Kumbhakarna Starts for War
Hearing that Kumbhakarana chided Mahodhara and looked at Ravana - “The fear caused unto yourself by that wicked Soul Rama, I will kill him. Be happy without the Enemies. The Valorous won’t growl like the Clouds devoid of water. You will see actions matching my words. Valorous can’t wtihstand others insulting; they will not praise themselves. They will exhibit their Valorous Prowess in actions and not unnecessarily brag about it. Being afraid of without using intellect, and hearing the Ministers who think themselves as all knowing, Mahodhara our King has reached this state. Hearing the word of War fearing and Scared, talking pleasing to King’s ears, going stray as his won’t has abducted Sita and has unnecessarily invited this gory war himself. What will I say of the King who has believed those who act as those are the most trusted friend, and had secretly come to spoil all that. Getting such a person as King all the Lankans are destined to Die; Army will be wiped out; Welath dissipated; only King is Left alone.To atone wfor this disaster invited by you I am now going to War. I will destroy the Enemies. No one need fear” thus he roared like the Clouds.
Hearing that Ravana praised Kumbhakrana, and happy at the clever way he spoke, smiled at Mahodhara and said “Dear Younger Brother! Looks like he is scared of Rama. So he has no interst in Battle. It is rare to get someone like you who is itching for war. You are adept in all types of war and and also due to the affinity for me and you are matchless in Strength. So to destroy Enemies, and allieviate my fear I woke you up untimely. This is the time for those well wishers Rakshasaas to show their Loyalty towards me. You having the Trident like the Yama (God of Death) wearing the Kala Paash (Lasoie Rope of death which ties its Noose around Living beings at the time of their Death, when their Life span is over) got to war and Eat Rama Lakshmana and the Vanaras. If they dazzle emitting Aura like the Sun is it of any significance to you? Seeing your huge size their hearts will break, like the Clouds driven by gusty winds the Vanaras will run away and hide themselves. Go to the war. Come with Jayalakshmi (Goddess of Victory)” - said Ravana.Saying these mitivating words to the great strong Kumbhakarana, Ravana felt as though he has retrieved his Life which was Lost.Since he knew Kumbhakarana’s Valour and Strength Ravana’s face shone like the spotless Full Moon.
Swelled with Pride at the confidence reposed by his Elder brother on him took permission from him started making arrangements to go to war. He took the Dangerous Trident made of Black Iron in his hand. It shone like the radiance of the free flowing pure molten melted gold. It was like the ominous looking like the Indra’s Thunderous and Heavy like the Vajhrayudha. this trident had earned victories many times over Devas, Dhanavas, Yaksas, Gandharvas, Kinnara and their entourages; it was decorated by red flowers, due to its inherent Cruel nature was seeping Flames of Fire. It had smears of Enemies Flesh and tainted with Enemies Blood on it. Swirling it with disdain said “hey Great King! I alone will go to war, Let my Army remain here. Today enraged I will stir the Vanara Army and eat them” thus he made Attakasam (Loud Laughter unaware of bad time nearing, overjoyed, ruckus behaviour). Hearing that Ravana said “Child! It is not like that. Go with all the weapons surrounding you and then go to war. Vanaras are extremely intelligent. They are matured, Motivated lot, tiredlessly making renewed efforts, If one slips they will eat you away. So take an Army which others can’t penetrate. Decimate all those enemies who are against Rakshasaas” saying this he got up from his seat and garlanded him with a Golden Necklace embedded with Navarathnas (1.Kembu- Ruby 2. Komedhaga - Sardonyx 3. Neela –Saphire 4. Maragadaha-Emerald 5. Pavazham – Coral 6.Pushparagam –Topaz 7. Manickam – Carbucle 8. Muthu – Pearl 9. VAIRAM / Vaidooriyam - Diamond / Lapis Lazuli). He also awarded him with Shoulder bands, Rings, Ear Lobe golden balls, Famed Arm bands etc and decorated him with choicest perfumes gave him permission for the Battle. Kumbhakarana shone like the Flame which comes out of Ahuthi (sacrificial offerings During Homa in Agni kundaie Fire Pit) chanted with popluar Verses(Manthras). Like the Vasuki Serpent which was used as a rope to stir theMilk Ocean by the Devas and Asuras, his Golden Wait band embedded with Komedhaga– Sardonyx, Neela–Saphire was