Kumbhakarna's Slumber and the Slaying of Kubera's Envoy

Shloka 1 (uttara.13.1)

अथ लोकेश्वरोत्सृष्टा तत्र कालेन केनचित् । निद्रा समभवत्तीव्रा कुम्भकर्णस्य रूपिणी ।। १३.१ ।।

atha lokeśvarotsṛṣṭā tatra kālena kenacit | nidrā samabhavat tīvrā kumbhakarṇasya rūpiṇī || 13.1 ||

Then, sent forth by the Lord of the Worlds, after some time had passed, an intense sleep, as though embodied, came upon Kumbhakarna.

Shloka 2 (uttara.13.2)

ततो भ्रातरमासीनं कुम्भकर्णो ऽब्रवीद्वचः । निद्रा मां बाधते राजन्कारयस्व ममालयम् ।। १३.२ ।।

tato bhrātaram āsīnaṃ kumbhakarṇo 'bravīd vacaḥ | nidrā māṃ bādhate rājan kārayasva mamālayam || 13.2 ||

Then Kumbhakarna said to his brother, who sat there: 'O king, sleep oppresses me; have a dwelling built for me.'

Shloka 3 (uttara.13.3)

विनियुक्तास्ततो राज्ञा शिल्पिनो विश्वकर्मवत् । विस्तीर्णं योजनं शुभ्रं ततो द्विगुणमायतम् ।। १३.३ ।।

viniyuktās tato rājñā śilpino viśvakarmavat | vistīrṇaṃ yojanaṃ śubhraṃ tato dviguṇam āyatam || 13.3 ||

Then the king appointed craftsmen skilled as Vishvakarma, who made a bright dwelling a league wide and twice that in length.

Shloka 4 (uttara.13.4)

दर्शनीयं निराबाधं कुम्भकर्णस्य चक्रिरे । स्फाटिकैः काञ्चनैश्चित्रैः स्तम्भैः सर्वत्र शोभितम् ।। १३.४ ।।

darśanīyaṃ nirābādhaṃ kumbhakarṇasya cakrire | sphāṭikaiḥ kāñcanaiś citraiḥ stambhaiḥ sarvatra śobhitam || 13.4 ||

They made for Kumbhakarna a splendid, undisturbed dwelling, adorned everywhere with wondrous pillars of crystal and gold.

Shloka 5 (uttara.13.5)

वैडूर्यकृतसोपानं किङ्किणीजालकं तथा । दान्ततोरणविन्यस्तं वज्रस्फटिकवेदिकम् ।। १३.५ ।।

vaiḍūryakṛtasopānaṃ kiṅkiṇījālakaṃ tathā | dāntatoraṇavinyastaṃ vajrasphaṭikavedikam || 13.5 ||

Its stairways were made of beryl, it was strung with a net of tiny bells, its gateways were set with ivory arches, and its altars were made of diamond and crystal.

Shloka 6 (uttara.13.6)

मनोहरं सर्वसुखं कारयामास राक्षसः । सर्वत्र सुखदं नित्यं मेरोः पुण्यां गुहामिव ।। १३.६ ।।

manoharaṃ sarvasukhaṃ kārayāmāsa rākṣasaḥ | sarvatra sukhadaṃ nityaṃ meroḥ puṇyāṃ guhām iva || 13.6 ||

That rakshasa had built a delightful dwelling, filled with every comfort, ever pleasant throughout, like the sacred cave of Mount Meru.

Shloka 7 (uttara.13.7)

तत्र निद्रां समाविष्टः कुम्भकर्णो महाबलः । बहून्यब्दसहस्राणि शयानो न प्रबुद्ध्यते ।। १३.७ ।।

tatra nidrāṃ samāviṣṭaḥ kumbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ | bahūny abdasahasrāṇi śayāno na prabudhyate || 13.7 ||

There, overcome by sleep, the mighty Kumbhakarna would lie for many thousands of years without waking.

Shloka 8 (uttara.13.8)

निद्राभिभूते तु तदा कुम्भकर्णे दशाननः । देवर्षियक्षगन्धर्वान्सञ्जघ्ने हि निरङ्कुशः ।। १३.८ ।।

nidrābhibhūte tu tadā kumbhakarṇe daśānanaḥ | devarṣiyakṣagandharvān sañjaghne hi niraṅkuśaḥ || 13.8 ||

Now while Kumbhakarna was thus overpowered by sleep, Dashanana, unchecked, fell to slaying gods, sages, Yakshas, and Gandharvas.

