When Rama spared Ravana because of being unarmed, he returned from the battlefield, humiliated and insulted. Instead of going back himself to the battlefield again, he decided to send his brother Kumbhakarna to fight against Rama and Laxman. Kumbhakarna, who used to sleep for six months at a time, became furious when he was awakened much before the completion of six months’ period. Ravana explained to him the urgent situation. Hearing that Ravana had kidnapped Rama’s wife, Kumbhakarna was frightened and told Ravana that Rama was no ordinary human but an incarnation of the Lord himself, so Ravana should not battle with him. Instead, he should ask for his forgiveness. Ravana became angry and asked him to stop praising his enemy. Seeing the gigantic Kumbhakarna on the battlefield, the monkeys started fleeing in all directions. Kumbhakarna then grabbed a handful of monkeys and ate them up. Meanwhile, the arrows that Rama and his army fired at Kumbhakarna broke on hitting his strong body. Finding the arrows ineffective, Rama decided to cut off his head. So he flung his chakra which severed the demon’s head. The monkeys came back once again and rejoiced to see the dead body of the giant demon.
KUMBHAKARNA’S DEATH
