Ramayana of valmiki and Kamban-yuddhakanda

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12. Death of Kumbakarna

 

Kumbakarna learning from Ravana what happened, gave

a loud laugh and chided Ravana for not

listening to the advice of the well wishers like Vibheeshana and taking a course

of action against the principle of polity without consulting anyone, ( here

Valmiki through the words of Kumbakarna gives out a short discourse on the

duties of a king) and thus he brought everything on his head by his own

actions. But Ravana became angry and said that he did not need advice at that

juncture but only help from his brother. Then Kumabakarna seeing him agitated

and desolate assured him that he would

go and destroy everyone and advanced to

the battlefield.

 

Rama was

surprised to see the colossal giant and asked Vibheeshana about him.

Vibheeshana told Rama that Kumbakarna was born a giant and was eating all

beings and Brahma cursed him to go to sleep and granted a concession at the

request of Ravana that he would wake up for one day in six months. Vibheeshana

said that Ravana must have awakened him from sleep to help him in the battle.

 

( In

uttarakanda it is said that Kumbakarna like Ravana and Vibheeshana did penance

and while Ravana got the boon not to be killed by anyone except humans and vanaras

and Vibheeshana asked for the intellect that is established in dharma always,

devas begged Brahma not to give boon to Kumbakarna who was already terrorizing

the world and Brahma created a maya which made Kumbakarna ask for nidhrathva, state

of sleep instead of nithythva eternity he wanted. Probably Vibheeshana did not

know this.)

 

When Kumabakarna advanced all vanaras fled from

fear and he advanced creating a great

havoc among them grasping them and eating them and Hanuman showered trees and

mountains on him from above. Valmiki says tht the vanras who enrtered his mouth

escaped through his ears and nose! Sugriva challenged him but fell down

senseless getting a blow from Kumbakarna, who carried him to Lanka. When

Sugriva regained consciousness he found himself in the streets of Lanka and he

escaped biting off the nose and ears of Kumbakarna. With blood gushing forth ,

earless and noseless he again advanced to the battlefield.

 

Vanaras bravely attacked him encouraged by Angadha

but were powerless against his colossal form and strength. Lakshman came to

fight with him but he ignored Lakshmana and advanced towards Rama. Rama first

cut off one arm and seeing him advancing with a tree, in hand cut off the other

arm also and finally chopped his head off and that was the end of Kumbakarna.

 

The episode of the death of Kumbakarna is

portrayed in a slightly different manner

in Kamban.

 

When Rama asked Vibheeshana about him he said that

Kumbakarna advised Ravana that what he was doing was not good for the rakshasas

but when he did not listen he came to battle knowing well that he was to die.

Then Sugriva opined that they could bring him to their side and with the

permission of Rama, Vibheeshana went to

Kumbakarna with that motive, and fell at his feet. What Kumbakarna said

is exclusive to Kamban extolling the character of Kumbakarna and justifying the

act of Vibheeshna. He said, thinking that Vibheeshana had left Rama and

returned to their side,

 

uyndhanai oruvan pOnaai ena uvakkinREn than

Sindhanai muzhudhum theLivilaar pOla

Vandhadhu en thaniyE , enRaan mazhaiyin neer

vazhangu kaNNaan,

 

Kumbakarna with tears streaming from his eyes like

rain, said, he thought that at least

one among them had reached salvation and asked him why he came back.

 

Kavijnarin aRivu mikkaai Kaalan vaai kkaLikkinrEn

paal

navai uRa vandhadhu en nee ? amudhu uNbaai nanju

unbaayo?

 

He said that Vibheeshana was wise and why should he

come to Kumbakarna who is playing in the mouth of death and asked him whether

he would eat poison or nectar, meaning that he had resorted to Rama who is like

nectar, comparing himself to poison.

 

Kumbakarna continued to say that with Vibheeshana the

clan of Pulasthya had acquired merit even if the whole rakshasa tribe would

perish. He said Rama would never forsake him and he had attained eternity by

resorting to Rama and if he had not done

so there would not be anyone who could do last rites to them when all the

rakshasa were killed in the battle.

 

Vibheeshan told him that he came with a purpose and

asked him to surrender to Rama and

assume the kingdom

of Lanka. Hearing his

words Kumbakarna embraced him and said that Vibheeshana had the boon from

Brahma that he would be unswerving from the path of dharma and hence it is his

svadharma to join Rama who is the embodiment of dharma . But , he said that his

svadharma is to sacrifice his life to Ravana who had nurtured him. He consoled

Vibheeshana that no one could change the fate and what would happen was certain

to happen.

 

Kumbakarna bade good bye to Vibheeshana telling him

that the bondage between them was over and when Vibheeshana went away he shed

tears like the one who had renounced his son. Hearing what Kumbakarna said ,

Rama told Vibheeshana that he wanted to give a chance to Kumbakarna as he did

not want to kill his brother who did no harm but no one could undo the fate.

 

When Kumbakarna was carrying Sugriva, Hanuman followed him

helplessely and the vanaras sought refuge with Rama, who barred the way of

Kumbakarna and there was a fierce fight between them. Kumabakarna was hit by

the arrow of Rama and Sugriva regained consciousness by the bllod of Kumbakarna

falling on him. Ho bit off the nose and ears of Kumbakarna and escaped.

 

Rama after cutting off the arms of Kumbakarna and

his legs, gave him an option to go away

and come back later as he did for Ravana, but Kumbakarna said that he would not

go in front of Ravana and others having lost his arms, nose and ears. Rama cut

off his legs also and nearing his death Kumbakarna exclaimed that thousand Ravanas

could not stand in front of the bow of

Rama, ayyan vil thozhiRku aayiram raavaNar

amaivilar and said to Rama that he should protect Vibheeshana at all costs.

 

thambi ena ninaindhu , irangiththaviraan, athagavu illaan;

nambi! ivanthanaikkaaNin kollum;iRai nalgaanaal;

umbiyaitthaan, unaitthaan,anumanaitthaan,

orupozhudhum

embi piriyaanaaga aRuLudhi,; yaan vEndinEn

 

 

Meaning, Ravana would not show

consideration to Vibheeshana as his brother and would kill him if he saw him. Therefore he entreated

Rama to keep Vibheeshana always with him, with Lakshmana and Hanuman. Then he

prayed to Rama to cut his head and throw it in the sea as he did not want to be

ridiculed by devas and the sages seeing his noseless face.

 

Then Rama, thinking that

he should not delay further and should grant his request , cut his head by his

arrow which pushed it in the sea.