Kumbhakarṇa

Also known as: Kumbhakarna · Family: Rákshases · Role: warrior · First appears: Book I, Canto 3 · The Argument

In Book VI, Canto 12, Kumbhakarṇa rebukes Rávaṇ for abducting Sítá without first consulting his ministers. In Canto 60, after months of sleep under Brahmá’s curse, he wakes when the giants’ efforts and the weight of their elephants break his slumber. Vibhishaṇ recounts that Kumbhakarṇa killed and ate a thousand men, conquered Yáma, drove Indra from battle, and was cursed by Brahmá to sleep for six months and wake for one day. At Rávaṇ’s pleading, the curse was limited to that cycle; now, as the war reaches its crisis, Rávaṇ rouses him.

In Canto 63, Kumbhakarṇa urges Rávaṇ to restore Sítá to Ráma. But when Rávaṇ orders him to battle, he leaves the hall and passes through Lanká’s gate. In Canto 67 he fights the Vánars, striking Hanumán, killing Níla, and knocking down Rishabh, Śarabh, Gaváksha, and Angad. He fells Sugríva and carries him into Lanká, but Sugríva wounds him and escapes. Lakshmaṇ then wounds Kumbhakarṇa with arrows, and Ráma kills him, cutting off his limbs and head. In Canto 68, Mahodar and Mahápárśva mourn their brother.