Shloka 9 (uttara.13.9)

उद्यानानि च चित्राणि नन्दनादीनि यानि च । तानि गत्वा सुसङ्क्रुद्धो भिनत्ति स्म दशाननः ।। १३.९ ।।

udyānāni ca citrāṇi nandanādīni yāni ca | tāni gatvā susaṅkruddho bhinatti sma daśānanaḥ || 13.9 ||

Going to those splendid gardens, such as Nandana and the rest, Dashanana, in furious rage, would tear them apart.

Shloka 10 (uttara.13.10)

नदीं गज इव क्रीडन्वृक्षान्वायुरिव क्षिपन् । नगान्वज्र इवोत्सृष्टो विध्वंसयति राक्षसः ।। १३.१० ।।

nadīṃ gaja iva krīḍan vṛkṣān vāyur iva kṣipan | nagān vajra ivotsṛṣṭo vidhvaṃsayati rākṣasaḥ || 13.10 ||

That rakshasa would sport in rivers like an elephant, uproot trees like the wind, and shatter mountains like a hurled thunderbolt.

Shloka 11 (uttara.13.11)

तथावृत्तं तु विज्ञाय दशग्रीवं धनेश्वरः । कुलानुरूपं धर्मज्ञो वृत्तं संस्मृत्य चात्मनः ।। १३.११ ।।

tathāvṛttaṃ tu vijñāya daśagrīvaṃ dhaneśvaraḥ | kulānurūpaṃ dharmajño vṛttaṃ saṃsmṛtya cātmanaḥ || 13.11 ||

Learning of such conduct by Dashagriva, the righteous Lord of Wealth, calling to mind his own conduct becoming their lineage —

Shloka 12 (uttara.13.12)

सौभ्रात्रदर्शनार्थं तु दूतं वैश्रवणस्तदा । लङ्कां सम्प्रेषयामास दशग्रीवस्य वै हितम् ।। १३.१२ ।।

saubhrātradarśanārthaṃ tu dūtaṃ vaiśravaṇas tadā | laṅkāṃ sampreṣayāmāsa daśagrīvasya vai hitam || 13.12 ||

then, so as to show the way of true brotherhood, Vaishravana sent an envoy to Lanka, for the benefit of Dashagriva.

Shloka 13 (uttara.13.13)

स गत्वा नगरीं लङ्कामाससाद विभीषणम् । मानितस्तेन धर्मेण पृष्टश्चागमनं प्रति ।। १३.१३ ।।

sa gatvā nagarīṃ laṅkām āsasāda vibhīṣaṇam | mānitas tena dharmeṇa pṛṣṭaś cāgamanaṃ prati || 13.13 ||

That envoy, going to the city of Lanka, came before Vibhishana, who honored him befittingly and asked the reason for his coming.

Shloka 14 (uttara.13.14)

पृष्ट्वा च कुशलं राज्ञो ज्ञातीनां च बिभीषणः । सभायां दर्शयामास तमासीनं दशाननम् ।। १३.१४ ।।

pṛṣṭvā ca kuśalaṃ rājño jñātīnāṃ ca bibhīṣaṇaḥ | sabhāyāṃ darśayāmāsa tam āsīnaṃ daśānanam || 13.14 ||

Vibhishana, having inquired after the welfare of the king and the kinsfolk, brought him into the assembly hall and presented him to Dashanana, who sat there.

Shloka 15 (uttara.13.15)

स दृष्ट्वा तत्र राजानं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा । जयेति वाचा सम्पूज्य तूष्णीं समभिवर्तत ।। १३.१५ ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā tatra rājānaṃ dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā | jayeti vācā sampūjya tūṣṇīṃ samabhivartata || 13.15 ||

Seeing there the king, blazing with his own splendor, he honored him with the word 'Victory!' and then stood silently before him.

Shloka 16 (uttara.13.16)

तं तत्रोत्तमपर्यङ्के वरास्तरणशोभिते । उपविष्टं दशग्रीवं दूतो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। १३.१६ ।।

taṃ tatrottamaparyaṅke varāstaraṇaśobhite | upaviṣṭaṃ daśagrīvaṃ dūto vākyam athābravīt || 13.16 ||

To Dashagriva, seated there upon a superb couch adorned with excellent coverings, the envoy then spoke these words.

