कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्
The Awakening of Kumbhakarna
उदकुम्बशतान्यन्येसमसिञ्चन्तकर्णयोः ।।।।नकुम्भकर्णःपस्पन्देमहानिद्रावशंगतः ।
udakumbaśatāny anye samasiñcanta karṇayoḥ |
na kumbhakarṇaḥ paspande mahānidrāvaśaṃ gataḥ ||
Yang lain menuangkan ratusan timba air ke dalam telinganya; namun Kumbhakarṇa—terbelenggu oleh tidur yang amat lelap—tidak bergerak sedikit pun.
Some poured hundreds of pails of water into ears, distressed that he did not wake up under the spell of deep sleep.
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.