Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 51
कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्
The Awakening of Kumbhakarna
उदकुम्बशतान्यन्येसमसिञ्चन्तकर्णयोः ।।।।नकुम्भकर्णःपस्पन्देमहानिद्रावशंगतः ।
udakumbaśatāny anye samasiñcanta karṇayoḥ |
na kumbhakarṇaḥ paspande mahānidrāvaśaṃ gataḥ ||
Others poured hundreds of water-pails into his ears; yet Kumbhakarṇa—fallen under the power of deep sleep—did not so much as stir.
Some poured hundreds of pails of water into ears, distressed that he did not wake up under the spell of deep sleep.
FAQs
It reinforces that external force cannot always overcome inner bonds (here, curse-bound sleep); dharma emphasizes discernment—knowing when effort must be matched with right understanding.
Even pouring large amounts of water into Kumbhakarṇa’s ears fails to wake him.
Endurance in collective action—continuing attempts despite repeated ineffectiveness.