Shloka 17 (uttara.13.17)

राजन्वदामि ते सर्वं भ्राता तव यदब्रवीत् । उभयोः सदृशं वीर वृत्तस्य च कुलस्य च ।। १३.१७ ।।

rājan vadāmi te sarvaṃ bhrātā tava yad abravīt | ubhayoḥ sadṛśaṃ vīra vṛttasya ca kulasya ca || 13.17 ||

'O king, I tell you all that your brother has said, O hero, words befitting both your conduct and your lineage.'

Shloka 18 (uttara.13.18)

साधु पर्याप्तमेतावत्कृतश्चारित्रसङ्ग्रहः । साधु धर्मे व्यवस्थानं क्रियतां यदि शक्यते ।। १३.१८ ।।

sādhu paryāptam etāvat kṛtaś cāritrasaṅgrahaḥ | sādhu dharme vyavasthānaṃ kriyatāṃ yadi śakyate || 13.18 ||

'Enough — this much conduct is sufficient; let there now, if possible, be a settling into righteousness.'

Shloka 19 (uttara.13.19)

दृष्टं मे नन्दनं भग्नमृषयो निहताः श्रुताः । देवतानां समुद्योगस्त्वत्तो राजन्मम श्रुतः ।। १३.१९ ।।

dṛṣṭaṃ me nandanaṃ bhagnam ṛṣayo nihatāḥ śrutāḥ | devatānāṃ samudyogas tvatto rājan mama śrutaḥ || 13.19 ||

'I have seen Nandana laid waste, I have heard that sages have been slain; and I have heard, O king, that because of you the gods are mustering for action.'

Shloka 20 (uttara.13.20)

निराकृतश्च बहुशस्त्वया ऽहं राक्षसाधिप । अपराद्धा हि बाल्याच्च रमणीयाः स्वबान्धवाः ।। १३.२० ।।

nirākṛtaś ca bahuśas tvayāhaṃ rākṣasādhipa | aparāddhā hi bālyāc ca ramaṇīyāḥ svabāndhavāḥ || 13.20 ||

'O lord of the rakshasas, I have been spurned by you many times; and yet even one's own dear kinsfolk may offend out of youthful folly.'

Shloka 21 (uttara.13.21)

अहं तु हिमवत्पृष्ठं गतो धर्ममुपासितुम् । रौद्रं व्रतं समास्थाय नियतो नियतेन्द्रियः ।। १३.२१ ।।

ahaṃ tu himavatpṛṣṭhaṃ gato dharmam upāsitum | raudraṃ vrataṃ samāsthāya niyato niyatendriyaḥ || 13.21 ||

'As for me, I went to the heights of the Himalaya to practice dharma, undertaking a fierce vow, disciplined and with senses restrained.'

Shloka 22 (uttara.13.22)

तत्र देवो मया दृष्टः सह देव्या मया प्रभुः । सव्यं चक्षुर्मया दैवात्तत्र देव्यां निपातितम् ।। १३.२२ ।।

tatra devo mayā dṛṣṭaḥ saha devyā mayā prabhuḥ | savyaṃ cakṣur mayā daivāt tatra devyāṃ nipātitam || 13.22 ||

'There I beheld the divine Lord together with the Goddess; by chance, my left eye happened to fall upon the Goddess.'

Shloka 23 (uttara.13.23)

का न्वियं स्यादिति शुभा न खल्वन्येन हेतुना । रूपं ह्यनुपमं कृत्वा रुद्राणी तत्र तिष्ठति ।। १३.२३ ।।

kā nv iyaṃ syād iti śubhā na khalv anyena hetunā | rūpaṃ hy anupamaṃ kṛtvā rudrāṇī tatra tiṣṭhati || 13.23 ||

'"Who might this radiant one be?" — I wondered, for no other reason than that Rudrani stood there having assumed a form beyond compare.'

Shloka 24 (uttara.13.24)

देव्या दिव्यप्रभावेण दग्धं सव्यं ममेक्षणम् । रेणुध्वस्तमिव ज्योतिः पिङ्गुलत्वमुपागतम् ।। १३.२४ ।।

devyā divyaprabhāveṇa dagdhaṃ savyaṃ mamekṣaṇam | reṇudhvastam iva jyotiḥ piṅgulatvam upāgatam || 13.24 ||

'By the Goddess's divine power, my left eye was scorched; it turned tawny, like a light dimmed by dust.'

Shloka 25 (uttara.13.25)

ततो ऽहमन्यद्विस्तीर्णं गत्वा तस्य गिरेस्तटम् । तूष्णीं वर्षशतान्यष्टौ समाधारं महाव्रतम् ।। १३.२५ ।।

tato 'ham anyad vistīrṇaṃ gatvā tasya girestaṭam | tūṣṇīṃ varṣaśatāny aṣṭau samādhāraṃ mahāvratam || 13.25 ||

'Then, going to another broad slope of that mountain, I kept that great vow steadily, in silence, for eight hundred years.'

