Ramayana of valmiki and Kamban-yuddhakanda

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10. Ravana's defeat and Kumbakarna is roused from sleep

 

Doomraksha sent by Ravana struck terror in the

minds of vanaras, seeing which Hanuman struck his head with a

big rock and killed him ,.Then Ravana sent Vajradhamshtra who was also

killed by Angadha, who beheaded him with

the sword. Then Ravana sent Akambana, whom the vanaras were not able to face at all, when, Hanuman

seeing the plight of vanaras, came there and hit him with an uprooted tree. When

Prahastha who advanced next with a large army was also killed by Nala, Ravana himself started to the

warfront in a magnificent chariot shining like fire drawn by royal horses.

 

Vibheeshana pointed out to Rama the commanders and

warriors of renown and Ravana himself with Indrajith who was coming towards

them. Rama was amazed at the glory of Ravana but at the same time became excited that he could now take

his revenge on the one who took away Seetha from him and got ready to fight

with him. Then Sugriva seeing Ravana

hurled a mountain top at him which Ravana broke into pieces with his arrows and

flung an arrow at Sugriva who fell down unconscious.

 

The other monkey leaders who were also hit by the

arrows of Ravana took refuge to Rama who set out to fight Ravana when Lakshmana

told Rama that he would go and destroy

Ravana.

 

Hanuman seeing this jumped on the chariot of Ravana and challenged him. Ravana

struck at his chest with his fist which made Hanuman stagger but he regained

his balance and slapped his face with his hand and Ravana trembled like a

mountain with earthquake. Then he managed

somehow to regain his breath praised the valour of Hanuman to which Hanuman replied that it was really a dishonour

to his might that Ravana was still alive. Enraged by this Ravana punched him on

his chest which made Hanuman reel under the shock and then Ravana went towards

Neela the vanara general and Neela fought with him with great vigour to the

amazement of Hanuman, Lakshmana and Rama. Finally Ravana sent a missile of fire

towards him and he fell down burnt by it but since he was the son of fire-god

it could not take his life.

Then Ravana went towards Lakshmana and a terrible

fight ensued between the two. Struck by

the arrows of Ravana, Lakshmana broke the bow of Ravana when Ravana took up

the sakthi missile given to him by Brahma and hurled it at Lakshmana, who fell unconscious

struck by it. Then Ravana rushed towards him and tried to lift him with the

idea of carrying him to Lanka. But with his arms which lifted the mount of Kailas, Ravana could not lift Lakshmana even by an inch.

Hanuman seeing this rushed at Ravana and gave him a blow on the chest which

made him reel spitting blood . Then Hanuman carried Lakshmana easily and took

him to Rama. Lakshmana became light to Hanuman due to his devotion and love.

 

In the meanwhile Lakshmana regained his consciousness

and Ravana was also back to normal and took his bow and arrow. The shakthi

missile returned to Ravana when Lakshmana became free from it. Seeing this,

Rama at once rushed to fight with Ravana. Hanuman

offered to carry Rama on his shoulders and Rama went near the chariot of Ravana

mounted on Hanuman and told Ravana that he could not escape from the darts of

the one who killed Khara and his army single handed even if he runs to all the

three worlds. Ravana started attacking Hanuman with arrows and this angered

Rama and he went near the chariot and shattered it along with the horses

canopy, flag etc. and also the weapons of Ravana who became defenceless. Then Rama

gave

him reprieve by telling him that he had fought enough that day and told him to

go back and return the next day. Ravana ashamed returned to Lanka.

 

Ravana humbled and afraid spoke to the rakshasas

thus. What Brahma had said that he would be killed only by humans is turning to be true perhaps. He said that he

suspected Seetha to be Vegavathi in her

next birth who vowed to destroy him. He was also cursed by a king of Ikshvaku

race, AnaraNya, who said that there would be one born in his clan who would kill Ravana.

He also remembered all the curses he had incurred so far due to his atrocities

and finding no other alternative told the rakshasas to rouse Kumbakarna from

his sleep as he had gone back to sleep after counseling Ravana and assuring him

of his help.

 

Kumbakarna was aroused after great difficulty not

due to the tumultuous and thunderous sounds made by the rakshasas nor by their

hitting and tormenting his limbs nor by

the animals set to trample his body. Nothing affected him. They surrounded him

with mountains of food and perhaps it affected his olefactory nerves and kindled his hunger, he

suddenly woke up like a great mountain. After eating the mounds of flesh and drinking

drums of liquor and blood, he asked them the reason for rousing him as he knew

that his brother would not have awakened him unless it is of paramount

importance.

 

We shall see the beautiful portrait of the incident

of Rvana's defeat by Kamban next.