The stirring words of Angada breathed fire into the hearts of the simian hosts; emboldened, they gathered with the singular resolve to end the tyranny of the colossal terror. What once daunted now summoned courage, and what once seemed weighty now became weapons in their hands. Fear dissolved, not in a passing flare, but with enduring conviction born of righteous cause. Their purpose outshone their own lives, and faith surged like a tide unbound, driving them beyond all sense of limitation. When fear, doubt, and hesitation vanish, transformation becomes not only possible but inevitable. Against such conviction, not even the monstrous form and dreadful wrath of Kumbhakarna could invoke dread.
With terrifying might, the giant stormed into battle, his mace swirling like a tempest, shattering bodies as though they were leaves in a storm. Yet his thoughts trembled, trapped in wonder—how did these meager monkey clans dare resist his matchless strength? He flung away scores of vanara warriors, who fell in silence, no cries, no lamentations—only the name of Rama whispered from their lips like a solemn vow. Amidst ruin and slaughter, two syllables rose like a hymn, igniting a strength deeper than sinew.
The demons, themselves aghast, beheld a tide they had not foreseen: spirit awakened amidst hopelessness. Then mighty Dwivida rose, hurling a hill upon the demon-giant. Yet the mace of Kumbhakarna reduced it to ash, though beneath its crashing stones, many chariots, steeds, elephants, and demons lay slain. In rage, the giant roared to his legion, commanding the simians to be torn limb from limb. But the herds, maddened by resolve, grew only fiercer and fell the enemy in multitudes. Severed heads, trunks, and limbs littered the field—a grotesque, dreadful landscape where blood flowed like rivers of crimson through the mire of torn flesh.
The vanara warriors soared, hurling trees and boulders, bringing ruin upon cavalry and beast alike. Then Hanuman, with a mountain-boulder, descended upon Kumbhakarna’s head, staggering the giant, who nonetheless struck wildly, sowing death amongst friend and foe. Hanuman stood firm with a massive tree, restraining his fury. The demon’s form now resembled a mountain bleeding from a hundred wounds, yet his slaughter did not cease. Seizing a trident spitting fire, he pierced Hanuman, casting him down, yet the heavens shook with Hanuman’s roar as he rose and flung the titan to earth.
Neela followed, striking with a stone, but the demon parried with fists and hurled him skyward. Demons cried victory when Neela fell beside Hanuman. Perceiving peril, Rishabha, Sharabha, and Gavaksha closed in, and Neela, rising once more, rejoined. They assailed the demon with fists, trees, and boulders, yet he endured, catching Rishabha and crushing him with a fell embrace. Sharabha he kicked with his knee, Neela with his fists, Gavaksha he struck with a thunderous palm, and Gandhamadana he crushed underfoot.
Now surrounded, the demon faltered, falling insensible, yet the vanaras swarmed him in rage. Like apes on a fruit-laden tree, they climbed, clawed, and bit, tearing his flesh with nails. He shook them off like pods in a storm, scattering them to earth. His body, vast and seething, bore the semblance of a mountain writhing with monkeys. In wrath, he sought to shatter their spirit, opening his vast maw to devour clusters of vanaras like fruits plucked from vine. From his ears and nose some spilled out, and his shape, too vast to fathom, seemed like Garutmanta himself consuming serpents.
Unstoppable, the demon marched upon the vanaras like fire across a dry forest, burning all. In his hands was the rope of Yama, and in his wrath, the thunderbolt of Indra. His slaughter was a summer blaze upon the earth. Chaos reigned; simian leaders, stricken and stunned, lost all sense of movement or meaning. The remnant hosts fled and turned to Rama, seeking shelter. But then Angada strode forth, bearing a hill, his voice like thunder, challenging the demon legions. He flung it upon Kumbhakarna, who staggered yet charged, striking Angada down with a blow that laid him senseless.
The giant now turned his sights upon Sugreeva, hoping to shatter the vanaras’ will. But the monkey-king flew aloft, hurled a hill which struck the demon unmoved. “You strike the brave with deceit,” cried Sugreeva, “a breach of dharma! You slay with cruelty and wear your infamy as honor in your dark world. Come—fight me as a warrior ought!” The giant replied, “O son of Ruksharajas, grandson of Brahma, I know thee—bold and gallant. But in war, only victory is truth; all else is illusion.”
Sugreeva’s mighty fist thundered against the demon’s chest, sending him reeling. A trident, flaming and wild, sped toward the monkey king, but Hanuman, rising again, seized it mid-air, shattered it, and hurled its fragments upon the demon troops, slaying dozens. Taken aback by Hanuman’s return, Kumbhakarna raged anew, lifting a hill and casting it down upon Sugreeva, who fell senseless. Cheers rang from demon ranks, sorrow from simians.
Then, in a cunning move, Kumbhakarna seized Sugreeva’s form and bore him toward Lanka, believing this victory would break the vanara spirit. Hanuman, mindful of dharma, restrained his impulse. “If I slay the demon now and free the king, it may dishonor Sugreeva’s strength. Let him arise of his might, or this hasty act will cast a shadow on his glory.” Thus thinking, he stood watchful in prayerful silence, strengthening the vanara ranks.
Meanwhile, within Lanka, Sugreeva stirred upon the demon’s shoulder, eyes opening to behold the dark city. In silent resolve, he bit the demon’s neck, tore its ear and nose, and drew rivers of blood. Cast down in pain, Kumbhakarna faltered, and Sugreeva soared, striking his foe and landing before Rama like a meteor from the sky. Behind him, the demon staggered like a tower of blood, pressing toward the palace.
So raged this battle, fierce and raw—where cruelty met courage, cunning stood beside valor, and fate wove its strands from both sides. Savage carnage consumed heroes and beasts alike, but from the whirlwinds of blood and ash, the epic of this clash would forever be etched in the chronicles of yore.
