Kumbhakarna Embraces Vibhishana and Calls Him the Glory of Their Line
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 64
Doha 64 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kumbhakarna devours the buffaloes, drinks the wine, and roars like a thunderbolt striking the earth. Drunk with battle fury, he leaves the fortress alone, carrying no army beside his mountain shaped body.
Vibhishana comes forward, names himself, and falls at his elder brother's feet. Kumbhakarna lifts him into an embrace, delighted to recognize a devotee of Raghupati. Vibhishana tells how Ravana kicked him for offering counsel meant only for the king's highest good and how Rama received him in his humility.
Ravana is under Time's power and will hear no supreme teaching now, Kumbhakarna says. Blessed are you, Vibhishana, ornament of the demon lineage. By worshipping Rama, ocean of beauty and bliss, you have illuminated the whole clan. The brother walking toward death pauses to honor the brother who chose refuge.
At the edge of battle, Kumbhakarna embraces the exile whose surrender has made their doomed lineage shine.
Read the passage from the Manas
महिष खाइ करि मदिरा पाना। गर्जा बज्राघात समाना।। कुंभकरन दुर्मद रन रंगा। चला दुर्ग तजि सेन न संगा।। देखि बिभीषनु आगें आयउ। परेउ चरन निज नाम सुनायउ।। अनुज उठाइ हृदयँ तेहि लायो। रघुपति भक्त जानि मन भायो।। तात लात रावन मोहि मारा। कहत परम हित मंत्र बिचारा।। तेहिं गलानि रघुपति पहिं आयउँ। देखि दीन प्रभु के मन भायउँ।। सुनु सुत भयउ कालबस रावन। सो कि मान अब परम सिखावन।। धन्य धन्य तैं धन्य बिभीषन। भयहु तात निसिचर कुल भूषन।। बंधु बंस तैं कीन्ह उजागर। भजेहु राम सोभा सुख सागर।।
Having devoured the buffaloes and drunk the wine, he roared like a thunderbolt. Kumbhakarna, intoxicated with battle-pride, left the fortress without any army at his side. Seeing him, Vibhishana came forward, fell at his feet, and told him his name. The elder brother lifted him up and clasped him to his heart, pleased to know him a devotee of Raghupati. 'Dear brother, Ravana kicked me when I offered him the most beneficial counsel, carefully considered.' 'In that humiliation I came to Raghupati; seeing me humble, the Lord was gracious in His heart.' 'Listen, my son, Ravana has fallen under the power of Time. Will he now heed the highest teaching?' 'Blessed, blessed, thrice blessed are you, Vibhishana! You have become, dear one, the ornament of the demon lineage.' 'Brother, you have illumined your entire clan by worshipping Rama, the ocean of beauty and bliss.'