Lanka Kaanda
179 - Kumbhakarna joins the beale and attains final beatitude
Chaupais
Description
Perceiving the gods much alarmed, the All-merciful pulled the string of His bow right up to His ear and blocked the demon's mouth with a flight of His arrows; yet he did not fall to the ground, most powerful as he was. With his mouth full of arrows he rushed forward like a living quiver of Death Himself. Then the Lord in His wrath took a sharp arrow and struck his head right off his body. The head dropped in front of his ten-headed brother, who was filled with agony at its sight like a snake that has lost its crest-jewel. The earth sunk beneath the weight of the terrible trunk that still sprinted there; thereupon the Lord cut it in two. The two pieces fell to the ground like a pair of mountains dropped from the heavens, crushing beneath them monkeys, bears and demons alike. His soul entered the Lord's mouth in the form of a mass of light, to the astonishment of gods, sages and all. The gods sounded their kettle-drums in great exultation, extolled the Lord and rained down flowers in profusion. Having prayed to the Lord, all the gods went their way. Just at that moment arrived the celestial sage, Narada. Standing high in the air he sang Sri Hari's praises in a delightful heroic strain, which pleased the Lord's soul. The sage departed with the words "Pray, despatch this wretch (Ravana) quickly." Sri Rama shone forth on the field of battle.