Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 18
Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya
Concise Bhāgavata Account
रक्ष:पतिस्तदवलोक्य निकुम्भकुम्भ- धूम्राक्षदुर्मुखसुरान्तकनरान्तकादीन् । पुत्रं प्रहस्तमतिकायविकम्पनादीन् सर्वानुगान् समहिनोदथ कुम्भकर्णम् ॥ १८ ॥
rakṣaḥ-patis tad avalokya nikumbha-kumbha- dhūmrākṣa-durmukha-surāntaka-narāntakādīn putraṁ prahastam atikāya-vikampanādīn sarvānugān samahinod atha kumbhakarṇam
When Rāvaṇa, the master of the Rākṣasas, saw the disturbances created by the monkey soldiers, he called for Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhūmrākṣa, Durmukha, Surāntaka, Narāntaka and other Rākṣasas and also his son Indrajit. Thereafter he called for Prahasta, Atikāya, Vikampana and finally Kumbhakarṇa. Then he induced all his followers to fight against the enemies.
FAQs
Because the battle situation worsens for Laṅkā, Rāvaṇa gathers his chief commanders and calls Kumbhakarṇa for support, showing his reliance on brute force when adharma is threatened.
They are prominent Rākṣasa leaders in Rāvaṇa’s forces, listed here as part of the commanders he summons to oppose Lord Rāma’s campaign.
When one stands on adharma, crises lead to frantic dependence on power and allies; the Bhagavatam’s Rāma narrative encourages choosing dharma and devotion rather than escalating conflict through ego and force.