THE GIANT IS ROUSED

WHEN Raavana returned humbled and dejected, the gods rejoiced foreseeing the speedy end of their troubles. Raavana entered the fortress, ashamed and anxious. After deliberating a while, he re covered his courage and ordered his sleeping brother Kumbhakarna to be roused.

As the result of a curse, Kumbhakarna used to sleep for months together and he had gone to sleep just a few days before the events last narrated. Raavana asked his ministers to spare no efforts to rouse Kumbhakarna at once and get him ready for battle.

"All my penances have proved futile. It looks as though the prophecy of the rishis will be fulfilled," thus said Raavana to himself, but rooted in his determination to fight to the last he issued orders as if he were certain of ultimate success: "Let the warriors guard the fortress on all sides. My brother is sound asleep.

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