोबुद्धया प्रबोधयितुमिच्छसि - "You wish to go wake up a sleeping king cobra. How foolish!"

कस्तं मृत्युमिवासह्यमासादयितुमर्हति  _"Who indeed would like to go and face that Rama who is the god of death incarnate!?" Mahodara adds that taking even the entire army of Lanka would be risky if they confronted Rama in battle.

Now Mahodara addresses Ravana.

"Oh, Lord! Forget what Kumbhakarna said. Here is my wonderful plan to get Sita on your side. Let us five chiefs, myself, Dvijivha, Samhradi, Kumbhakarna, and Vitardana go together into battle. You please make a huge announcement with drum-beats about this. Once we conquer Rama, your path to getting Sita would be unhindered. 

"Supposing we cannot destroy Rama, we can go to Plan B. We would return from battle bleeding from Rama's arrows, bringing with us the arrows bearing his insignia. We will proclaim all over Lanka that yes, there was a battle, but we managed to eat up Rama and Lakshmana. We will also claim handsome rewards from you in public view. Then you will arrange a huge proclamation to be made by a chief riding on an elephant that Rama was killed in battle along with his army and his brother."

"Then you will go with a beaming countenance with your retinue and triumphantly tell Sita that you have destroyed her only saviour Rama. You will give her generous gifts and arrange a bevy of servants and handmaidens. You will be drunk as proof of your great celebration. The news will spread that Rama has died and your conduct in front of Sita will cement that notion. Your temptations and bribes, combined with the loss of her only hope in Rama,  will compel Sita to see the wise option of succumbing to your proposal! After all, she must be missing very badly all the royal pleasures and comforts she would have enjoyed before! She will then willingly come to serve you!"

Mahodara praises himself for this excellent piece of advice to Ravana. He says this plan has incomparable appeal as the king would be accomplishing his objective with minimal bloodshed!

***

Kumbhakarna was unaffected by this outburst from Mahodara. He solemnly proclaimed to Ravana, "Oh King, I shall go today and kill your enemy. You can enjoy your life and your choice pleasures totally rid of your worries! I am a true hero and such heroes don't make empty claims instead of going to battle. This Mahodara's advice would appeal only to a king deluded that sycophancy and ill-considered advice are sources of victory. Mahodara! You should be ashamed that in this dire situation, of empty coffers and the matryrdom of many of our heroes, you are resorting to sycophancy and stupidity as a winning strategy. You are worse than an enemy!"

***

Ravana had been silent so far. Now he gave out a laugh. "Kumbhakarna! I well know this Mahodara to be a coward afraid of facing Rama. I woke you up knowing that you alone are our supreme warrior and can accomplish our victory. Go into battle and may victory be yours! Carry your spear and a noose like Yama and kill and devour Rama, Lakshmana, and others today!" Ravana's voice had a clear sign of relief and confidence in Kumbhakarna.

***

Kumbhakarna was exultant hearing of Ravana's encouragement. He picked up his huge trishul (trident) which was cast in very strong iron and was gold-plated. It was capable of killing even devas, danavas, gandharvas, nagas, and yakshas. (We should remember that all these non-humans had a dominant presence and wielded much military power confronting rakshasas.) It was decorated with a huge garland of red flowers and it spewed sparks. It bore stains of the blood of enemies killed by Kumbhakarna before.

Kumbhakarna wanted to go alone into battle. But Ravana asked him to take with him contingents of soldiers carrying tridents and hammers. He cautioned him that vanaras were going to attack from all sides. They could kill enemies merely with their teeth!

Ravana placed a splendid gold necklace on Kumbhakarna's neck. He got bracelets, earrings, garlands, perfumes, and so on to adorn his brother. The word Kumbhakarna means "one with ears like pots". Those pot-like ears were now suitably decorated!

Valmiki says Kumbhakarna shone, with his black waistband, like the Mandara mountain with Vasuki snake around it during the churning of the ocean. He wore a huge armour on his torso which was nearly impenetrable. Valmiki again invokes the simile to Trivikrama as Kumbhakarna now strode forward after circumambulating Ravana and embracing him. 

There was an uproar as a grand rakshasa army surrounded Kumbhakarna and marched ahead. A bog shower of flowers in blessings was witnessed. 

