Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman's Odyssey, BS Murthy [classic book list txt] 📗

gardens of all earth 
Won’t it score a perfect ten?

What other place can Ravan find 
Helps which Seetha change her mind?

 

Saw he then that hall supreme 
Built by Ravan to rival
God’s own pavilion in grandeur.

 

Raised on thousand gold pillars 
Glowed that like one thousand suns.

 

When he could his sight adjust 
Saw he towers its kiss the clouds.

 

As if it were by sixth sense   
To Sinsupa turned back Hanuman
Only to find there seated 
Woman so young with dress so old.

 

Heard her sighs he on and off 
Circled her as demonic guards. 

 

Seemed she like a flame so bright 
Shrouded then by smoke that thick.

 

Clad she was in soiled silk
Wore no necklace on her self.

 

Grief her wore down to core 
Sat she bowing head in shame.

 

Cried she with her tear-filled eyes
Looked she distraught ’n famished.
 
Like a hare that lost its way
Into hounds on hunt she looked.
 
Dark hair hers in plait that thick
Touched the ground on which she sat.
 
In spite of her soiled dress
Demeanor hers was lady like.
 
Well she could be Rama’s wife
Kidnapped by the Lankan king. 
 
No doubt it was Rama’s spouse 
For she matches thumbnail sketch
That Lord Rama drew for him.

Charm her golden frame oozes
Brings forth brightness to darkness.
 
Waist her narrow lends her frame 
The flowing look that aids her gait.
Eyes her wide like lotus leaves  
Were shaped to acquire amorous looks.
 
But, in her grief they lost lustre
As would stars by clouds shrouded.
 
As would spendthrift his holding
Agony of hers shrivelled her frame.

With signs none of her rescue
Seemed she lost her will to live.
 
Wanted she her man to know
Ravan by force brought her there
Though she would not yield to him.
 
Swollen were her tearful eyes
Sunken were her crimson cheeks.
 
Ever since Ravan brought her there
Looked she had no bath since then   
Made which seem her cloudy moon.
 
Found in dilemma Hanuman then
If she could be Rama’s spouse.

 

But then aura he espied
None but Seetha could have that.  
 
Looked he then on for jewels
As though they were missing links.
 
Those to him Ram made privy
Found them lying on low branch. 
 
To help Seetha please Rama
Well crafted were all of them.

Dust as they all thus gathered 
Turned those into dirty brown. 
 
Missing indeed from that lot
What she let go from mid-air
So to give clue to her man.
 
It was vanars who found her  
Shawl with jewels hers tied in
That she dropped on Rushyamook.

How well these all now I see
Match with those that dropped by her.
 
That she wears the same saree
Wore she when was abducted
Won’t that shawl well go with this.
Who else would have this aura
Than dear Rama’s spouse Seetha!
 
Bound am I to rescue her
From the clutches of these guards.

 

Won’t that gladden Rama’s heart
Saddened for so long for her?
 
Paired as well as Seetha-Ram
Were there ever a couple on earth!
 
Ravan though had parted them
Minds in their they stay as one.
 
Robbed as he of his Seetha
Rama still has will to fight.

 

What a wonder Rama lived

Sans his spouse for so long now.

 

Felt glad Hanuman that he could

Find the beloved of his Lord.

 

Canto 16

She is Seetha

 

Prayed then Hanuma in earnest
Lord Rama he revered most 
And then thought of task on hand.

 

Seeing her in such distress
Felt as if his heart was seized.
 
Casts when shadow fate on man
Can he ever go beyond its reach?
 
But for being Rama’s spouse 
Wouldn’t have fate ever crunched her more?
 
Whichever way one might see it 
Made for each other couple they make.
 
Seeing Seetha in her plight 
Recalled he then Ram’s valour.
 
If not for her would have Ram
Cared to end ever Vali’s reign? 

 If not for his exile Ram
Why should ever he kill Viradha?
 
Miss not targets Ram’s arrows 
Struck were demons in their thousands.
Khara neither nor Trisura 
Could stand Rama in combat.
 
But for Seetha how Sugreev 
Would have got great Vali’s crown. 
 
Why in search of her I came 
To this land that Ravan rules.

 

Were Rama to lose patience 
Won’t he topsy-turvy world?
 
Not for Ram the crown of earth 
Were Seetha not sharing throne. 
 
But for being Janaka’s darling
Can one decline Ravan’s hand?

 

Daunting must be plight her now 
Though she is Lord Rama’s spouse.
 
Wonder how she puts up with 
Fiends all those who pester her! 

 

How sad Seetha had to miss 
Folk back home all who love her. 
 
It’s her love for her man Ram
Makes which Seetha shun Ravan.
 
In her sorrow for her man
Lost she appetite once for all.
 
Ceases not she not to sigh
Once she never ceased to smile.
 
Seeks as oasis one in sands  
Craves Rama to see his wife.
 
Gets Ram when his beloved back 
Won’t he feel like dethroned king  
Gets when back his crown in time!    
 
No doubt it’s her will to meet 
Her man that keeps her going.
 
Turned she to her captor blind 

Ever she keeps her man in mind.
 
Seetha though is crown jewel 
Sans Ram she’s jewel-less crown.
 
It’s no different with Lord Ram 
Braves who though she’s not on hand.
 
Sight of hers as shakes me thus
How would Ram ever take her plight?
 
Can he bear to see Seetha’s 
Plight now wretched as here captive? 
 
In the forlorn state of hers
Shadow she’s no more than  
Of the former self of hers.
 
Seem in vain the rays of moon 
Try to soothe her soul perturbed.
 
At the plight of his Lord’s spouse
That’s what mighty Hanuman felt.

 

Canto 17

Guards all Hideous

 

Swans as swim in blue waters 
So did moon in Lankan skies.  
 
