Seeing Kumbhakarna slain by the high-souled Raghava, the Rakshasas
conveyed the tidings to the lord of the Rakshasas--Ravana; (and
addressed him, saying), "O king, that one resembling the Destroyer
himself, urged on by Death,--having scoured the monkey-army and eaten up
monkeys,--and for a while displayed his prowess, hath met with his
quietus at the hands of Rama exerting his energy. And with half his body
immersed in the dreadful deep, thy brother, Kumbhakarna, with his nose
and ears cut off, and blood besmearing his body,--with his head and
limbs hewn away, and his body uncovered,--mountain-like blocketh up the
gate of Lanka with his person,--and resembleth a tree that hath been
consumed by a forest-fire". Hearing the mighty Kumbhakarna slain in
battle, Ravana burning in grief, swooned away and dropped to the earth.
And hearing their uncle slain, Triciras[237] and Atikaya--destroyers of
gods and men,--began to weep, oppressed with sorrow. And Mahodara[238]
and Mahaparcwa[239] hearing of their uncle slain by Rama of untiring
deeds, were overcome with grief. Then regaining his senses with extreme
exertion, that foremost of Rakshasas, distressed in consequence of the
destruction of Kumbhakarna, mourned with his senses overwhelmed,
saying,--"O hero! O humbler of the pride of the foe! O mighty
Kumbhakarna! Leaving me, thou through Destiny, hast gone to the abode of
Yama. O exceedingly powerful one, leaving me (lone) whither dost thou
wend, without extracting my dart as well as that of thy friends? Now
really I am not, inasmuch as my right arm hath dropped. Backed by this
one, I would not fear celestials and Asuras. How to-day forsooth hath
such a hero--crusher of the hauteur of gods and Danavas--resembling the
Fire arisen at the hour of universal wreck,--been slain in fight by
Raghava? He who could not be harmed by the concussion of the
thunder-bolt itself--how can he, smitten with Rama's arrows, sleep
soundly on the earth? These gods stationed in the sky along with the
saints,--beholding thee slain in battle, are shouting in glee. Surely
to-day the monkeys overjoyed,--finding occasion, will scale all the
gateways and fortifications of Lanka. I have nothing to do with empire.
And what shall I do with Sita? And deprived of Kumbhakarna, I do not
even wish to live. If I do not slay in encounter that slayer of my
brother--Raghava,--certainly death is even that which is good for
me,--otherwise, this life is useless. This very day will I repair to
that place where my younger brother is. Forsaking my brother, I forsooth
dare not live for a moment; for the gods shall laugh on seeing me, who
had formerly wronged them. But, how, O Kumbhakarna, thou having been
slain, shall I conquer Indra? Now the beneficial words of Bibhishana
have been verified. And as through blindness I did not accept the advice
of that high-souled one, Kumbhakarna and of Prahasta, this disaster
arisen, shameth me sore. And as I had disgraced the virtuous and
graceful Bibhishana, this peril producing grief, hath been the
consequence of my conduct". Having thus piteously and long lamented
Kumbhakarna, the Ten-necked one, with his inmost soul overwhelmed with
sorrow, and sore distressed in consequence of grief,--fell down, knowing
his brother--the enemy of Indra--slain in battle.
[237] Three-headed.--T.
[238] Huge-bellied.--T.
[239] Mighty-flanked.--T.