Rama Cuts Away Both Mountain Bearing Arms of Kumbhakarna
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 70
Doha 70 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bears and monkeys flee like sheep before a wolf, crying that the demon is famine descending upon their whole race. Protect us, merciful Rama, destroyer of Khara and remover of the anguish of those who seek refuge.
The Lord hears and places the army behind him. Alone he advances in wrath, drawing a hundred arrows that bury themselves in the charging giant. Kumbhakarna tears up a mountain, but one shaft severs the arm that bears it. He charges with another peak in his left hand, and Rama casts that arm down as well.
Armless, Kumbhakarna stands like Mandara after its wings were cut away. His gaze remains fierce, and the enormous mouth turns toward Rama as though it could swallow the three worlds. The vanaras asked for refuge, and the answer now stands between them and famine, removing the limbs by which terror reached them.
Two mountains fall with two severed arms, and Kumbhakarna becomes a wingless Mandara still rushing toward Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
भागे भालु बलीमुख जूथा। बृकु बिलोकि जिमि मेष बरूथा।। चले भागि कपि भालु भवानी। बिकल पुकारत आरत बानी।। यह निसिचर दुकाल सम अहई। कपिकुल देस परन अब चहई।। कृपा बारिधर राम खरारी। पाहि पाहि प्रनतारति हारी।। सकरुन बचन सुनत भगवाना। चले सुधारि सरासन बाना।। राम सेन निज पाछैं घाली। चले सकोप महा बलसाली।। खैंचि धनुष सर सत संधाने। छूटे तीर सरीर समाने।। लागत सर धावा रिस भरा। कुधर डगमगत डोलति धरा।। लीन्ह एक तेहिं सैल उपाटी। रघुकुल तिलक भुजा सोइ काटी।। धावा बाम बाहु गिरि धारी। प्रभु सोउ भुजा काटि महि पारी।। काटें भुजा सोह खल कैसा। पच्छहीन मंदर गिरि जैसा।। उग्र बिलोकनि प्रभुहि बिलोका। ग्रसन चहत मानहुँ त्रेलोका।।
The bears and monkey hosts fled in terror, like flocks of sheep scattering at the sight of a wolf. O Bhavani, the monkeys and bears ran in anguish, crying out in voices full of distress. This demon is like famine itself, and he now threatens to devour the entire monkey kingdom. O merciful Rama, destroyer of Khara, protect us, protect us, O reliever of the afflictions of those who take refuge in You! Hearing their compassionate words, the Lord set forth, readying His bow and arrows. Rama placed His army behind Him and advanced alone, the Almighty ablaze with righteous anger. Drawing His bow, He fitted a hundred arrows at once and released them; every shaft found its mark in the giant's body. Struck by the arrows, the demon charged in fury; the very mountains trembled and the earth shook beneath his stride. The demon seized and uprooted a mountain, but the jewel of Raghu's line severed that arm with a single shaft. Still the demon charged with his left arm bearing another peak, and the Lord cut that arm too and cast it to the earth. With both arms severed, the wretched demon stood like Mount Mandara shorn of its wings. With a terrible gaze the demon looked upon the Lord, as though he would swallow all three worlds at once.