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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 67: Story of Kabandha

Summary. A ṛṣi’s curse and Indra’s thunderbolt produced his deformed body, he asks for cremation to restore his discernment and name a helpful ally

Sequence

  1. Kabandha recalls once possessing extraordinary beauty but taking a frightening form to terrify forest munis (3.67.1–2)
  2. when he frightened Sthūlaśiras while the muni was gathering food, the muni cursed him to retain a hideous form (3.67.3–4)
  3. Kabandha begged for an end to the curse → Sthūlaśiras said that Rāma would cut off his arms and burn his body, restoring his original appearance. (3.67.5–6)
  1. Kabandha also identifies himself as Danu's son and explains Indra's part in his deformity (3.67.7)
  2. after winning long life from Brahmā, he became arrogant and attacked Indra (3.67.8–9)
  3. Indra's thunderbolt drove his head and thighs into his body (3.67.10)
  4. Indra would not negate Brahmā's promise of long life → when Kabandha asked how he could survive without eating, Indra gave him the long arms and belly-mouth with which he now feeds (3.67.11–14)
  5. Indra too foretold that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa would cut off his arms and release him to heaven (3.67.15–16)
  6. Kabandha promises that after cremation he will direct the brothers to an ally. (3.67.17)
  1. Rāma explains that Rāvaṇa carried Sītā away but that they do not know his appearance, home, or strength → he offers to gather dry wood and perform the cremation, asking Kabandha for whatever information he has (3.67.18–23)
  2. Kabandha says he cannot yet identify Sītā's whereabouts: the curse has deprived him of his former discernment (3.67.24–27)
  3. he asks them to burn him before sunset → once restored, he will name a knowledgeable and trustworthy ally who can help them find the abductor. (3.67.28–31)

Verses 3.67.1–31

3.67.1

purā rāma mahābāho mahābalaparākrama
rūpam āsīn mamācintyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam
yathā somasya śakrasya sūryasya ca yathā vapuḥ

“Once, O mighty-armed Rāma, of great strength and prowess, I had a form unimaginable, renowned throughout the three worlds — a beauty like that of the moon, of Indra, and like the body of the sun.

Words: purā — once, formerly; rāma — O Rāma; mahābāho — O mighty-armed one; mahābalaparākrama — O you of great strength and prowess; rūpam — form, beauty; āsīn — was; mamācintyaṃ — my unimaginable; triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — worlds; viśrutam — renowned; yathā — like, as; somasya — of the moon (Soma); śakrasya — of Śakra (Indra); sūryasya — of the sun; ca — and; yathā — as, like; vapuḥ — body, form

3.67.2

so 'haṃ rūpam idaṃ kṛtvā lokavitrāsanaṃ mahat
ṛṣīn vanagatān rāma trāsayāmi tatas tataḥ

“Taking on this great form, a terror to the world, I would frighten the seers who dwelt in the forest, here and there, O Rāma.

Words: so — that, he; 'haṃ — I; rūpam — form; idaṃ — this; kṛtvā — having made, taken on; lokavitrāsanaṃ — a terror to the world; mahat — great; ṛṣīn — the seers; vanagatān — dwelling in the forest; rāma — O Rāma; trāsayāmi — I would frighten; tatas tataḥ — here and there

3.67.3

tataḥ sthūlaśirā nāma maharṣiḥ kopito mayā
saṃcinvan vividhaṃ vanyaṃ rūpeṇānena dharṣitaḥ

“Then a great seer named Sthūlaśiras was angered by me, being assailed with this form of mine as he was gathering various forest-produce.

Words: tataḥ — then; sthūlaśirā — Sthūlaśiras; nāma — by name; maharṣiḥ — the great seer; kopito — was angered; mayā — by me; saṃcinvan — gathering, collecting; vividhaṃ — various; vanyaṃ — forest-produce; rūpeṇānena — with this form; dharṣitaḥ — assailed, molested

3.67.4

tenāham uktaḥ prekṣyaivaṃ ghoraśāpābhidhāyinā
etad eva nṛśaṃsaṃ te rūpam astu vigarhitam

“By him, seeing me thus and pronouncing a terrible curse, I was told: ‘Let this very cruel form of yours become loathsome!’

