Ravana’s brother, Kumbhakarna, was as huge and powerful as a mountain. When he entered the battle, he caused panic in the ape army. When he roared, it sounded like a storm, and when he stomped his feet, it seemed to shatter the grounds. The apes picked up rocks and trees and hurled them at him, but they shattered on striking his strong body. He crushed the army of apes and bears, and they ran away in all directions. Some fell into the ocean, some climbed trees and some sought refuge in caves. Seeing this, the leader of the ape army, Sugriva, leapt up. He lifted a huge rock and rushed towards Kumbhakarna with great force. He said, ‘O Rakshasa! You have struck down a number of brave apes. What will you achieve by fighting ordinary soldiers? Leave them and withstand this rock that I am hurling towards you.’
Sugriva released the rock and struck Kumbhakarna in the chest. The rock was shattered into pieces. Kumbhakarna uprooted a large rock and struck Sugriva with it. Sugriva lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Kumbhakarna seized Sugriva and walked away from the battlefield. On seeing this, the army of apes started running away. Hanuman saw this and thought, ‘Now that Sugriva has been seized by Kumbhakarna, what should I do? What is the proper thing to do? I can assume a size as large as a mountain, and shatter Kumbhakarna’s body with a blow of my fists. The king of the apes will be freed, and all the apes will be delighted.
Alternatively, the king can also free himself. He has been struck with a rock and has lost consciousness. The instant he regains it, he will certainly make efforts to free himself. If he is freed by me, his eternal fame will be destroyed, and he will find this unpleasant. Let me wait for some time for the king to display his valour, and in the meantime, reassure the army of apes.’
Hanuman’s thinking proved correct. Kumbhakarna carried Sugriva to Lanka. While he was walking down the streets of Lanka, Sugriva regained consciousness. He used his nails to rip apart Kumbhakarna’s ears. He bit his nose and struck his sides with his feet. Kumbhakarna’s ears and nose started bleeding. He became full of rage and threw Sugriva down on the ground. But Sugriva leapt up into the sky. He jumped over walls and returned to Rama. The entire army was very happy to see him back. Because Hanuman kept a cool head, Sugriva was able to escape through his own strength and maintain his honour as a warrior.