SRI #RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S
SRI #RAMACHARITRYA #MANJARI
(ಶ್ರೀ #ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿ
ವಿರಚಿತ “#ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ”)
Waking up Kumbhakarna/ನಿದ್ರಾವಶನಾಗಿದ್ದ ಕುಂಭಕರ್ಣನನ್ನು
ಎಬ್ಬಿಸುವುದು
Ravana summoned ten thousand physically very strong
demons and ordered them to wake up his brother Kumbhakarna from slumber. Those
demons carried drums, pipes, stringed instruments with them, surrounded the
sleeping giant and began playing all the musical instruments, continuously. Along
with the sound of those instruments, the demons roared and produced huge noise
from their hoarse throats. While Kumbhakarna did not wake up, the exhale of
Kumbhakarna’s nostrils pushed them out of the vast cave in which he was
sleeping. They took big mountains, swords, mace and other weapons by hand,
advanced towards to him to as close to him as they could and beat him with all
their strength. He did not wake up at all. They rode on his body with tuskers,
horses and camels and drove some vehicles too. Some of them plucked his hair
and some pulled his moustache, while many others poured barrels of water into
his ears. The demons lost their patience as none of their effort could wake up
Kumbhakarna.
They poured boiling oil on his body and rolled hot
iron balls on his legs and arms. Several demons died after getting stuck
between his arm and the body, between the two legs and when he turned from one
side to another. They kept repeating their actions several times, which, at
last, succeeded in waking up the gigantic demon. They had arranged tons and
cart loads of food in front of Kumbhakarna so that he could first satisfy his
hunger.
Conversation between Kumbhakarna and Ravana/ರಾವಣ ಕುಂಭಕರ್ಣರ ನಡುವೆ ನಡೆದ ಸಂವಾದ
At the behest of Ravana, the demons brought
Kumbhakarna to the royal court. On his way to the royal court, Kumbhakarna thought
within himself about the reason for which Ravana might have got him woken up.
Unless there was an emergency, Ravana would not have woken up Kumbhakarna.
Immediately on reaching the Royal Court, Kumbhakarna told Ravana: “My dear
brother, tell me who has dared to disturb you? What danger has occurred to the
demon community? I will destroy all the tormentors in a moment and return
within a short while.”
Ravana said: “None of the gods or deities has dared to
threaten us. A serious threat has arisen from humans and monkeys. You have to
kill Rama and Lakshmana.”
In reply to a question from Kumbhakarna, Ravana
narrated the reason for which Rama had attacked the fortress of Lanka.
Kumbhakarna replied:
“Brother, Rama is a valiant beyond reason or
comparison. If he decides to kill someone, it would never fail. It is our
misfortune that this quarrel between him and us has arisen. An early death and
entry into the hell is imminent. Whenever a quarrel arises with a stronger
person, alliance is the right solution. A strong man can fight and crush a
weaker opponent. An equal foe should be ignored. This is the ethics. At
present, you are fighting against Rama, who is more powerful than you. A single
arrow of Rama can crush and smash all the three worlds. Therefore, it is not
advisable to continue this war against Rama. Alliance is the best solution.”
Ravana lost his patience but did not want his anger to
be noticed by Kumbhakarna. He said:
“Kumbhakarna, every king relies on his strong army and
especially a strong, courageous and brave person to expand his kingdom. I could
trouble any power in the three worlds and take them under my control because of
your presence. It was with that faith and belief on your strength that I
kidnapped Seetha. The entire universe is afraid of Ravana and Kumbhakarna and I
was pinning all my hopes on you. It is time you use all your strength and
fighting skills to ensure that the fear that has been cast on Lanka gets cleared.”
Kumbhakarna knew that Ravana was not in a mood to
alter the course of action he had initiated against Rama. He told Ravana: “Rama
has killed many of my relatives and friends. I will avenge it to the maximum
extent possible. I will cause so much of damage to him and his army that none
else could have so far done in the battlefield. I will make you happy after
swallowing the three worlds, one after the other. I will gulp the seven seas in
as many drinks.”
Kumbhakarna knew that he had promised to kill Rama
only to make Ravana happy. He was aware that his exit from earth was imminent.
When Kumbhakarna began his journey towards the battlefield,
Mahodara told: “Kumbhakarna, please do not go alone. We will accompany you to
kill monkeys and bears while you concentrate entirely on Rama and Lakshmana.”
Kumbhakarna yelled at Mahodara: “It is because of persons like you that my
brother Ravana has reached this stage of utter malady and destruction. You
could have explained the prowess of Rama.”
Kumbhakarna was five-yojana tall and hence crossed the
high fort wall in a single step and reached the battlefield swiftly. The
monkeys who saw this gigantic demon thought that some mystic power created by
Ravana had come to destroy them and started running away from the war field.
Valor of Kumbhakarna/ಕುಂಭಕರ್ಣನ ಪರಾಕ್ರಮ
The body of Kumbhakarna was very broad, wide and high.
He had a dark complexion and was appearing like God of Death. The arms of
Kumbhakarna were like logs of iron. He was stretching, spreading and waving his
arms in all directions, killing thousands of monkeys and bears with utmost
ease. The land under his feet was cracking and breaking into large pits. The
red and round eyes of Kumbhakarna were oozing flames of fire. He looked to be
cutting and swallowing monkeys and bears with his tooth and nails. His roars
were putting the thunders and lightning to shame. The entire battlefield was groaning,
even as Kumbhakarna yelled: “Where have the monkeys fled to? Where is Rama?
Where is Lakshmana hiding?”
The monkey chiefs then decided to confront
Kumbhakarna. They started throwing trees, rocks, hills and mountains at
Kumbhakarna, who ignored everything and hastily roamed about in the battlefield.
Sugreeva tried to face him though lost consciousness with one punch of the
giant demon. Kumbhakarna crushed Jambavanta and Angada with his fists, and the
two monkey greats lost their consciousness too. Meanwhile, Kumbhakarna lifted
Sugreeva, tucked him in his arm pit and began retreating towards Lanka. The
female demons and other commoners hailed Kumbhakarna on his outstanding
victory, poured water on him in appreciation of his success. However, Sugreeva
regained his consciousness with the water that was sprinkled on Kumbhakarna by
the citizens of Lanka. Sugreeva scratched the chest, armpit and face of
Kumbhakarna with his sharp nails and sprang away from his grip. Enraged
Kumbhakarna chased Sugreeva and unable to catch the Monkey King, Kumbhakarna
fired a sharp iron club at Sugreeva, which was caught by Hanumantha, who not
only caught that weapon by hand but also broke it into pieces. Kumbhakarna hit
Hanuman on the chest with his strong fist. Hanumantha ignored it and hit
Kumbhakarna with his fist. Kumbhakarna lost his consciousness due to that
strong hit. It took quite a long time for Kumbhakarna to regain the
consciousness. However, he decided at that juncture to focus all his energy and
effort on subduing Rama. Although Lakshma came in his way, Kumbhakarna ignored
him and rushed towards Rama.
Death of Kumbhakarna at the hands of Rama will be
narrated in the next episode.
Please read, comment and share. SDN
SUMMARY:
The pockets where the sensory organs are present are the fire pit; the sensory organs
are the fire; the subject of organs are sacrificial fire sticks; the efforts
are the wind; desire to possess something or the lust is the holy perfume
(Dhupa); attraction is the flame; relation with organs is special flame that
dazzles; the happiness that erupts is like the sparks; the words spoken action
are the hymns; one should think and submit every action, reaction, speech to
Sri Hari, which is known as Adhyatma Yajna, a sacrifice of spirituality.
