स प्रविश्य पुरीं लङ्कां रामबाणभयार्दितः। भग्नदर्पस्तदा राजा बभूव व्यथितेन्द्रियः
He entered the city of Lanka, terrified by Rāma’s arrows, his pride broken, the king became distressed in his senses.
मातंग इव सिंहेन गरुडेनेव पन्नगः। अभिभूतोऽभवद् राजा राघवेण महात्मना
Like a wild elephant subdued by a lion, or a serpent by Garuda, the king was overcome by the great-souled Rāghava.
ब्रह्मदण्डप्रतीकानां विद्युच्चलितवर्चसाम्। स्मरन् राघवबाणानां विव्यथे राक्षसेश्वरः
Recalling Rāghava’s arrows, which resembled the staff of Brahma and shone like flashes of lightning, the lord of rākṣasas was troubled.
स काञ्चनमयं दिव्यमाश्रित्य परमासनम्। विप्रेक्षमाणो रक्षांसि रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Taking his seat upon a divine throne of gold, Rāvaṇa, surveying the rākṣasas, spoke these words:
सर्वं तत् खलु मे मोघं यत् तप्तं परमं तपः। यत् समानो महेन्द्रेण मानुषेण विनिर्जितः
All my great austerities have truly been in vain, for though I equaled Indra, I have been defeated by a man.
इदं तद् ब्रह्मणो घोरं वाक्यं मामभ्युपस्थितम्। मानुषेभ्यो विजानीहि भयं त्वमिति तत्तथा
That dreadful utterance of Brahmā has now come upon me: 'Know that your fear shall come from men'—and so it is.
देवदानवगन्धर्वैर्यक्षराक्षसपन्नगैः। अवध्यत्वं मया प्रोक्तं मानुषेभ्यो न याचितम्
I had asked for invulnerability from gods, demons, gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, and serpents, but not from men.
तमिमं मानुषं मन्ये रामं दशरथात्मजम्। इक्ष्वाकुकुलजातेन अनरण्येन यत् पुरा
I believe this man is Rāma, son of Daśaratha, descended from the Ikṣvāku line, as foretold long ago by Anaraṇya.
उत्पत्स्यति हि मद्वंशपुरुषो राक्षसाधम। यस्त्वां सपुत्रं सामात्यं सबलं साश्वसारथिम्
For it was said that a man of my lineage, O vilest of rākṣasas, would arise who would slay you in battle—together with your sons, ministers, army, horses, and charioteer.
निहनिष्यति संग्रामे त्वां कुलाधम दुर्मते। शप्तोऽहं वेदवत्या च यथा सा धर्षिता पुरा
That wretch of your line, evil-minded, will kill you in battle; and I was cursed by Vedavatī, whom I once violated.
सेयं सीता महाभागा जाता जनकनन्दिनी। उमा नन्दीश्वरश्चापि रम्भा वरुणकन्यका
This Sītā, greatly fortunate and daughter of Janaka, is she—just as Umā, Nandīśvara, Rambhā, and the daughter of Varuṇa were born.
यथोक्तास्तन्मया प्राप्तं न मिथ्या ऋषिभाषितम्। एतदेव समागम्य यत्नं कर्तुमिहार्हथ
As foretold, this has come to pass; the words of the seers are not false. Therefore, having gathered here, you must make every effort.
राक्षसाश्चापि तिष्ठन्तु चर्यागोपुरमूर्धसु। स चाप्रतिमगाम्भीर्यो देवदानवदर्पहा
Let the rākṣasas stand guard at the gates and towers; for he, of unfathomable depth and destroyer of the pride of gods and demons, draws near.
ब्रह्मशापाभिभूतस्तु कुम्भकर्णो विबोध्यताम्। समरे जितमात्मानं प्रहस्तं च निषूदितम्
Let Kumbhakarṇa, subdued by Brahmā’s curse, be awakened; Prahasta has been slain and our forces defeated in battle.
ज्ञात्वा रक्षोबलं भीममादिदेश महाबलः। द्वारेषु यत्नः क्रियतां प्राकारश्चाधिरुह्यताम्
Knowing the terrible strength of the rākṣasa army, the mighty one ordered: 'Guard the gates with care and ascend the ramparts.'
निद्रावशसमाविष्टः कुम्भकर्णो विबोध्यताम्। सुखं स्वपिति निश्चिन्तः कामोपहतचेतनः
Let Kumbhakarṇa, overcome by sleep, be awakened; he sleeps peacefully, carefree, his mind overcome by desire.