Words: tenāham — by him I; uktaḥ — was told; prekṣyaivaṃ — having seen thus; ghoraśāpābhidhāyinā — by the pronouncer of a terrible curse; etad — this; eva — very; nṛśaṃsaṃ — cruel; te — your; rūpam — form; astu — let it be; vigarhitam — loathsome, reviled

3.67.5

sa mayā yācitaḥ kruddhaḥ śāpasyānto bhaved iti
abhiśāpakṛtasyeti tenedaṃ bhāṣitaṃ vacaḥ

“Entreated by me — though he was angry — that there might be an end to the curse he had laid on me, he spoke these words:

Words: sa — he; mayā — by me; yācitaḥ — entreated, begged; kruddhaḥ — angry; śāpasyānto — an end of the curse; bhaved — might there be; iti — thus; abhiśāpakṛtasyeti — ‘of the one on whom the curse was laid’, thus; tenedaṃ — by him this; bhāṣitaṃ — spoken; vacaḥ — word

3.67.6

yadā chittvā bhujau rāmas tvāṃ dahed vijane vane
tadā tvaṃ prāpsyase rūpaṃ svam eva vipulaṃ śubham

“‘When Rāma, cutting off your arms, shall burn you in a lonely forest, then you shall regain your own great and lovely form.’

Words: yadā — when; chittvā — having cut off; bhujau — the two arms; rāmas — Rāma; tvāṃ — you; dahed — shall burn; vijane — in a lonely (place); vane — in the forest; tadā — then; tvaṃ — you; prāpsyase — shall regain, attain; rūpaṃ — form; svam — your own; eva — indeed; vipulaṃ — great, ample; śubham — lovely, auspicious

3.67.7

śriyā virājitaṃ putraṃ danos tvaṃ viddhi lakṣmaṇa
indrakopād idaṃ rūpaṃ prāptam evaṃ raṇājire

“Know me, Lakṣmaṇa, as the son of Danu, resplendent with glory; through Indra's wrath I came by this form thus, on the field of battle.

Words: śriyā — with glory, splendour; virājitaṃ — resplendent, shining; putraṃ — the son; danos — of Danu; tvaṃ — you; viddhi — know; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; indrakopād — through Indra's wrath; idaṃ — this; rūpaṃ — form; prāptam — obtained, came by; evaṃ — thus; raṇājire — on the field of battle

3.67.8

ahaṃ hi tapasogreṇa pitāmaham atoṣayam
dīrgham āyuḥ sa me prādāt tato māṃ vibhramo 'spṛśat

“For by fierce austerity I gratified the Grandsire (Brahmā); he granted me long life, and thereupon arrogance took hold of me.

Words: ahaṃ — I; hi — for; tapasogreṇa — by fierce austerity; pitāmaham — the Grandsire (Brahmā); atoṣayam — I gratified, pleased; dīrgham — long; āyuḥ — life, lifespan; sa — he; me — to me; prādāt — granted, gave; tato — thereupon; māṃ — me; vibhramo — arrogance, delusion; 'spṛśat — touched, took hold of

3.67.9

dīrgham āyur mayā prāptaṃ kiṃ me śakraḥ kariṣyati
ity evaṃ buddhim āsthāya raṇe śakram adharṣayam

“‘Long life has been won by me — what can Indra do to me?’ — settling on such a resolve, I assailed Indra in battle.

Words: dīrgham — long; āyur — life; mayā — by me; prāptaṃ — won, obtained; kiṃ — what; me — to me; śakraḥ — Śakra (Indra); kariṣyati — will do; ity — thus; evaṃ — so; buddhim — resolve, notion; āsthāya — having settled on, adopted; raṇe — in battle; śakram — Śakra (Indra); adharṣayam — I assailed, attacked

3.67.10

tasya bāhupramuktena vajreṇa śataparvaṇā
sakthinī ca śiraś caiva śarīre saṃpraveśitam

“By the hundred-jointed thunderbolt loosed from his arm, both my thighs and my head were driven into my body.

