Ramayana_VOLUME V with index

173
Kumbhakarna
have to suffer the fruits of your actions. Ravana! Rama is no
ordinary mortal. Surpanakha, our sister, was maddened by lust.
She planned to achieve her selfish desire and she suffered the
consequence of her wickedness. She set your instinct on fire, and
induced you to enact this barbarous crime. Listening to a wily
woman, you cast aside all discrimination, and brought on your
head this calamity by the mischief of your own hands.”
Kumbhakarna laid the blame on his own brother and advised him
for long.
But Ravana was in no mood to accept the blame. “Do not desert
me in disaster. Prepare yourselves for leading our armies into the
war. Save my life,” he pleaded.
Finding no means of escape, and overcome by affection for the
brother, Kumbhakarna got ready. They placed cauldrons of toddy
and mounds of meat before him, so that he might breakfast on
them. Gulping the whole lot in a moment, Kumbhakarna
proceeded to the battlefield.
Kumbhakarna blesses Vibhishana:
Seeing him enter the fray, Vibhishana, his younger brother, ran
forward from Rama’s camp and fell at his feet in humble
reverence. Rising up, he announced himself by name.
Kumbhakarna beamed in joy. He embraced his brother with
loving tenderness. Vibhishana was the first to speak. He said,
“Brother! Ravana insulted me in open court and kicked me out of
the Audience Hall. I considered all aspects of this affair and
counselled him in various ways. He discarded my advice and
gave ear to power-mad foolish ministers. He hurled unbearable