Sugriva Awakens in Kumbhakarna's Grasp and Tears Away His Nose and Ears
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 66
Doha 66 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Shiva tells Uma that Raghupati performs human play as Garuda plays among serpents. A frown from Rama can devour Time, yet he allows this battle to unfold so that purifying fame may spread and mortals may cross the ocean of becoming by singing it.
Hanuman wakes and searches for Sugriva. The monkey king also returns to consciousness after Kumbhakarna released his hold, believing the body dead. Sugriva springs upon the giant and bites away his nose and ears. Kumbhakarna roars beneath the sudden wound and strikes back with immense agility.
Sugriva returns to Rama crying victory to the ocean of mercy. Shame and fury turn Kumbhakarna again toward the field. Already fearsome, now without nose and ears, he appears before the vanaras in a form that makes the whole army recoil. Rama's lila has transformed capture into the mark the giant must carry toward his final encounter.
Sugriva escapes the arm that carried him and leaves Kumbhakarna wearing the wound of an army that seemed defeated.
Read the passage from the Manas
उमा करत रघुपति नरलीला। खेलत गरुड़ जिमि अहिगन मीला।। भृकुटि भंग जो कालहि खाई। ताहि कि सोहइ ऐसि लराई।। जग पावनि कीरति बिस्तरिहहिं। गाइ गाइ भवनिधि नर तरिहहिं।। मुरुछा गइ मारुतसुत जागा। सुग्रीवहि तब खोजन लागा।। सुग्रीवहु कै मुरुछा बीती। निबुक गयउ तेहि मृतक प्रतीती।। काटेसि दसन नासिका काना। गरजि अकास चलउ तेहिं जाना।। गहेउ चरन गहि भूमि पछारा। अति लाघवँ उठि पुनि तेहि मारा।। पुनि आयसु प्रभु पहिं बलवाना। जयति जयति जय कृपानिधाना।। नाक कान काटे जियँ जानी। फिरा क्रोध करि भइ मन ग्लानी।। सहज भीम पुनि बिनु श्रुति नासा। देखत कपि दल उपजी त्रासा।।
Uma, the Lord of the Raghus enacts human sport, playing as Garuda plays when he meets a host of serpents. He whose mere frown devours Death itself: does such a battle truly befit Him? His world-purifying glory shall spread far and wide; singing it, mortals shall cross the ocean of worldly existence. When Hanuman's swoon passed and he awoke, he began searching for Sugriva. Sugriva's swoon also lifted; Kumbhakarna had let him go, thinking him dead. Sugriva bit off his nose and ears; with a roar that shook the sky, Kumbhakarna departed in pain. Sugriva seized his feet and hurled him to the ground; with great agility Kumbhakarna rose and struck him back. Then the mighty one came to his Lord for orders, crying 'Victory, victory, all victory to the ocean of mercy!' Knowing that his nose and ears had been bitten off, Kumbhakarna returned in fury, his heart burning with shame. Naturally fearsome, and now without nose and ears, the sight of him filled the monkey army with dread.