A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1264

c5.1264

NIKUMBHA. 1. A Rākshasa who fought against Rāma. He was son of Kumbha-karna. 2. An Asura who, according to the Hari-vansa, received the boon from Brahmā that he should die only by the hands of Vishnu. He was king of Shat-pura and had great magical powers, so that he could multiply himself into many forms, though he commonly assumed only three. He carried off the daughters of Brahmā-datta, the friend of Krishna, and that hero attacked him and killed him under different forms more than once, but he was eventually slain outright by Krishna, and his city of Shat-pura was given to Brahmā-datta.