Kumbhakarna Seizes Millions and Dashes Them Down Like an Elephant
Lanka Kanda, Doha 69
Doha 69 · Movement 2 of 2
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Kumbhakarna answers the returning vanaras with a roar that overwhelms the noise around him. His hands close upon monkeys in uncountable multitudes.
He lifts and strikes them against the earth as a great elephant scatters what lies beneath its force. The ground receives body after body while his terrible motion continues without pause.
Before Ravana's distant gaze, the giant swears mighty oaths and makes destruction seem briefly inexhaustible. Yet the same body is already crossed by Rama's arrows, and the blood upon it records an ending the roar cannot silence. Kumbhakarna's strength reaches its most frightening display at the very moment it has entered the Lord's measure. Millions may be held in his hands, but the hand of Rama is already upon the battle.
The giant hurls millions like an elephant in fury, while Rama's arrows quietly mark the body that must fall.
Read the passage from the Manas
महानाद करि गर्जा कोटि कोटि गहि कीस। महि पटकइ गजराज इव सपथ करइ दससीस।।69।।
With a thunderous roar he bellowed, seizing millions of monkeys in his hands. He dashed them to the earth like a great elephant, while Dasasisa looked on and swore mighty oaths.