Ramayana – The Dialogue between Ravana and Kumbhakarna
Kumbhakarna:
How did you dare to wake me before my appointed time? Is the Lord of Lanka, Ravana, well?
Yes. The great king Ravana is safe and seated in his palace. Then what is it? Has some calamity befallen Lanka?
Commander Virupaksha:
So far, Lanka has remained secure, but now its safety is in danger. Sugriva’s army of monkeys has surrounded the city from all sides.
Kumbhakarna:
Surrounded by the monkey army? But we had a treaty with the monkey-king Vali.
Commander Virupaksha:
Vali has been slain. His younger brother Sugriva has ascended the throne of the monkey kingdom and, to aid Rama—the forest-dwelling king of Ayodhya—has marched upon Lanka with his army. The monkeys have encircled the capital.
Kumbhakarna:
But why? What does Rama of Ayodhya want from Lanka—his wife?
Commander Virupaksha:
His wife. The Lord of Lanka has abducted Sita, Rama’s wife.
Kumbhakarna:
Sita abducted! The very Jagadamba herself! How could such foolishness arise in his mind? Did no one counsel him?
Commander Virupaksha:
Your younger brother Vibhishana dared to explain this in the full court, but Maharaja Ravana kicked him out and banished him from the kingdom.
Kumbhakarna:
Is the enemy very powerful?
Commander Virupaksha:
Today on the battlefield, Rama not only mocked the Lord of Lanka but gravely insulted him as well. Having resolved so, he released him saying, “Go now; you must be tired. I do not strike an exhausted, defeated enemy.” Maharaja, Ravana awaits you in his palace.
Ravana:
Has Kumbhakarna awakened?
Spy:
Yes, Maharaj. Lord Kumbhakarna has entered the city and come to seek your audience. At the sight of him, a wave of enthusiasm has swept through the city; now there is excitement everywhere. Let us go to the terrace of the pleasure palace; there Ravana will meet Kumbhakarna.
Kumbhakarna:
Maharaj, is what Virupaksha told me true—that the monkey army has surrounded Lanka and clouds of danger hang over it?
Ravana, Lord of Lanka:
Yes, Lanka is in peril now; that is why you were awakened at an untimely hour. All our hopes rest upon you alone. The enemy has, in a short time, slain our foremost warriors. Until reinforcements arrive from across the seas, protecting Lanka with this remaining force seems very difficult. The treasury too is nearly empty; therefore your going to the battlefield has become essential.
Kumbhakarna:
Has nothing come of Indrajit? When we ourselves could not withstand Rama, how could Indrajit face him? That is why we have not yet sent him into battle.
Ravana:
Did you yourself go to the battlefield?
Kumbhakarna:
Yes. When Prahasta and Makara were slain, we realized the enemy would not be subdued by such battles. The war would drag on, and the morale of Lanka’s people would decline day by day. So I resolved to go myself and annihilate the enemy once and for all.
But the enemy proved not as weak as we thought. He cut down all our weapons and rendered us unarmed. The greatest blow came when, instead of killing us in that state, he humiliated us and sent us back. Today the whole world must be laughing at us—even Sita will mock us. With what pride shall we face her now? Brother Kumbhakarna, therefore it has become necessary for you to go to the battlefield and devour those monkeys and men. Today the honor of the Rakshasa race lies in our hands. You must avenge Ravana’s humiliation—Ravana, the conqueror of the three worlds, who now stands weaponless, bereft of fortune and honor. And yet you did not consider who Rama truly is?
Ravana:
Do not address the enemy with the honorific “Shri.”
Kumbhakarna:
Maharaj, closing one’s eyes does not make the sun disappear. He who is the lord of the three worlds is Narayana himself; he must be called Shri Rama. Brother, perhaps you have forgotten—generations ago, a king of the Ikshvaku dynasty cursed you that when Narayana himself would incarnate in your lineage, he would destroy you in that very form. Have you also forgotten what Narada told me—that Vishnu has been born in the house of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya to destroy the Rakshasas? Brother, you have forgotten Brahma’s words too; yet you abducted Queen Sita, who is herself an incarnation of Lakshmi.