Shloka 26 (uttara.13.26)

समाप्ते नियमे तस्मिंस्तत्र देवो महेश्वरः । प्रीतः प्रीतेन मनसा प्राह वाक्यमिदं प्रभुः ।। १३.२६ ।।

samāpte niyame tasmiṃs tatra devo maheśvaraḥ | prītaḥ prītena manasā prāha vākyam idaṃ prabhuḥ || 13.26 ||

'When that observance was completed, there the divine Maheshvara, pleased, spoke to me these words with a gladdened heart.'

Shloka 27 (uttara.13.27)

पैङ्गल्यं यदवाप्तं हि देव्या रूपनिरीक्षणात् । प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ तपसानेन सुव्रत ।। १३.२७ ।।

paiṅgalyaṃ yad avāptaṃ hi devyā rūpanirīkṣaṇāt | prīto 'smi tava dharmajña tapasānena suvrata || 13.27 ||

'The tawny hue you gained from gazing on the Goddess's form — by this austerity, O knower of dharma, O virtuous one, I am well pleased with you.'

Shloka 28 (uttara.13.28)

मया चैतद्व्रतं चीर्णं त्वया चैव धनाधिप । तृतीयः पुरुषो नास्ति यश्चरेव्रतमीदृशम् ।। १३.२८ ।।

mayā caitad vrataṃ cīrṇaṃ tvayā caiva dhanādhipa | tṛtīyaḥ puruṣo nāsti yaś carev vratam īdṛśam || 13.28 ||

'This same vow, O Lord of Wealth, has been kept by me as well as by you; there is no third person who could observe such a vow.'

Shloka 29 (uttara.13.29)

व्रतं सुनिश्चयं ह्येतन्मया ह्युत्पादितं पुरा । तत्सखित्वं मया सौम्य रोचयस्व धनेश्वर ।। १३.२९ ।।

vrataṃ suniścayaṃ hy etan mayā hy utpāditaṃ purā | tatsakhitvaṃ mayā saumya rocayasva dhaneśvara || 13.29 ||

'This resolute vow was in fact first devised by me; therefore, gentle Lord of Wealth, consent to be my friend.'

Shloka 30 (uttara.13.30)

तपसा निर्जितश्चैव सखा भव ममानघ । देव्या दग्धं प्रभावेण यच्च सव्यं तवेक्षणम् ।। १३.३० ।।

tapasā nirjitaś caiva sakhā bhava mamānagha | devyā dagdhaṃ prabhāveṇa yac ca savyaṃ tavekṣaṇam || 13.30 ||

'Won over by austerity, become my friend, O sinless one; and as for your left eye, which the Goddess's power has scorched,'

Shloka 31 (uttara.13.31)

एकाक्षिपिङ्गलेत्येव नाम स्थास्यति शाश्वतम् । एवं तेन सखित्वं च प्राप्यानुज्ञां च शङ्करात् ।। १३.३१ ।।

ekākṣipiṅgalety eva nāma sthāsyati śāśvatam | evaṃ tena sakhitvaṃ ca prāpyānujñāṃ ca śaṅkarāt || 13.31 ||

'"One-eyed Tawny-eye" shall be your name forever.' Thus, having obtained his friendship and leave from Shankara,

Shloka 32 (uttara.13.32)

आगत्य च श्रुतो ऽयं मे तव पापविनिश्चयः ।। १३.३२ ।।

āgatya ca śruto 'yaṃ me tava pāpaviniścayaḥ || 13.32 ||

and having come back here, I have now heard of this sinful resolve of yours.

Shloka 33 (uttara.13.33)

तदधर्मिष्ठसंयोगान्निवर्त कुलदूषणात् । चिन्त्यते हि वधोपायः सर्षिसङ्घैः सुरैस्तव ।। १३.३३ ।।

tad adharmiṣṭhasaṃyogān nivarta kuladūṣaṇāt | cintyate hi vadhopāyaḥ sarṣisaṅghaiḥ suraistava || 13.33 ||

'Therefore turn back from this unrighteous course, this defiling of our lineage; for the gods, together with the hosts of sages, are already devising means for your destruction.'

