राम
Leela Scene

Mountains Fall Like Calotropis Fruit Against Kumbhakarna

Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 65

Doha 65 · Movement 1 of 2

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Vibhishana returns to Rama, ornament of the three worlds, and announces that Kumbhakarna approaches with a mountainlike body. The vanaras hear and charge with shrill cries, lifting trees, boulders, and innumerable peaks above their heads.

They cast their weapons upon the giant by the million. His mind does not waver and his body does not move, any more than a great elephant would move beneath the soft fruit of the calotropis. Then Hanuman's fist strikes with enough force to bring Kumbhakarna heavily to earth.

The giant rises and answers. Hanuman spins down unconscious beneath his blow. Nala and Nila are dashed against the ground, and warriors are flung across the field. At last the vanara host turns in terror. No formation holds before the solitary body Ravana sent out without an army.

A million mountains touch Kumbhakarna like fruit, until Hanuman's fist teaches the first weight he must feel.

Read the passage from the Manas

बंधु बचन सुनि चला बिभीषन। आयउ जहँ त्रैलोक बिभूषन।। नाथ भूधराकार सरीरा। कुंभकरन आवत रनधीरा।। एतना कपिन्ह सुना जब काना। किलकिलाइ धाए बलवाना।। लिए उठाइ बिटप अरु भूधर। कटकटाइ डारहिं ता ऊपर।। कोटि कोटि गिरि सिखर प्रहारा। करहिं भालु कपि एक एक बारा।। मुर् यो न मन तनु टर् यो न टार् यो। जिमि गज अर्क फलनि को मार्यो।। तब मारुतसुत मुठिका हन्यो। पर् यो धरनि ब्याकुल सिर धुन्यो।। पुनि उठि तेहिं मारेउ हनुमंता। घुर्मित भूतल परेउ तुरंता।। पुनि नल नीलहि अवनि पछारेसि। जहँ तहँ पटकि पटकि भट डारेसि।। चली बलीमुख सेन पराई। अति भय त्रसित न कोउ समुहाई।।

Hearing his brother's words, Vibhishana departed and came to where the ornament of the three worlds stood. 'O Lord, Kumbhakarna with his mountain-like body approaches, brave and fearless in battle.' When the monkeys heard this, the mighty ones shrieked with excitement and rushed forward. They lifted up trees and boulders and hurled them down upon him, gnashing their teeth. Bears and monkeys struck him with millions upon millions of mountain peaks, each taking a turn. His mind did not waver nor his body budge, like an elephant pelted with the fruits of the arka plant. Then the son of the Wind struck him with his fist, and Kumbhakarna fell to the earth, beating his head in anguish. Rising again, he struck Hanuman, who spun and fell to the ground at once. Then he dashed Nala and Nila to the earth, flinging warriors about on every side. The army, with Bali's son at its head, turned and fled; overwhelmed by terror, none could stand and face him.