dazzling. He had a Golden vest which was not penetrable by Enemie’s Armour, and nor by the Enemy’s Asthra, was shining like Lightning. He looked like the Mountain surrounded in the evening Dusk by the Lusturous Louds. Fully armed with trident in his hand, he looked like the Thrivikrama who had come to measure all 3 worlds wih his feet like the Narayana. He hugged his elder brother and went around him, bowed, with immeasurable strength and body size thundered and while he Left, Ravana blessed him profusely. With the War Music of Conch blowing along with Dhundhbi war drums etcwith the choicest of Armoury worn by the Army surrounding him, With Huge Mountain like Elephants , Horses of immense speed, the Chariots growling like the Rain bearing clouds, Foot soldiers followed him in thousands, The following were the vehicles for Rakshsaas Warriors Serpents, Camels, Elephants, Horsed, Lions, Kovayrukazhudai (Mule) born to Father Donkey and Mother Horse, Deers, Swans etc, With his warriors sprewn across the while Full Moon like Umbrella covering him, was holding his sharp Trident in his hand. The natural flavour of Blood smell only increased his arrogance of Muscles like the intoxicating Whisky, The Gory Cruel Rakshasaas with cruel Eyes and the Size of bodies like the Mylai Mountians, and fiery Looks adorned with all weaponry, were shouting their glowry of their Valour followed Kumbhakarana. Some had tridents, some had Swords, Some had Sickles, some has Long Spears, with Maces, Ulakais (War Hammers made of Melted Iron) , with Palm trees were swilrling were moving forward with enthusiasm. They had worn various sizes of bodies which will terrroroize the enemies. Kumbhakrana with dazzling radiance and strength which was matchless, walked along. He was 100 Bow length wide (approx. 600’ft - 200 metres) and 600 Bow Length (approx. 3600 ft 1.2 kms ) high, tall was looking like a Huge Moutain by himself, with his Eye balls like the Chariot wheels which made those see him Frightened, he was like the burnt out hill of a Forest Fire and the Earth revereberated under his weight as he trudged along, After he opened his Volcano like Mouth and Laughed like a thunder spoke to those Rakshasaas around him “Today You see my Vitality & Vigour, Like the Fire moths go and fall in the Fire and die, These Vanara Army and their leaders will come in lines and fall in the flames of my Angst and turn into ashes.These Vanara Monkies who have hitherto been living in forests haven’t doen any wrong unto me, they were adorning as an ornament in the Lanka gardens. Since they have now laid siege of Lanka they need to be punished. The root cause of this Rama Lakshamana will be killed first and then I will erase these Vanaras without a trace. Hearing these words the Rakshasaas resounded in a gory way which made the ocean churn.
When Kumbhakarana started for the war the bad omens were seen on all 4 sides. Since he was a great intelligent man, he knew the consequences of its indications. The clouds were in the colour of Donkeys. Thuder was accompanied by burning embers, the Forest, Earth, Sea were all having tremors. Ominous looking Foxes spewing out flames were hwlingfiercly. Birds were circling in the reverse directions. The Eagles were falling on his path regularly. His Left Eye and Left Arm twitched. One burning ember with big sound came and fell infront of him. The Sun’d effulgence came down. Wind did not blow pleasantly. Kumbhakarna tied by the Yama Pash {Laso (rope of death of Yama) luring his Victims to tie noose around their neck}, swayed by it did not notice these bad omens which could make anyone’s Hair raise. He just walked over the corridors of the City was surprised by the Vanara Army being spread like Large Clouds all over. Seeing that Rakshasaa warrior coming like a Mountain, all Vanaras started scurrying for cover in every corner. Like the Clouds in the sky growl that Dark Rakshasaa Kumbhakaran roaring like a Lion in excitement, some Vanaras fell unconscious where they were standing like some trees fall on seeing his giagantic Physical Size. Thus that great Rakhsasaa with none to match in size, Strength, Vitality, courage with a huge trident in his hand coming to the battle field to destroy the enemies, like the Yama at the time of Deluge asks “What is the order?” and waiting with his Yama Dhanda (the Staff with which every Living being at the end of their Life is killed and taken) thus the Vanaras were mesmerized. (Slokas 60)
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