Page1
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.
Author - C.Raja Gopalachari
|