नव सप्त दशाष्टौ च मासान् स्वपिति राक्षसः। मन्त्रं कृत्वा प्रसुप्तोऽयमितस्तु नवमेऽहनि
This rākṣasa sleeps for nine, seven, ten, or eight months at a time; having performed a rite, he now sleeps, but this is the ninth day.
तं तु बोधयत क्षिप्रं कुम्भकर्णं महाबलम्। स हि संख्ये महाबाहुः ककुदं सर्वरक्षसाम्। वानरान् राजपुत्रौ च क्षिप्रमेव हनिष्यति
Quickly awaken that mighty Kumbhakarṇa; for in battle, that great-armed one, the foremost among rākṣasas, will swiftly slay the monkeys and the two princes.
एष केतुः परं संख्ये मुख्यो वै सर्वरक्षसाम्। कुम्भकर्णः सदा शेते मूढो ग्राम्यसुखे रतः
He is the foremost banner in battle, the chief of all rākṣasas; yet Kumbhakarṇa always lies in slumber, deluded and devoted to base pleasures.
रामेणाभिनिरस्तस्य संग्रामेऽस्मिन् सुदारुणे। भविष्यति न मे शोकः कुम्भकर्णे विबोधिते
If Kumbhakarṇa is awakened, I shall have no sorrow at being routed by Rāma in this terrible battle.
किं करिष्याम्यहं तेन शक्रतुल्यबलेन हि। ईदृशे व्यसने घोरे यो न साह्याय कल्पते
What use is he to me, though his strength equals Indra’s, if in this dire calamity he is not fit to help?
ते तु तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य राक्षसाः। जग्मुः परमसम्भ्रान्ताः कुम्भकर्णनिवेशनम्
Hearing those words of the king of the Rākṣasas, the Rākṣasas, greatly agitated, went to Kumbhakarṇa’s dwelling.
ते रावणसमादिष्टा मांसशोणितभोजनाः। गन्धं माल्यं महद्भक्ष्यमादाय सहसा ययुः
Commanded by Rāvaṇa, those flesh-and-blood-eating Rākṣasas quickly took fragrant garlands and great quantities of food and set out.
तां प्रविश्य महाद्वारां सर्वतो योजनायताम्। कुम्भकर्णगुहां रम्यां पुष्पगन्धप्रवाहिनीम्
Entering that delightful cave of Kumbhakarṇa, with its great doorway and extending a league in every direction, filled with the scent of flowers,
कुम्भकर्णस्य निःश्वासादवधूता महाबलाः। प्रतिष्ठमानाः कृच्छ्रेण यत्नात् प्रविविशुर्गुहाम्
Shaken by Kumbhakarṇa’s breath, those mighty ones struggled and with effort entered the cave.
तां प्रविश्य गुहां रम्यां रत्नकाञ्चनकुट्टिमाम्। ददृशुर्नैर्ऋतव्याघ्राः शयानं भीमविक्रमम्
Entering that splendid cave, with floors inlaid with gems and gold, the Rākṣasa tigers saw him lying there, terrifying in his might.
ते तु तं विकृतं सुप्तं विकीर्णमिव पर्वतम्। कुम्भकर्णं महानिद्रं समेताः प्रत्यबोधयन्
Then, gathering together, they roused Kumbhakarṇa, monstrous in sleep, deformed and sprawling like a mountain.
ऊर्ध्वलोमाञ्चिततनुं श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्। भ्रामयन्तं विनिःश्वासैः शयानं भीमविक्रमम्
His body bristling with hair, breathing like a serpent, making the air swirl with his exhalations, he lay there, terrible in his valor.
भीमनासापुटं तं तु पातालविपुलाननम्। शयने न्यस्तसर्वाङ्गं मेदोरुधिरगन्धिनम्
With a dreadful nose and a mouth vast as the underworld, his whole body stretched out on the bed, reeking of fat and blood.
काञ्चनाङ्गदनद्धाङ्गं किरीटेनार्कवर्चसम्। ददृशुर्नैर्ऋतव्याघ्रं कुम्भकर्णमरिंदमम्
Adorned with golden armlets, his body shining like the sun with a crown, they saw Kumbhakarṇa, the subduer of foes, the tiger among Rākṣasas.