Sri Rama slaying Kumbhakarna in battle

(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 60 to 68)

Sri Rama slaying Kumbhakarna

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Rama waging war against Ravana in Lanka.

• Ravana arousing Kumbhakarna: Ravana then ordered the demons to arouse Kumbhakarna who has gone for sleep and who sleeps for several months. The demons entered the huge cave of Kumbhakarna. They placed a huge pile of food in front of him and refreshed him with perfumes. Then they made great clamour by blowing conches, beating drums, clapping hands etc. But Kumbhakarna did not wake up. Then the demons started striking him with maces, hammers and fists. But Kumbhakarna was still asleep. Thousands of demons then made a huge sound with kettle-drums, cymbals, trumpets and conches along with beating him. But Kumbhakarna was still asleep. Then they made horses, donkeys, camels etc. trample on him. But Kumbhakarna was still asleep. Then they make thousand elephants run over his body. Then Kumbhakarna became slightly awake. But due to hunger, he suddenly rose up. Kumbhakarna appeared like death itself willing to devour everything. The demons point out animals like boars and buffaloes which Kumbhakarna devoured. Then he ate the mountain of food placed by the demons and felt satiated. Kumbhakarna then asked the reason for waking him, querying whether any peril has fallen over Lanka. A minister named Yupaksha mentioned about the defeat of Ravana in the hands of a man. Kumbhakarna went with the demons to meet Ravana. Seeing his huge and terrible form the vanaras started running helter-skelter.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 60)

• Sri Rama enquiring about Kumbhakarna: Sri Rama then enquired about Kumbhakarna. Vibhisana started telling him the story of Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna is the son of Visravasa and has defeated Indra and an army of celestials in the battle. After taking birth, because of hunger he started devouring thousands of living creatures. The people were frightened and sought refuge of Indra. The mighty Indra struck Kumbhakarna with his thunderbolt. Kumbhakarna became enraged and plucking a tusk of Airavata, struck Indra on his chest. Indra went to Brahma to seek refuge. To save the world from the devouring Kumbhakarna, Brahma gave the curse that he will be sleeping from now onwards. Kumbhakarna became humbled and pleaded with Ravana. Ravana pleaded with Brahma. Lord Brahma then relaxed the curse saying that Kumbhakarna will sleep for six months and wake up only for one day in a year. Vibhisana said that Kumbhakarna has been awakened by Ravana for the battle. Sri Rama asked Nila to prepare the army to stand ready for striking with rocks and trees.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 61)

• Kumbhakarna meeting Ravana and assuring him: Kumbhakarna then met Ravana who apprised him of the danger from Rama with his army of vanaras. That army is rapidly destroying the demons and some key demons are already dead. Ravana requested Kumbhakarna to show his prowess and save Lanka by destroying Rama and the vanaras. Ravana said that he has never requested anyone like this before. Kumbhakarna scolded Ravana for not heeding the wise counsel before due to his sheer arrogance. Kumbhakarna said that action done without proper deliberation gets spoiled like offering oblations without preparing the fire. Men resort to haughty actions without consulting the scriptures. Kumbhakarna said that the advice of Vibhisana was indeed beneficial to him. Ravana became angry and said that there is no use of giving advice but doing what is to be done now. He is a true friend who rescues a kinsman during the time of trouble. Seeing Ravana getting perturbed, Kumbhakarna assured him that he will destroy his enemies.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 62 to 63)

• Mahodara giving advice, Kumbhakarna rebuking him: Mahodara opposed the view of Kumbhakarna and supported the act of Ravana. He said that only actions lead to results and the king has taken the appropriate course of action as needed for increasing the pleasure of the demons. Mahodara advised Kumbhakarna not to go the battlefield alone but take an army. He also told Ravana about a plan to proclaim after the battle that Rama is dead (irrespective of whether the demons are defeated) and make Sita submit to him. Kumbhakarna rebuked Mahodara and assured Ravana. Ravana decorated Kumbhakarna with various jewellery and told him to take an army with him.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 64 to 65)