Kumbhakarna now waxed in size using his rakshasa powers. As a result,  he was now looking far more terrifying.  He looked like a great mountain. He opened his huge mouth to give a military roar and said, "Oh rakshasas, witness today as I swallow up the enemy like a huge fire swallows moths. By the way, I have no quarrel with poor vanaras. Let them be a decoration for our gardens. My battle is with that Lakshmana and Rama. I shall kill them. That alone will ensure the defeat of vanaras also." This enthused the rakshasa army who then let out a mighty collective roar.

Valmiki now mentions that there appeared several ill-omens. Not only those mentioned on earlier occasions,  but also that Kumbhakarna felt many signs on his own body.

प्रास्फुरन्नयनं चास्य सव्यो बाहुरकम्पत - "Kumbhakarna's left eye twitched severely and his left arm also shook in horripilation." Also, just then, a frightening meteor crashed into the earth.

But Kumbhakarna strode on as if being pulled by Destiny/Death.  He easily stepped over and across the high rampart of Lanka and proceeded.

Kumbhakarna'appearance had an expected impact. Seeing this extraordinary, immense rakshasa coming at them simply scattered all the vanaras and many swooned. He was roaring in battle spirit repeatedly seeing his own effect on the enemy.

प्रभुरिव किङ्करदण्डवान् युगान्ते - "Kumbhakarna was the god of death come with his attendants and carrying his infamous staff of death at the time of dissolution of the earth."

***

॥         श्रीरामजयम्         ॥  

 

 

Valmiki Ramayana - January 2

January 2 - Sargas 62 an 63 of Yuddha Kanda.

Two interesting and short sargas that highlight the slippery slope on which Ravana is proceeding in his own self-destructive way heedless of all good advice. Kumbhakarna, for all his so-labelled crudity and brutishness, comes across as a man with his head screwed on the right way. His advice is ineffective.

***

Valmiki describes the great celebration of confidence by all denizens of Lanka that accompanies the earth-shaking stride of a somewhat sleepy and surely inebriated Kumbhakarna to Ravana's palace. 

Kumbhakarna enters the palace, sees Ravana seated on his glorious throne, physically resplendent like Indra but really downcast in his mood. 

Ravana gets up, comes down, and warmly embraces his brother with his mood cheering up. Kumbhakarna also offers his affectionate obeisances and takes his designated high seat. He then asks,

किमर्थमहमादृत्य त्वया राजन् प्रबोधितः ।

शंस कस्माद्  भयं तेऽत्र को वा प्रेतो भविष्यति ॥  

"Oh, King! Pray tell me why I was woken up ceremoniously and invited here. What fear accosts you? Who is going to die and become a spirit? (=who is to be killed?)"

Ravana is apologetic, saying, "Oh, brave one, I know this is your sleeping time. I am sorry to have disturbed you. But you see...

सुषुप्तस्त्वं न जानीषे मम रामकृतं भयम् । 

एष दाशरथी श्रीमान् सुग्रीवसहितो बली ।

समुद्रं लङ्घयित्वा तु मूलं नः परिकृन्तति ॥

वानरैकार्णवं कृतम् ... ये राक्षसा मुख्यतमा हतास्ते वानरैर्युधि ।

वानराणां क्षये युद्धे प श्यामि कथञ्चन ... तदेतद् भयमुत्पन्नं त्रायस्वेह माहाबल!

"Oh dear Kumbhakarna, while you were asleep, the glorious son of Dasharatha, Sri Rama, has crossed the sea, has become more powerful on account of his pact with Sugriva, and has arrived with such an immense army that all the precincts around Lanka have been filled up by a sea of vanaras!   

"Do you know, brother, Sri Rama has cut at our very roots!? All our mighty warrior rakshasas have been killed by the vanaras. I do not see at all any possibility of the vanaras being defeated. As a last resort, I beseech you, oh brother, with your great prowess, please save me and Lanka! Do you know our coffers are empty? Young and old, women and children, all in Lanka need your protection. I have never experienced such fear or distress ever. Also, I do not see anyone in the entire creation who is your match in military might. Dispel the enemy with your action like a whirlwind would dispel the densest autumnal clouds easily. Please..."