Words: tasya — his; bāhupramuktena — loosed from the arm; vajreṇa — by the thunderbolt; śataparvaṇā — the hundred-jointed; sakthinī — the two thighs; ca — and; śiraś — the head; caiva — and also; śarīre — into the body; saṃpraveśitam — were driven in, made to enter

3.67.11

sa mayā yācyamānaḥ sann ānayad yamasādanam
pitāmahavacaḥ satyaṃ tad astv iti mamābravīt

“Being entreated by me, he yet did not send me to the abode of Yama; ‘Let the Grandsire's word hold true,’ he said to me. [uncertain: pāda a has no explicit negative; sense supplied from context]

Words: sa — he; mayā — by me; yācyamānaḥ — being entreated; sann — being (so); ānayad — led, brought; yamasādanam — to the abode of Yama; pitāmahavacaḥ — the Grandsire's word; satyaṃ — true; tad — that; astv — let it be; iti — thus; mamābravīt — he said to me

3.67.12

anāhāraḥ kathaṃ śakto bhagnasakthiśiromukhaḥ
vajreṇābhihataḥ kālaṃ sudīrgham api jīvitum

“‘How, without food, my thighs, head and face crushed, struck by the thunderbolt, could I be able to live for a very long time?’ (I asked).

Words: anāhāraḥ — without food; kathaṃ — how; śakto — able; bhagnasakthiśiromukhaḥ — with thighs, head and face crushed; vajreṇābhihataḥ — struck by the thunderbolt; kālaṃ — time, a span; sudīrgham — very long; api — even; jīvitum — to live

3.67.13

evam uktas tu me śakro bāhū yojanam āyatau
prādād āsyaṃ ca me kukṣau tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭram akalpayat

“Thus addressed by me, Indra granted me two arms a yojana long, and fashioned in my belly a mouth with sharp fangs.

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; me — by me; śakro — Śakra (Indra); bāhū — two arms; yojanam — a yojana (in length); āyatau — long, extended; prādād — granted; āsyaṃ — a mouth; ca — and; me — my; kukṣau — in the belly; tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭram — with sharp fangs; akalpayat — fashioned, formed

3.67.14

so 'haṃ bhujābhyāṃ dīrghābhyāṃ samākṛṣya vanecarān
siṃhadvipamṛgavyāghrān bhakṣayāmi samantataḥ

“So I, drawing forest-rangers to me with my two long arms — lions, elephants, deer and tigers — devour them from all around.

Words: so — that, he; 'haṃ — I; bhujābhyāṃ — with the two arms; dīrghābhyāṃ — long; samākṛṣya — having drawn near, pulled in; vanecarān — the forest-rangers; siṃhadvipamṛgavyāghrān — lions, elephants, deer and tigers; bhakṣayāmi — I devour; samantataḥ — from all around

3.67.15

sa tu mām abravīd indro yadā rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ
chetsyate samare bāhū tadā svargaṃ gamiṣyasi

“And that Indra said to me: ‘When Rāma, with Lakṣmaṇa, shall cut off your two arms in battle, then you shall go to heaven.’

Words: sa — he; tu — and; mām — to me; abravīd — said; indro — Indra; yadā — when; rāmaḥ — Rāma; salakṣmaṇaḥ — with Lakṣmaṇa; chetsyate — shall cut off; samare — in battle; bāhū — the two arms; tadā — then; svargaṃ — to heaven; gamiṣyasi — you shall go

3.67.16

sa tvaṃ rāmo 'si bhadraṃ te nāham anyena rāghava
śakyo hantuṃ yathātattvam evam uktaṃ maharṣiṇā

“You are that Rāma — blessings on you! I cannot in truth be slain by any other, O Rāghava; so it was foretold by the great seer.

Words: sa — that; tvaṃ — you; rāmo — Rāma; 'si — are; bhadraṃ — blessing, good fortune; te — to you; nāham — not I; anyena — by another; rāghava — O Rāghava; śakyo — able, capable (of being); hantuṃ — to be slain; yathātattvam — truly, in accordance with truth; evam — thus; uktaṃ — was said; maharṣiṇā — by the great seer

3.67.17

ahaṃ hi matisācivyaṃ kariṣyāmi nararṣabha
mitraṃ caivopadekṣyāmi yuvābhyāṃ saṃskṛto 'gninā

“For I, once purified by fire (cremation), will render you counsel, O bull among men, and will point out an ally to you two.

Words: ahaṃ — I; hi — for; matisācivyaṃ — the aid of counsel; kariṣyāmi — I will render, do; nararṣabha — O bull among men; mitraṃ — an ally, friend; caivopadekṣyāmi — and will point out; yuvābhyāṃ — to you two; saṃskṛto — consecrated, cremated; 'gninā — by fire

3.67.18

evam uktas tu dharmātmā danunā tena rāghavaḥ
idaṃ jagāda vacanaṃ lakṣmaṇasyopaśṛṇvataḥ

Thus addressed by that Danu, the righteous Rāghava spoke these words, as Lakṣmaṇa listened:

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; dharmātmā — the righteous one; danunā — by Danu; tena — that; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; idaṃ — this; jagāda — spoke; vacanaṃ — word; lakṣmaṇasyopaśṛṇvataḥ — as Lakṣmaṇa was listening

3.67.19

rāvaṇena hṛtā sītā mama bhāryā yaśasvinī
niṣkrāntasya janasthānāt saha bhrātrā yathāsukham

“Sītā, my illustrious wife, was carried off by Rāvaṇa while I, with my brother, had gone out from Janasthāna at my ease.