It’s as if moon wanted him
Espy Seetha’s distressed self. 
 
For the eyes of Hanuman then 
Seetha seemed a sinking boat. 
 
Seen then Hanuman in moonlight 
All those guarding Rama’s spouse.
 
Saw he many a single eyed 
With no ears he many there found.
 
Baldish there were some of them
Had hair others from head to foot.    
 
Many had there such drooping lips
Brushed which with their sagging breasts. 
 
Midgets ugly were there too
With weird sentries in their scores.
 ,

Coarse all were they in discourse 
Wore all sheepskin for their dress.
 
On their well built torsos some
Had there animal heads varied. 
Had some of them camel feet 
Moved while others on elephant legs.
 
On their beastly bodies some 
Carried handsome human heads.
 
Noses had some there across 
Had others vertical lips on them.
 
Tongues had many of carpet size 
Hanged which on their wall like lips.

 

Ogresses such as kept an eye
On Rama’s spouse in that garden.
 
Armed they were all to their teeth
With varied weapons of war carried.
 
Flesh they ate of every beast
Drank they blood from veins direct.

On guard was that hideous lot
Circled Seetha round the clock. 
 
Bathed not Seetha in Lanka
Cared she not to comb her hair.  
 
Pulled was Seetha thus forlorn
Weaned from Rama for so long.
 
Bereft though of she jewels
Love for her man lent aura.  
 
Seemed she hapless deer no less 
Strayed who into lions on prowl.
 
Looks she had of looking glass 
Never once dusted for so long. 
 
Failed that graceful Ravan’s grove
To cheer despaired Rama’s spouse. 
 
Sans her smile did Seetha seem
Flowerless plant in midst of spring.
 
Moved was Hanuman by her sight
Thought he too of Rama’s plight.
 
Won’t she know in heart of hearts
That her man would come to her?
 
Doubt she had none in her mind
Life of hers was tied with Ram. 

Heat of her sighs seemed to char
Nascent leaves of high branches.
 
Having perceived her nature
Poised Hanuman to praise her. 
Felt he glad for his Lord too
Got who such a wife like her.

 

Having prayed to Lord Rama  
Hanuman lay in wait for dawn.

 

Canto 18

Ravan on Heat

 

In time it was time to dawn
Sprang up Lanka to last man. 
 
Vedic chants that rent the air
Sounded music to Hanuman.

Surely Ravan would wake up
Then to sound of that music.
 
Thought as Hanuman so Ravan
Stirred in bed in Seetha’s thought.

Lust of his for Rama’s wife
Made him lose his peace of mind.
 
Got as he down from his bed
Lost he no time to reach her.
 
Entered Ravan that garden
Failed it charm his enamored heart.
 
Stride in his to reach Seetha
Left Ravan all deer stranded.

 

Heat of Ravan’s lusting self
Made the drops of dew boil.

 

So to be at beck and call
Moved in tow his women folk too.

 

Heading he thus his harem
Headed Ravan to add one.
 
Fanned some then their man on move
Dames with swords some doubled for guards.

 

Held one pretty jug of gold
Filled with vintage wine for him. 

Shade one leggy lass of grace
Gave him with a hood of gold.
 
Still in stupor some of them  
Seemed to follow him by scent. 
With no time to turn becoming
Followed him some as they woke. 
 
Let loose was hair on their face
Had they none their bras on them.

 

Lusted they all for Ravan
Bestowed on them he favours.
 
Felt they proud of his valour
Fetched which riches of all worlds.
 
Wore they all those gold jewels
Made which Hanuman gasp for breath.

Sighted as he Ravan then
With the women he saw by night
Overawed Hanuman none the less. 
 
Aiding nascent light at dawn 
Led him some with candlelights. 
 
With his libido thus evident
Looked Ravan like Cupid on earth.
 
In his stride his silk garment
Slid over his broad shoulders. 
 
Overwhelmed by what he saw
Discreet distance kept Hanuman. 
 
Hand in hand moved Ravan’s wives
Seemed they strengthened his position. 
 
Cooed then koels to caution
Seetha as he seemed nearing.   
 
Strode yet Ravan in long strides
Towards Seetha whom he snared. 
 
Wondered Hanuman why Ravan
Wanted Seetha who spurned him. 
 
For she spurned a handsome king
Valued Hanuman Rama’s spouse. 

 
At the might of king Ravan
Felt he humble being strong. 
 
At length Ravan reached Seetha
Turned who by then his heartthrob.

 

 

Canto 19

Dame in Despair

 

Seetha whose head bowed so low
Sensed that Ravan neared her then. 
 
Shook she like a paddy reed
Swept by stormy coastal winds.

 

Cried she no end in her fright
Black-eyed Seetha at the threat. 
 
Like she was a forlorn boat
In the midst of sea that vast.
 
Severed as from a well-grown tree
Seemed so withered a branch Seetha.
 
In spite of her forlorn state
Gave her bright look innate charm.

Made though Ravan her captive
Mind of hers was with her man.
 
Bore she travails to love Ram
Than to triumphant Ravan turn.
 
Kept as captive by Ravan
End of tunnel she saw none.
 
Wondered Hanuman how her fate  
Deemed it fit to languish her.
 
In her grief then looked Seetha  
Like one caught in some scandal.

 
Looked she like a waning lamp
Amidst Ravan’s women on guard.
 
For the loss of Rama’s love
Wore she look of bankrupt then. 
 
Made her grief then look her like
Lotus stem that plucked from bed.
 
Like the moon on eclipse night
Lost she spark of her charm then.

 

Looked she like a lotus pond
Trampled by score wild elephants.
 
River beds seemed cheeks her both 
With lean streams in summer months.

Fair as lily though she was
Sunburns turned brown her fair skin.
 
Pined then