Ravana:
We had to avenge the insult of our sister. Was it not our duty to take revenge for our brother’s death? If so, should it not have been done like warriors? By abducting a woman like thieves, did your head rise higher in honor? Surpanakha was my sister too. Had you awakened me before committing this disgraceful act, I would have shown you how vengeance is taken.
It is not only proper but essential for a king to consult his wisest and truest ministers before every important decision. A king must not fall into the words of flatterers and selfish ministers who, for personal gain, would sell their king and country to the enemy. The scriptures warn of such ministers… Kumbhakarna, this is not the time for sermons; every word has its proper time. That is exactly what I mean, brother—that you did not speak the right words at the right time. Policy teaches that a man should pursue dharma, artha, and kama at their proper times: dharma in the morning, artha at midday, and kama at night. Of these, dharma is supreme; where artha and kama conflict with dharma, they must be forsaken. At the time of abducting Sita, you did not consider dharma and adharma; you ignored the righteous counsel of Mandodari and Vibhishana and sought only to gratify your desire. This is the result, which all of Lanka now suffers.
Ravana:
If you wish to lecture us like a guru, then go back to sleep; we have no need of you. This is a time of crisis; speak only of your duty now. Granted, in delusion we did not recognize Narayana; granted, in infatuation we abducted a woman; granted, in pride and arrogance we ignored counsel—discussing these will not turn history back. What is past is past; the wise do not grieve over it. What must be decided now is what to do at this moment. Decide whether you have any duty toward your race and toward your brother. You quoted the scriptures—well, the scriptures also say that even if a brother has sinned, he who stands by him in crisis alone is worthy to be called a brother. Anyone can instruct the guilty; a true brother is one who stands with him in danger and helps him, not lectures him. Think—would you accept the destruction of the Rakshasa race along with Ravana, even if it be because of Ravana?
Kumbhakarna:
This is no time for argument. If there is doubt in the mind, if the path of duty is unclear, going to war is futile. Go back to sleep. Ravana knows how to uphold his honor and how to live and die with dignity. Go.
Kumbhakarna:
Brother, you have not understood me correctly. What I said was as a true well-wisher; it was both my right and my duty. As for what I must do now, there is no doubt or darkness in my mind. I am the younger brother, and the dharma of a younger brother is this alone—that as long as he lives and is healthy, no suffering should befall the elder brother. If the elder brother is anxious or endangered, shame on the younger. A younger brother is both friend and servant.
We are proud of you; you are the pride of the Rakshasa race. Brother, now forget all worry of war. I promise you that before sunset today, I will bring the heads of those forest-dwelling princes through the streets and lanes of Lanka and crush them underfoot, so that those whose loved ones were slain in this war may come and kick them one by one. If I live, tonight Lanka will celebrate victory. But—if your words prove true and he truly is God, even then I shall not turn my back. For my brother’s honor, I shall die fighting on the battlefield—this is my vow.
Ravana:
Why do you think of death, Kumbhakarna? You will surely be victorious. I order the commander to prepare a fourfold army to accompany you.
Kumbhakarna:
No, brother, I need no army. I shall go alone to the battlefield, with only Shiva’s trident in my hand. Half their army will be crushed beneath my feet. Grant me your command and your blessing, that your glory may increase because of me.
Ravana:
Brother, may I make one request?
Kumbhakarna:
Speak.
Kumbhakarna:
If I am slain on the battlefield, understand this—then no one can defeat him. Accept Shri Rama as God and seek refuge in him, so that our lineage may not be utterly destroyed and your kingdom may remain intact. A being is happy only when he enjoys prosperity seated among his kinsmen. Without a brother like you, what use is sovereignty over the three worlds to Ravana? How can brothers enjoy prosperity after getting their own sons killed?
Ravana:
Go—do not speak of death; speak of war, speak of victory in war. (Music) Go, brother. Bless me.
Kumbhakarna departs.