Words: rāvaṇena — by Rāvaṇa; hṛtā — was carried off; sītā — Sītā; mama — my; bhāryā — wife; yaśasvinī — the illustrious one; niṣkrāntasya — of (me) having gone out; janasthānāt — from Janasthāna; saha — together with; bhrātrā — brother; yathāsukham — at ease

3.67.20

nāmamātraṃ tu jānāmi na rūpaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ
nivāsaṃ vā prabhāvaṃ vā vayaṃ tasya na vidmahe

“I know only the name of that rākṣasa, not his form; and neither his dwelling nor his power do we know.

Words: nāmamātraṃ — the mere name; tu — but; jānāmi — I know; na — not; rūpaṃ — the form; tasya — his; rakṣasaḥ — of the rākṣasa; nivāsaṃ — dwelling, abode; vā — or; prabhāvaṃ — power, might; vā — or; vayaṃ — we; tasya — his; na — not; vidmahe — we know

3.67.21

śokārtānām anāthānām evaṃ viparidhāvatām
kāruṇyaṃ sadṛśaṃ kartum upakāre ca vartatām

“It is fitting to show compassion on us, who, grief-stricken and forlorn, thus run about (in search), and who stand ready to requite the kindness.

Words: śokārtānām — of the grief-stricken; anāthānām — of the forlorn, protectorless; evaṃ — thus; viparidhāvatām — of (us) running about; kāruṇyaṃ — compassion; sadṛśaṃ — fitting, suitable; kartum — to show, do; upakāre — in requiting the kindness, in service; ca — and; vartatām — of (us) abiding, standing ready

3.67.22

kāṣṭhāny ānīya śuṣkāṇi kāle bhagnāni kuñjaraiḥ
bhakṣyāmas tvāṃ vayaṃ vīra śvabhre mahati kalpite

“Bringing dry logs, broken in due time by elephants, we shall burn you, O hero, in a great pit prepared for the purpose.

Words: kāṣṭhāny — logs, sticks of wood; ānīya — having brought; śuṣkāṇi — dry; kāle — in due time; bhagnāni — broken; kuñjaraiḥ — by elephants; bhakṣyāmas — we shall burn (make the fire consume); tvāṃ — you; vayaṃ — we; vīra — O hero; śvabhre — in a pit; mahati — great; kalpite — prepared, arranged

3.67.23

sa tvaṃ sītāṃ samācakṣva yena vā yatra vā hṛtā
kuru kalyāṇam atyarthaṃ yadi jānāsi tattvataḥ

“Do you then tell of Sītā — by whom or whither she was carried off; do us this exceeding kindness, if you truly know.”

Words: sa — that, then; tvaṃ — you; sītāṃ — Sītā; samācakṣva — tell, declare; yena — by whom; vā — or; yatra — whither, where; vā — or; hṛtā — was carried off; kuru — do, make; kalyāṇam — a kindness, good deed; atyarthaṃ — exceedingly; yadi — if; jānāsi — you know; tattvataḥ — truly, in truth

3.67.24

evam uktas tu rāmeṇa vākyaṃ danur anuttamam
provāca kuśalo vaktuṃ vaktāram api rāghavam

Thus addressed by Rāma, Danu, skilled in speaking, spoke a peerless word to Rāghava, himself an eloquent speaker:

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; vākyaṃ — word, speech; danur — Danu; anuttamam — peerless, unsurpassed; provāca — spoke; kuśalo — skilled; vaktuṃ — to speak; vaktāram — the speaker, eloquent one; api — even, though; rāghavam — Rāghava

3.67.25

divyam asti na me jñānaṃ nābhijānāmi maithilīm
yas tāṃ jñāsyati taṃ vakṣye dagdhaḥ svaṃ rūpam āsthitaḥ

“I have no divine knowledge, and I do not know of Maithilī; but once burned and restored to my own form, I shall tell you of one who will know her.