• Kumbhakarna going to the battlefield, Sri Rama slaying him: Kumbhakarna marched to the battlefield with a sharp spike in hand and followed by an army. He assumed a colossal form. However, evil omens appeared in Nature. The earth trembled and lightning appeared over the ashy clouds. Jackals howled. A vulture descended on the spike of Kumbhakarna. His left eye twitched and his left arm throbbed. A meteor fell down. Ignoring the evil omens, Kumbhakarna marched on. The vanaras seeing his terrific form became frightened and started running away. Seeing the vanaras fleeing, Kumbhakarna rejoiced and roared. Angada instilled courage in the vanaras. He said to Nala, Nila, Gavaksha and Kumuda not to abandon their nobilities and run away like common vanaras. Angada said that Kumbhakarna is merely a large appearance of terror but without much ability to combat. The vanaras shore up their courage and hit Kumbhakarna with rocks and trees. Kumbhakarna remained unshaken. He destroyed many powerful vanaras playfully. Angada again tries to assemble the vanaras saying not to behave like cowards, but if required die and reach the abode of Brahma which is difficult to obtain. Angada said that Kumbhakarna will not be able to withstand Sri Rama. However, many vanaras said that their lives are dearer to them and start fleeing. However, Angada made them come back with his arguments. Rishabha, Sharabha, Mainda, Dhumra, Nila, Kumuda, Sushena, Gavaksha, Rambha, Tara, Dwividha, Panasa and Hanuman got ready for the battle. Dwividha hurled a mountain on Kumbhakarna which missed him and fell on the army. Dwividha hurled another mountain and crushed the demons. Hanuman hurled rocks and trees on the head of Kumbhakarna from the sky. Kumbhakarna broke all those with his spike. Hanuman hit again and injured Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna hit Hanuman on his chest with his spike. Hanuman vomited blood and roared. The demons rejoiced and the vanaras started fleeing. Nila hurled a mountain-top on Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna hit it with his fist and broke it to pieces. Rishabha, Sharabha, Nila, Gavaksha and Gandhamadana jointly attacked Kumbhakarna from all sides with rocks, trees, nails and fists. Kumbhakarna remained unperturbed as if simply touched. He squeezed Rishabha and threw him on the ground. Rishabha vomited blood. Then Kumbhakarna hit and injured Sharabha, Nila, Gavaksha and Gandhamadana. Then thousands of vanaras ascended on the body of Kumbhakarna and started biting and hitting him. Kumbhakarna devoured them like an eagle. After getting devoured, the vanaras started exiting from his nostrils and ears. Kumbhakarna then started to split the vanaras before devouring them. The vanaras sought refuge in Sri Rama. Angada in angered hurled a rock on the head of Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna attacked Angada with his spike but Angada avoided it. Angada then hit Kumbhakarna on his chest. Kumbhakarna became giddy for some time and threw down Angada violently. Angada became unconscious. Kumbhakarna then ran towards Sugreeva. Sugreeva hurled a mountain on Kumbhakarna. The mountain crushed to pieces after striking his chest. Kumbhakarna then hurled his spike towards Sugreeva. Hanuman jumped rapidly, and getting hold of the spike broke it. The vanaras roared in rejoice and Kumbhakarna became downcast. Kumbhakarna then uprooted a peak of the Malaya mountain and hit Sugreeva. Sugreeva fell down unconscious. Kumbhakarna then seized Sugreeva and started carrying him away. At this critical juncture, Hanuman pondered over his duty. Hanuman thought of assuming a huge form and destroying Kumbhakarna, but later thought that he will only liberate Sugreeva and allow Sugreeva to strike Kumbhakarna when he regained his consciousness. Kumbhakarna entered the city of Lanka with the captured Sugreeva. The residents rejoice and showered flowers. By the sprinkled waters, Sugreeva regained consciousness. Sugreeva then pondered about his course of action which will bring glory to the vanaras. He then tore the ears and nose of Kumbhakarna with his nails and teeth. Kumbhakarna in anger threw down Sugreeva and tried to crush him. Sugreeva escaped and united with Sri Rama. Bereft of ears and nose, Kumbhakarna again marched to the battlefield with a hammer in hand, devouring the vanaras on the way like an inferno. Lakshmana interceded and released his arrows on Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna destroyed the arrows of Lakshmana. Lakshmana released more arrows on the armour of Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna praised the heroism of Lakshmana, and as if granting him life, disregarded him and marched towards Sri Rama. Sri Rama pierced the chest of Kumbhakarna with Raudra astra. Kumbhakarna roared terribly and vomited blood. The weapon dropped off from the hand of Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna started fighting with his arms and continued to devour the vanaras. Kumbhakarna then hurled a mountain on Sri Rama. Sri Rama split the mountain with his arrows. Lakshmana suggested the monkey troops to mount on Kumbhakarna and bring him down to a crawling position by their weight. Kumbhakarna however, shook off the vanaras. Sri Rama became angry and quickly marched towards Kumbhakarna instilling confidence on the vanaras. Emitting a great sound by the twang of his bow Sri Rama enraged Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna ran towards Sri Rama. Sri Rama challenged him and said that he will now be dead within a moment. Kumbhakarna boasted and said that he is neither Viradha, Kabandha, Khara, Vali or Mareecha. He is Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna challenged Sri Rama to show his prowess before he devours him. Sr Rama released many arrows but Kumbhakarna remain unmoved. The arrows which killed Vali could not afflict Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna brandished his hammer and obstructed the arrows of Sri Rama. He scared away the vanaras. Then Sri Rama took up the Vayavya weapon and chopped off the arms of Kumbhakarna holding the hammer. Kumbhakarna roared terribly. That chopped arm fell down and destroyed a regiment of vanaras. Kumbhakarna then uprooted a tree with another arm and ran towards Sri Rama. Sri Rama chopped off the other arm of Kumbhakarna also with his arrow charged with mantra. Sri Rama then chopped off the feet of Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna fell down creating a great sound. Kumbhakarna then tried to crawl towards Rama with mouth wide open and tried to devour him. Sri Rama filled the mouth of Kumbhakarna with his arrows and stopped his roaring. Sri Rama then took up the powerful Indra astra and chopped off the head of Kumbhakarna. The head broke down many buildings on the king's highway. The huge body of Kumbhakarna fell down on the sea. The celestials roared with joy. And the vanaras adored Sri Rama who shone like the Sun amidst the stars.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 65 to 67)

• Ravana grieving over Kumbhakarna: Hearing about the death of Kumbhakarna, Ravana almost fainted with shock. Other demons like Devantaka, Narantaka, Trishira and Atikaya (whose paternal uncle was Kumbhakarna) and Mahodara and Mahaparshva also plunged in grief. Ravana then lamented saying that Kumbhakarna had gone to the hero's abode leaving him alone, as if severing his right hand. Ravana expressed his wonder how the invincible Kumbhakarna can be made to fall by the arrows of Rama. He said that bereft of Kumbhakarna, he has no wish for his kingdom or Devi Sita. Either he will kill Rama to take revenge or die, but no way continue to live a useless life. Ravana realised that the words of Vibhisana which he did not accept had come true. Ravana especially mentioned about the death of Kumbhakarna and Prahasta, and the banishment of pious Vibhisana as the cause of his great pain.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 68)

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