Kumbhakarna Rebukes Ravana and Goes to Make His Eyes Fruitful With Rama
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 63
Doha 63 · Movement 1 of 2
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You have done no good, Kumbhakarna tells the king of demons. Why wake me now? Even at this hour, abandon pride and worship Rama. Welfare still lies there. The Lord of the Raghus may appear human, but a master whose servant is Hanuman cannot be measured as a man.
Ravana should have come at the beginning. Kumbhakarna would have shared the wisdom once given to him by Narada and warned against opposing the Lord served by Shiva, Brahma, and the gods. Now the neglected counsel has become farewell.
Embrace me, brother. Kumbhakarna asks to be held before he leaves. He goes not speaking of victory, but of making his eyes fruitful. He longs to behold the dark body, lotus eyes, and remover of the three afflictions. Loyalty draws him toward battle for Ravana, while recognition draws him through battle toward Rama.
Kumbhakarna leaves his brother's embrace seeking no illusion of victory, only one vision of Rama before death.
Read the passage from the Manas
भल न कीन्ह तैं निसिचर नाहा। अब मोहि आइ जगाएहि काहा।। अजहूँ तात त्यागि अभिमाना। भजहु राम होइहि कल्याना।। हैं दससीस मनुज रघुनायक। जाके हनूमान से पायक।। अहह बंधु तैं कीन्हि खोटाई। प्रथमहिं मोहि न सुनाएहि आई।। कीन्हेहु प्रभू बिरोध तेहि देवक। सिव बिरंचि सुर जाके सेवक।। नारद मुनि मोहि ग्यान जो कहा। कहतेउँ तोहि समय निरबहा।। अब भरि अंक भेंटु मोहि भाई। लोचन सूफल करौ मैं जाई।। स्याम गात सरसीरुह लोचन। देखौं जाइ ताप त्रय मोचन।।
You have not done well, O king of demons. Why have you come to wake me now? Even now, dear brother, abandon your pride and worship Rama; there will be welfare for you. O ten-headed one, that Lord of the Raghus appears human, yet He has messengers like Hanuman! Alas, brother, you did wrong by not coming to tell me at the very beginning. You have made an enemy of that Lord whom Shiva, Brahma, and all the gods serve. The wisdom that the sage Narada once imparted to me, I would have shared with you at that time without delay. Now embrace me fully, dear brother, and let me go to fulfill the purpose of my eyes. Let me go and behold Him of dark complexion and lotus eyes, the remover of the three afflictions.