Words: divyam — divine; asti — is, exists; na — not; me — my, to me; jñānaṃ — knowledge; nābhijānāmi — I do not know; maithilīm — Maithilī (Sītā); yas — who; tāṃ — her; jñāsyati — will know; taṃ — him; vakṣye — I shall tell; dagdhaḥ — burned; svaṃ — my own; rūpam — form; āsthitaḥ — restored to, abiding in

3.67.26

adagdhasya hi vijñātuṃ śaktir asti na me prabho
rākṣasaṃ taṃ mahāvīryaṃ sītā yena hṛtā tava

“For, unburned, I have not the power to know that rākṣasa of great might by whom your Sītā was carried off, O lord.

Words: adagdhasya — of the unburned one; hi — for; vijñātuṃ — to know, discern; śaktir — power; asti — is; na — not; me — my, to me; prabho — O lord; rākṣasaṃ — the rākṣasa; taṃ — that; mahāvīryaṃ — of great might; sītā — Sītā; yena — by whom; hṛtā — was carried off; tava — your

3.67.27

vijñānaṃ hi mahad bhraṣṭaṃ śāpadoṣeṇa rāghava
svakṛtena mayā prāptaṃ rūpaṃ lokavigarhitam

“For my great faculty of discernment has been lost through the fault of the curse, O Rāghava; through my own doing I have come by a form abhorred by the world.

Words: vijñānaṃ — discernment, knowledge; hi — for; mahad — great; bhraṣṭaṃ — lost, fallen away; śāpadoṣeṇa — through the fault of the curse; rāghava — O Rāghava; svakṛtena — through my own doing; mayā — by me; prāptaṃ — obtained, come by; rūpaṃ — form; lokavigarhitam — abhorred by the world

3.67.28

kiṃ tu yāvan na yāty astaṃ savitā śrāntavāhanaḥ
tāvan mām avaṭe kṣiptvā daha rāma yathāvidhi

“But before the sun, its horses wearied, goes to its setting, cast me into a pit and burn me, Rāma, according to rule.

Words: kiṃ tu — but, however; yāvan — as long as, before; na — not; yāty — goes; astaṃ — to setting; savitā — the sun; śrāntavāhanaḥ — with wearied steeds; tāvan — so long, by then; mām — me; avaṭe — in a pit; kṣiptvā — having cast; daha — burn; rāma — O Rāma; yathāvidhi — according to rule

3.67.29

dagdhas tvayāham avaṭe nyāyena raghunandana
vakṣyāmi tam ahaṃ vīra yas taṃ jñāsyati rākṣasaṃ

“When I have been burned by you in the pit in due manner, O joy of the Raghus, I shall tell you, hero, of him who will know that rākṣasa.

Words: dagdhas — burned; tvayāham — by you I; avaṭe — in the pit; nyāyena — in due manner, rightly; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; vakṣyāmi — I shall tell; tam — him; ahaṃ — I; vīra — O hero; yas — who; taṃ — that; jñāsyati — will know; rākṣasaṃ — rākṣasa

3.67.30

tena sakhyaṃ ca kartavyaṃ nyāyyavṛttena rāghava
kalpayiṣyati te prītaḥ sāhāyyaṃ laghuvikramaḥ

“And friendship should be made with him, one of upright conduct, O Rāghava; pleased, that swift-striding one will arrange help for you.

Words: tena — with him; sakhyaṃ — friendship, alliance; ca — and; kartavyaṃ — should be made; nyāyyavṛttena — of upright conduct; rāghava — O Rāghava; kalpayiṣyati — will arrange, bring about; te — for you; prītaḥ — pleased; sāhāyyaṃ — help, assistance; laghuvikramaḥ — the swift-striding one

3.67.31

na hi tasyāsty avijñātaṃ triṣu lokeṣu rāghava
sarvān parisṛto lokān purā vai kāraṇāntare

“For there is nothing unknown to him in the three worlds, O Rāghava; in olden days, on another occasion, he ranged over all the worlds.”

Words: na — not; hi — for; tasyāsty — to him there is; avijñātaṃ — (anything) unknown; triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — worlds; rāghava — O Rāghava; sarvān — all; parisṛto — ranged over, traversed; lokān — the worlds; purā — in olden days, formerly; vai — indeed; kāraṇāntare — on another occasion / for another cause

← 3.66 Kabandha’s arms severed · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.68 Kabandha advises friendship with Sugrīva →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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