***

Kumbhakarna responds, with ironic laughter in his tone.

"Oh King, the very predicament and danger foretold in our discussions before by your wellwishers (read Vibhishana) has now come true.

शीघ्रं खल्वभ्युपेतं त्वां फलं पापस्य कर्मणः - "Indeed, you have reaped rather quickly the fruit of your misdeed of abducting Sita."

"You did not deliberate before your evil action. You did not think through the potential consequences. 

देशकालविहीनानि कर्माणि विपरीतवत् ।

क्रियमाणानि दुष्यन्ति हवींष्यप्रयतेष्विव ॥

"Impetuous and thoughtless actions that take no cognizance of the appropriateness of time and place and with no consideration of adverse results always result in bad consequences much like oblations poured into the sacrificial fire without proper consecration." 

त्रयाणां पञ्चधा योगं कर्मणां यः प्रपद्यते ।

सचिवैः समयं कृत्वा सम्यग् वर्तते पथि ॥ 

"That king who deliberates with his council the five aspects of any action, viz, starting method, time and place, men and materials needed, risk analysis and protection, and best way to heighten the probability of success; these five aspects particularly in respect of actions aimed at rival kings with whom the three options always exist- of making peace, of appeasement through an alliance, and alternatively of military confrontation; such a king would always be on the right path." (Implication- "you failed in this!")

"Oh King, one should know the best time respectively for virtuous actions, economic pursuits, and sensuous pleasures. Even well-educated kings can fail on occasion in this, rendering all their learning infructuous. There are two kinds of ministers- those who use their learning and intelligence and further their own careers by giving the right advice, and those who lack learning and survive by sycophancy and wrong economic advice. Some even ally with the enemy and sabotage their king by driving him to ruinous actions. Enemies indeed exploit such a king's vulnerability and corruptibility. "

यदुक्तमिह ते पूर्वं प्रियया मेऽनुजेन च ।

तदेव नो हितं वाक्यं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥

"Oh King and my dear brother Ravana! You disregarded the sagely advice given to you by your queen Mandodari and also by our younger brother Vibhishana. Now you see where we are. It is therefore left to you to do as you please."

भ्रुकुटिं चेव संचक्रे क्रुद्धश्चैनमभाषत । "Ravana was angered by this unwelcome advice, he knitted his brows fiercely and spoke in a rage."

"Why are you preaching like my father or teacher? Why are you wasting your breath? I rejected all that advice perhaps out of misunderstanding or confidence in myself. Anyway it is past. The wise do not discuss bygones."

ममापनयजं दोषं विक्रमेण समीकुरु ।

यदि खल्वस्ति मे स्नेहो विक्रमं वाधिगच्छसि ॥

"Oh Kumbhakarna, ok, I did something wrong and got into this bad situation, but you should now set it right by your prowess! If at all your affection for me as my brother is true, you should stop all this nonsense and resort to your military prowess!"

***

Kumbhakarna realized that his words were not palatable to Ravana. He placated him.

रोषं च सम्परित्यज्य स्वस्थौ भवितुमर्हसि तमहं नाशयिष्यामि यत्कृते परितप्यते - "Oh King! Abandon your rage, and cool down to your normal sober mood. Leave it to me. I shall destroy the enemy who has caused you this distress and anxiety." 

अद्य पश्य महाबाहो मया समरमूर्धनि ।

हते रामे सह भ्रात्रा द्रवन्तीं हरिवाहिनीम् ॥

हस्ताभ्यामेव संरभ्य हनिष्यामि सवज्रिणम् ।

मयाद्य रामे गमिते यमक्षयं चिराय सीता वशगा भविष्यति ॥

'Oh Lord, the mighty-armed Ravana! Witness today my valour. I shall exterminate Sri Rama along with his brother. The vanaras will then flee in all directions. I shall devour them all and still feel unsatiated. Whoever among gods- Indra, Yama, Surya, whoever comes to the enemy's defence will be destroyed by me. I will kill all those vanaras, especially Sugriva and that Hanuman. I shall need no weapons! I will crush Sri Rama with my bare palms and fists. Even Indra cannot come and protect him.

"Be happy. Get drunk and be ready to celebrate. When Sri Rama is killed by me and sent to Yamaloka, Sita will become yours forever!"