Shloka 34 (uttara.13.34)

एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः क्रुद्धसंरक्तलोचनः । हस्तौ दन्तांश्च सम्पीड्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। १३.३४ ।।

evam ukto daśagrīvaḥ kruddhasaṃraktalocanaḥ | hastau dantāṃś ca sampīḍya vākyam etad uvāca ha || 13.34 ||

Thus addressed, Dashagriva, his eyes red with fury, clenching his hands and grinding his teeth, spoke these words.

Shloka 35 (uttara.13.35)

विज्ञातं ते मया दूत वाक्यं यस्य प्रभाषसे । नैतत्त्वमसि नैवासौ भ्रात्रा येनासि चोदितः ।। १३.३५ ।।

vijñātaṃ te mayā dūta vākyaṃ yasya prabhāṣase | naitat tvam asi naivāsau bhrātrā yenāsi coditaḥ || 13.35 ||

'I have understood, O envoy, whose words these are that you speak; it is not you, nor is it even that brother of mine, by whom you have truly been sent.'

Shloka 36 (uttara.13.36)

हितं नैष ममैतद्धि ब्रवीति धनरक्षकः । महेश्वरसखित्वं तु मूढ श्रावयते किल ।। १३.३६ ।।

hitaṃ naiṣa mamaitad dhi bravīti dhanarakṣakaḥ | maheśvarasakhitvaṃ tu mūḍha śrāvayate kila || 13.36 ||

'This is no true good will that the Guardian of Wealth speaks; fool, you merely go about boasting of his friendship with Maheshvara.'

Shloka 37 (uttara.13.37)

न चेदं क्षमणीयं मे यदेतद्भाषितं त्वया । यदेतावन्मया कालं दूत तस्य तु मर्षितम् ।। १३.३७ ।।

na cedaṃ kṣamaṇīyaṃ me yad etad bhāṣitaṃ tvayā | yad etāvan mayā kālaṃ dūta tasya tu marṣitam || 13.37 ||

'This that you have spoken is not to be forgiven by me; O envoy, that I have endured him for so long a time already.'

Shloka 38 (uttara.13.38)

न हन्तव्यो गुरुर्ज्येष्ठो मया ऽयमिति मन्यते । तस्य त्विदानीं श्रुत्वा मे वाक्यमेषा कृता मतिः ।। १३.३८ ।।

na hantavyo gurur jyeṣṭho mayāyam iti manyate | tasya tv idānīṃ śrutvā me vākyam eṣā kṛtā matiḥ || 13.38 ||

'"He is my elder, he ought not to be slain by me" — so I had thought; but now, hearing this speech of his, my mind is made up.'

Shloka 39 (uttara.13.39)

त्रीँल्लोकानपि जेष्यामि बाहुवीर्यमुपाश्रितः ।। १३.३९ ।।

trīṁl lokān api jeṣyāmi bāhuvīryam upāśritaḥ || 13.39 ||

'Relying on the strength of my arms, I shall conquer even the three worlds.'

Shloka 40 (uttara.13.40)

एतन्मुहूर्तमेवाहं तस्यैकस्य तु वै कृते । चतुरो लोकपालांस्तान्नयिष्यामि यमक्षयम् ।। १३.४० ।।

etan muhūrtam evāhaṃ tasyaikasya tu vai kṛte | caturo lokapālāṃs tān nayiṣyāmi yamakṣayam || 13.40 ||

'For the sake of that one alone, I shall this very instant send those four Guardians of the Worlds to the abode of Yama.'

Shloka 41 (uttara.13.41)

एवमुक्त्वा तु लङ्केशो दूतं खड्गेन जघ्निवान् । ददौ भक्षयितुं ह्येनं राक्षसानां दुरात्मनाम् ।। १३.४१ ।।

evam uktvā tu laṅkeśo dūtaṃ khaḍgena jaghnivān | dadau bhakṣayituṃ hy enaṃ rākṣasānāṃ durātmanām || 13.41 ||

Having said this, the lord of Lanka struck the envoy down with his sword, and gave him over to be devoured by his evil-souled rakshasas.

Shloka 42 (uttara.13.42)

एवं कृतस्वस्त्ययनो रथमारुह्य रावणः । त्रैलोक्यविजयाकाङ्क्षी ययौ यत्र धनेश्वरः ।। १३.४२ ।।

evaṃ kṛtasvastyayano ratham āruhya rāvaṇaḥ | trailokyavijayākāṅkṣī yayau yatra dhaneśvaraḥ || 13.42 ||

Having thus performed rites for auspicious success, Ravana mounted his chariot and, desiring conquest of the three worlds, set out to where the Lord of Wealth was.