Kabhandha continued with his narration "Long ago I was as renowned as the Sun, the Moon and Indra, for my good looks. It was my sport to take on this monstrous form to frighten the ascetics who inhabited the forests. Once to my misfortune I tried to frighten the sage Sthulasira, who angered at my prank cursed me saying, 'May you ever remain in this vile and villainous form'. Dismayed, I begged his forgiveness and he relented saying, 'you will be redeemed the day Rama severs your hands and cremates you. Dhanu is my race and I am the son of Sri. The wrath of Indra is also a reason for this ugly form.' After years of penance, Brahma came to grant me the boon of longevity. Confident that my life will not be terminated for ages to come, one day I opposed Indra. In a flash, his thunderbolt pushed my head into my chest and my legs into my stomach. I paid dearly for my foolishness and my arrogance, for even death was preferable to life in this grotesque form. I prayed to Indra to grant me death. Not only did he spurn my request but said, 'Let Brahma's words come true!' When I wailed that I could not survive without limbs or mouth, Indra obliged me by giving me hands that were a mile long and a mouth equipped with sharp fangs. Endowed with this wicked body, guzzling at whatever came my way I have spent many long years. Indra promised me that I would go to heaven the day you cut away my hands. "From that day I have been waiting for you to be my prisoner, my slayer and my savior. Please cremate me this instant, consign this horrid form to the flames and may the earth be rid of me! Reverting back to my original self I can counsel you and show you a good friend". Rama asked Kabandha if he knew where and by whom Sita could have been abducted. "I cannot tell you now Rama, I have not the power to look into the past. Along with my divine form my divine powers have also been destroyed. Cast me in a pit, before the Sun sets. Burn me and I shall return to tell you all that you want to know. You will also meet an ally who is swift footed, has traversed the three worlds and knows the rakshasa who is guilty of Sita's abduction. There exists nothing in this universe that he has no knowledge of".
Summary
Kabhandha continued with his narration "Long ago I was as renowned as the Sun, the Moon and Indra, for my good looks. It was my sport to take on this monstrous form to frighten the ascetics who inhabited the forests. Once to my misfortune I tried to frighten the sage Sthulasira, who angered at my prank cursed me saying, 'May you ever remain in this vile and villainous form'. Dismayed, I begged his forgiveness and he relented saying, 'you will be redeemed the day Rama severs your hands and cremates you. Dhanu is my race and I am the son of Sri. The wrath of Indra is also a reason for this ugly form.' After years of penance, Brahma came to grant me the boon of longevity. Confident that my life will not be terminated for ages to come, one day I opposed Indra. In a flash, his thunderbolt pushed my head into my chest and my legs into my stomach. I paid dearly for my foolishness and my arrogance, for even death was preferable to life in this grotesque form. I prayed to Indra to grant me death. Not only did he spurn my request but said, 'Let Brahma's words come true!' When I wailed that I could not survive without limbs or mouth, Indra obliged me by giving me hands that were a mile long and a mouth equipped with sharp fangs. Endowed with this wicked body, guzzling at whatever came my way I have spent many long years. Indra promised me that I would go to heaven the day you cut away my hands. "From that day I have been waiting for you to be my prisoner, my slayer and my savior. Please cremate me this instant, consign this horrid form to the flames and may the earth be rid of me! Reverting back to my original self I can counsel you and show you a good friend". Rama asked Kabandha if he knew where and by whom Sita could have been abducted. "I cannot tell you now Rama, I have not the power to look into the past. Along with my divine form my divine powers have also been destroyed. Cast me in a pit, before the Sun sets. Burn me and I shall return to tell you all that you want to know. You will also meet an ally who is swift footed, has traversed the three worlds and knows the rakshasa who is guilty of Sita's abduction. There exists nothing in this universe that he has no knowledge of".