Lakshmana Rises, Sushena Returns, and Ravana Awakens Kumbhakarna
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 62
Doha 62 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama embraces Hanuman with joy and profound gratitude. Sushena prepares the remedy at once, and Lakshmana rises restored. Rama draws his brother to his heart while bears and monkeys rejoice throughout the camp. Hanuman then returns the physician to Lanka by the same astonishing means that brought him.
News of Lakshmana's revival reaches Ravana. The king beats his heads in anguish and goes desperately to Kumbhakarna. After many efforts the immense sleeper wakes, appearing as though Time itself has taken a body, and asks why his brother's face has withered.
Ravana recounts the abduction of Sita and the ruin that followed. Monkeys have killed the greatest demons. Durmukha, Atikaya, Akampana, Mahodara, and other battle hardened warriors lie upon the field. In Rama's camp a brother has returned from deathlike stillness. Inside Lanka, another brother awakens to hear how near death has come.
Lakshmana rises into Rama's embrace as Kumbhakarna rises before Ravana to receive the account of a collapsing kingdom.
Read the passage from the Manas
हरषि राम भेंटेउ हनुमाना। अति कृतग्य प्रभु परम सुजाना।। तुरत बैद तब कीन्ह उपाई। उठि बैठे लछिमन हरषाई।। हृदयँ लाइ प्रभु भेंटेउ भ्राता। हरषे सकल भालु कपि ब्राता।। कपि पुनि बैद तहाँ पहुँचावा। जेहि बिधि तबहिं ताहि लइ आवा।। यह बृत्तांत दसानन सुनेऊ। अति बिषअद पुनि पुनि सिर धुनेऊ।। ब्याकुल कुंभकरन पहिं आवा। बिबिध जतन करि ताहि जगावा।। जागा निसिचर देखिअ कैसा। मानहुँ कालु देह धरि बैसा।। कुंभकरन बूझा कहु भाई। काहे तव मुख रहे सुखाई।। कथा कही सब तेहिं अभिमानी। जेहि प्रकार सीता हरि आनी।। तात कपिन्ह सब निसिचर मारे। महामहा जोधा संघारे।। दुर्मुख सुररिपु मनुज अहारी। भट अतिकाय अकंपन भारी।। अपर महोदर आदिक बीरा। परे समर महि सब रनधीरा।।
Rama joyfully embraced Hanuman, the supremely wise Lord filled with deep gratitude. The physician at once applied his remedy, and Lakshmana sat up, restored to joy. The Lord clasped his brother to his heart, and all the bears and monkeys rejoiced. The monkey then carried the physician back by the same means he had brought him. When the ten-headed Ravana heard this news, he grew extremely distressed and beat his head again and again. Distraught, he came to Kumbhakarna and roused him with many efforts. When the demon awoke, see how he appeared: as if Death itself had taken bodily form. Kumbhakarna asked, 'Tell me, brother, why does your face look so withered?' That proud one told the whole story of how he had abducted Sita and brought her there. 'Dear brother, the monkeys have slain all the demons and destroyed the mightiest warriors.' 'Durmukha, the foe of the gods, the man-eater, the mighty warriors Atikaya and Akampana.' 'Mahodara and other great heroes besides: all these battle-hardened warriors have fallen on the field.'