Delicious deers. Mouthwatering monkeys. Scrumptious human beings. These are just some of the appetizing meals I dreamt about each and everyday. You see, a deep slumber of a curse has befallen me for my love for food. I used to terrorize the whole world from consuming humans to defeating the great and almighty Indra. Therefore, as punishment, Brahma put me to sleep for six months and can be awaken for one day only in which I devour the most amazing meal, which eventually puts me back to sleep.
One day, as I was dreaming about tasting a delicious meal once again, I begin to hear faint noises. I thought that that was just the sound of my own thoughts, but then I feel a woman's soft and gentle hands on my arm and awaken from my slumber.
I was annoyed that I had been awaken and I was about to yell and scream, but then I laid eyes on a long and large dining table filled with goodies that I could not resist. I stomped over to the table and began to fill my stomach with delicious swine, wine, and human beings.
As I was finishing up my meal I asked Ravana and the rest of the rakshasas, "Why have you awaken me from my deep slumber?"
Ravana replied to me, "The mighty Rama and his great monkey army have invaded our city and we need your might and strength to kill them."
I pouted for a while for this was the reason that my brother woke me up; however, I finally mounted my chariot and went forth to battle Rama and his army. As soon as I saw my brother's enemies, my eyes feasted on the appetizing monkeys that were trembling with fear at the sight of me. I was still quite hungry and the monkeys looked extremely yummy that I ate them by the handful, destroying Hanuman and Sugriva along the way.
It was I was enjoying my meal that I felt a sharp and piercing pain at the back of my neck. I turned around and I saw Rama shooting flaming arrows at my direction. The next thing I knew, before I could attack Rama, I witness my head detached from my body. I screamed from the piercing pain and stumbled to the ground. With my last breath and moment of consciousness, I witness Rama smiling from ear to ear at the sight of my death.
(409 Words)
Author's Note: I told this story from the perspective of Kumbhakarna but in the original story it is about how Ravana and the rakshasas were running out of ideas on how to defeat Rama and his army so they decided to wake up the great Kumbhakarna, the brother of Ravana. A curse had fallen upon Kumbhakarna as punishment for terrorizing the whole world. His punishment was that he slept for six months and only woke up for one day only. During that one day, he devours as much food as he can eat and falls back to sleep. The rakshasas woke him up to defeat Rama but not after first feeding him. Rama's army was scared of the great Kumbhakarna for he ate their fellow monkey army men, seized Sugriva, and defeated Hanuman. Finally, it was Rama who finally destroys Kumbhakarna as he detaches his head from his body. Kumbhakarna falls to the earth and dies.
Bibliography: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (link)
Kumbhakarna. Source: Wikimedia Commons
The story of Kumbhakarna is a very strange one, just like a lot of the other stories in Indian mythology, what with his strange curse to sleep for six months at a time. I really like how you took the story as it was in the Ramayana and you didn't really change anything, you just told the story from a different perspective. It makes Kumbhakarna seem a little more human, and it paints his death in a slightly sadder light.
ReplyDeleteNikole, I too was interested in Kumbhakarna. He caught my attention in the Ramayana and you caught my attention in this story as well. I like how you told a little more about his backstory and his emotions. One thing you might want to review is your grammar, I think their are a few mistakes, but not a lot! Great job!
ReplyDeleteNikole, I love the change in perspective! Kumbhakarna is famous among Indians, because of his unnatural desire to sleep for long periods of time. The funny thing is many Indian kids probably have gotten called Kumbhakarna at least once when we choose to not get up early. I love the intro especially, it immediately captures the reader, which is perfect!
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