***

॥       श्रीरामजयम्       ॥   

 

 

  

Valmiki Ramayana - January 1

January 1- Sarga 60 (Shlokas 71-98) and sarga 61 of Yuddha Kanda.

Responding to Kumbhakarna who was perplexed to be woken up like this, the rakshasa chief Yupaksha stepped forward.

नदैत्यदानावेभ्यो वा भयमस्ति नः क्वचित् "Oh lord! There is no danger from either demons or rakshasas for us. In fact, the danger has come from a human!"

वानरैः पर्वताकारैर्लङ्केयं परिवारिता । सीताहरणसन्तप्ताद् रामान्नस्तुमुलं भयम् ॥"Oh lord, vanara giants looking like mountains have attacked Lanka. Having been provoked by the abduction of his wife Sita, Sri Rama has come and caused extreme uproarious danger to us all!"

एकेन वानरेणायं पूर्वं दग्धा महापुरी कुमारो निहतश्चाक्षः सानुयात्रः सकुञ्जरः "You know that such a vanara once already attacked Lanka and burnt it down, killing Aksha Kumara along with his contingent and elephant. "

स्वयं रक्षोधिपश्चापि पौलस्त्यो देवकण्टकः व्रजेति सम्युगे मुक्तो रामेणादित्यवर्चसा - "Lord, even our supreme king, the tormentor of all gods and the glorious descendant of Pulastya, Ravana, was defeated by Sri Rama who is radiant as the blazing sun and our king was then allowed to retreat from battle."

कृतः स इह रामेण विमुक्तो प्राणसम्शयात् - "Indeed, if Sri Rama wanted, he would have killed Ravana."

***

Kumbhakarna is extremely provoked on hearing all this. He wants to go at once and annihilate this enemy together with all his vanara forces. But the rakshasa chiefs counsel him that in fact, he should first report to King Ravana and then act on the king's instruction.

Then the rakshasas rush to Ravana and inform him that their mission to wake up Kumbhakarna has borne fruit. Ravana is delighted and much relieved. He asks them to bring Kumbhakarna to the court with all due courtesies.

When Ravana's request is conveyed to him, Kumbhakarna gets up from his bed, washes his face, and has a bath (imagine the amount of water needed.)

He then dresses up with his crown and ornaments. Then he eats a large meal of his favourite items and drinks huge amounts of liquor. The effect makes him inebriated, super-confident, and raring to go. 

कुम्भकर्णो बभौ रुष्टः कालान्तकयमोपमः ।

भ्रातुः भवनं गच्छन् रक्षोबलसमन्वितः      ।

कुम्भकर्णः पदान्यासैरकम्पयत मेदिनीम्   ॥

जगाम तत्राञ्जलिमालया वृतः शतक्रतुर्गेहमिव स्वयम्भुवः ॥

"Kumbhakarna was now full of battle-ready fury and resembled the God of death, Yama himself, as he proceeded grandly on the royal way to his brother's palace. As he walked, his steps shook up the earth. He was constantly cheered and celebrated by rakshasas all around him and the sight resembled that of the lord of gods, Indra, proceeding ceremonially to meet Lord Brahma in Brahmaloka."

The vanaras now could see an incredibly huge and frightening monster of a rakshasa walking in Lanka. They were terrified out of their wits. Some started running helter-skelter, some fainted, some were screaming incoherently, and many rushed towards Sri Rama. 

***

ततो रामो महातेजा किरीटिनं महाकायं कुम्भकर्णं ददर्श ह क्रममाणमिवाकाशं पुरा नारायणं यथा 

"Then the greatly luminous Sri Rama saw that Kumbhakarna, monstrous in size, sporting a crown, and striding the earth while covering the sky like Mahavishnu Narayana had once done as Trivikrama."

