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They bounded away without looking back or sideways. Some rushed back over the ocean bridge. Others were seen sailing through the air, having been struck or tossed by the Rākṣasa. With their faces turned pale, the monkeys scrambled up mountains or dived into the sea. Bears climbed trees and hid in caves.

Rāma consoled him and told him to stand aside; the time for Kumbhakarna’s destruction had come. Seeing Rāma standing firmly before him, Kumbhakarna laughed hideously and said, “I am neither Viradha Nor am I Khara, Dushana, Vāli or Maricha. I am Kumbhakarna, arrived here as Your death. Show me the full limit of Your power and I shall then devour You, O Rāma.”

I hope everything is well with Rāvaṇa and with Lanka. Or perhaps some great peril has arrived.

Rāvaṇa also did not like his brother’s speech and he answered angrily. Whether I have acted wisely or not is of little consequence now. Let us do what must be done.”

He stormed across to the Malaya mountain and tore from it a massive peak. The monkey king was caught by the whirling crag and he fell unconscious. Kumbhakarna quickly ran over and took up the fallen monkey. If Sugrīva were killed or captured, then the entire monkey army would be finished.

Brushing aside the shafts the Rākṣasa laughed and spoke to Lakṣman. Even Indra or Yamarāja would not dare to face me in an encounter.

Seeing Hanumān thrown down, the Rākṣasa forces cheered loudly and the monkeys fled in fear. Nīla quickly came forward and rallied the troops. He took up a great boulder and flung it violently at Kumbhakarna. The Rākṣasa saw it coming and smashed it to pieces with his fist, sending up a shower of flames and sparks

Thousands of drums were beaten and conches blew. Kumbhakarna assumed a form six hundred bow-lengths high and more than a hundred in breadth. He strode toward the battlefield surrounded by gigantic Rākṣasas driving chariots and mounted upon elephants Others followed him on camels, donkeys, lions, serpents, antelopes and birds. The Rākṣasas, who all had terrifying forms and faces, raised their maces, swords, lances, bludgeons and

Hosts of gods and ṛṣis assembled in the sky and joyously praised Rāma. All the remaining Rākṣasas fled, astonished and dismayed. Rāma felt elated and shone brightly amid the monkeys, even as the sun shines after an eclipse.

Kumbhakarna sprang to his feet and washed his face. He called for more drink and quickly swallowed two thousand pails of strong wine. Slightly inebriated and anticipating the excitement of battle, the Rākṣasa left his cave and marched He was surrounded by Rākṣasas who ran with joined palms and continuously sang his praises.

The Rākṣasas then had a thousand elephants run up and down Kumbhakarna’s monstrous body while at the Feeling a light touch on his body Kumbhakarna opened his eyes and stretched his limbs. The Rākṣasas and elephants were thrown to the ground and scattered as he sat up and yawned. His mouth appeared like another great cavern and his luminous eyes resembled two blazing planets.

Kumbhakarna vaunted his prowess at length, growing more and more enraged. He did not care if Brahmā, Indra and Yamarāja appeared on the battlefield. There would be no shelter for Rāma and His army.

Kumbhakarna reached out and scooped up the food that lay around him. He consumed all of it and quaffed down many pails of blood and wine. When he was sated, the other demons came and respectfully bowed before him.

They struck him with crags, trees, the palms of their hands and their feet. They climbed up his legs and tore at him with their nails and teeth. Then hundreds of other monkeys rushed at the Rākṣasa and leapt upon him. Kumbhakarna plucked the monkeys from his body and thrust them into his huge open mouth. Monkeys were seen to issue out of his nostrils and his ears as the demon repeatedly thrust them into

It roared through the air and severed the Rākṣasa’s arm. That arm, still clutching the club, fell to earth and killed a thousand monkeys and Rākṣasas. Kumbhakarna shrieked with pain, making the sky vibrate and the mountains break open. With his remaining arm he tore up a large palmyra tree and rushed toward Rāma. With each step the earth vibrated and trees toppled over in distant forests.

Hanumān leapt into the air and rained down rocks and trees upon Kumbhakarna’s head. Hanumān, who had grown to huge proportions, came down on the ground and stood firmly in front of Kumbhakarna He smashed him on the breast with a mountain peak and the Rākṣasa reeled back in pain. The monkey was rendered almost senseless and he fell back, vomiting blood.

They showered flowers and scented water on him. Sugrīva felt the cool water on his face and he regained consciousness. Bending his body violently, Sugrīva spun round and ripped off the demon’s ear with his nails. He then bit off the end of his nose and clawed his side. Kumbhakarna roared in pain and threw the monkey down.

Rāma at once released arrows which flew with the speed of lightning and struck the Rākṣasa’s body. Those arrows, which had formerly pierced seven sal trees and the very earth itself, did not even shake The Rākṣasa took up a massive club and whirled it about, knocking down Rāma’s arrows as they flew. Laughing again and again, Kumbhakarna stood with his great club uplifted.

They should raise a terrific din and try to wake him. They were deafened by the sound of his snoring and almost blown over by the blast of his breath. They piled up great mounds of meat and other foods by his side. They anointed him with heavenly perfumes and daubed him with the finest sandal-paste. Other Rākṣasas thundered like clouds and blew their great conchshells with full force.

Kumbhakarna donned an impenetrable golden coat of mail and a huge dark blue girdle. He went first to Rāvaṇa’s weapon room and took up a great pike, which was embellished with gold and which It shone like Indra’s thunderbolt and was no less powerful. The pike was wreathed with garlands of crimson flowers and smeared with the finest sandal-paste.