विद्रुतां वाहिनीं दृष्ट्वा वर्धमानं च राक्षसम् ।

सविस्मितमिदं रामो विभीषणमुवाच ह      ॥

कोऽसौ पर्वतसङ्काशः किरीटी हरिलोचनः लङ्कायां दृश्यते वीर सविद्युदिव तोयदः

पृथिव्यां केतुभूतोऽसौ न मयैवं विधं भूतं दृष्टपूर्वं कदाचन 

"Sri Rama, seeing how the vanaras were fleeing in terror, and beholding this monstrous rakshasa, was simply astonished. He asked Vibhishana, "Oh brave one, who is this indeed, looking like a mountain and wearing a crown too!? He has dark eyes and looks like a huge cloud with lightning streaking it. He seems to be Ketu engulfing the earth, and I have never seen a creature like this before.""

Vibhishana then responded to Sri Rama, the supreme hero who could accomplish anything with minimum effort, thus:

"Oh lord! This one who has defeated Yama and Indra once is the son of Vishravas, Kumbhakarna. There is no other rakshasa like him. He has defeated all gods and celestials and others repeatedly. With his blazing eyes that terrorize, once he held his trident and confronted the gods. They were defeated and thought he was the god of dissolution himself. He is by birth the most powerful rakshasa and also, he has imbibed the power of all other rakshasas also. 

"In fact he was always so hungry since birth that he simply devoured all creatures constantly.

"All creatures went and asked for protection from Indra. Indra confronted Kumbhakarna, riding on his Airavata, and struck him with his Vajra. A livid Kumbhakarna roared menacingly and simply plucked one of Airavata's tusks and with it struck Indra down. Indra ran to Lord Brahma himself for help.

"Lord Brahma heard all the misdeeds of Kumbhakarna who was a terror and tormentor of rishis, humans, gods, women, and everyone else.  Kumbhakarna constantly killed and ate creatures indiscriminately. This was surely a threat to all the worlds. Lord Brahma summoned all rakshasas including Kumbhakarna. He was stern. 

Lord Brahma was himself shaken to see Kumbhakarna. But he pulled himself together and pronounced:

ध्रुवं लोकविनाशाय पौलस्त्येनासि निर्मितः ।

तस्मात् त्वमद्यप्रभृति मृतकल्पः शयिष्यसे   ॥

"Oh rakshasa, it appears you have been sired by Paulastya (Vishravas) specifically for the extermination of all worlds! This cannot be, So I am now cursing you this instant to sleep forever like a corpse."

Ravana, the elder brother of Kumbhakarna, was there and at once used his intelligence to appeal to Lord Brahma.

"Oh lord! This denies a creation in your own world the right to exist as a living organism! Indeed even trees that apparently lose all their life wake up at least once a year to foliage, flower and fruit. Therefore kindly modify your pronouncement and decide for yourself what should be Kumbhakarna's waking and sleeping cycle. Please, oh lord!"

Lord Brahma was considerate. "Ok, I shall modify it thus. "

शयिता ह्येष षण्मासमेकाहं जागरिष्यति "Kumbhakarna will sleep for six months at a stretch, and wake up for just one day, so that he can eat all he wants before going back to his sleep again at the end of the day for the next six months."

OK! That was the reason why Kumbhakarna was not seen by either Hanuman or anyone else from Sri Rama's army thus far!

सोऽसौ व्यसनमापन्नः कुम्भकर्णमबोधयत् ।

त्वत्पराक्रमभीतश्च राजा सम्प्रति रावणः      ॥

"Oh Lord Sri Rama! It is clear now that Ravana has been defeated and frightened by you, and in his distress he has now woken up the sleeping monster Kumbhakarna for battle. "

 "Oh lord, Kumbhakarna is getting ready to unleash his orgy of terror gobbling up the vanaras. His very sight has scattered their wits and you can imagine what will happen when he comes into the battle."

Vibhishana now comes up with a brilliant suggestion. "Oh Sri Rama! Let us tell the vanaras that this is not a real warrior but only some kind of a war machine that has been readied by the rakshasas for battle."

Sri Rama takes up the idea and informs the vanara commander Nila to get all the vanara forces back into action with this intimation and form them into vyuhas to attack Lanka immediately at all its gates.

***

Accordingly, all the vanara heroes including Gavaksha, Sharabha, Hanuman, and Angada, rallied their forces and readied themselves with their weapons of boulders, trees and huge mountain rocks and whatever else would be useful. The vanara army was thus ready as before, looking menacing like an array of  huge clouds ready to unleash their fury.

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॥            श्रीरामजयम्            ॥ 

 

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