Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman's Odyssey
Canto 54 - Arson to Hurt
Having had his way thus far
Thought of future course Hanuman.
Why not I give them in kind
For what they did all to my tail?
Much is left to hurt the foe
Caused I might have some damage.
Why not I torch Ravan’s town
With the help of tail mine
That they set on fire themselves?
For the favour of Agni
Make I Lanka his fodder.
Hovered as he in mid-air
Surveyed Ravan’s land he thus.
Landed then on some dwelling
Jumped he then from one another.
Chose he Prahastha’s own palace
With its sprawling compound then
And made he bonfire of all there.
Next in line was Mahaparsva’s
Mansion that met similar fate.
Not to content even then
Burnt he dwellings of nobles.
Leaned he then on that palace
Owned by one who subdued him.
Set he fire then one by one
Houses of the following.
Jambumali’s ’n Sumali’s
Rasmiketha’s ’n Suryasathru’s
Damstra’s ’n so Duraatma’s
Romasa’s ’n Ghora’s as well
Mattali’s besides Yuddhonmatha’s
Karala’s and Pisaachas’s too.
Kumbha’s as well Nikumbha’s
Yagnasatru’s ’n Brahmasatru’s
Not to speak of Kumbhakarna’s.
But spared Hanuman that dwelling
Lived where Vibhishan who pleaded
Case his then in Ravan’s Court.
Razed as fire in those places
Turned all therein to ashes.
Went he then to that courtyard
Where lived Lankan king Ravan.
Set he Ravan’s fort on fire
With the fading flame on tail.
Spread as fire in Ravan’s court
Thundered Hanuman even more.
As if to aid his son’s cause
Unleashed Vayu his frenzy.
Goaded thus by Hanuman’s dad
Spread tongues Agni far and wide.
In that towering inferno
Came all dwellings crashing down.
Looked then Lanka that lost soul
Thrown down from the heaven itself.
Lost their wits all then Lankans
Felt they Fire God turned vanar.
Filled all streets were with Lankans
Rent were skies there with their cries.
Jumped all over compound
From the debris of dwellings
Flowed then molten gold in streams.
Turned to ashes demonic frames
Turned grey landscape of Lanka.
In myriad shades of crimson red
Sprouted tongues of fire to skies.
Burning Lanka seemed as if
Tripura of yore Shankar burnt.
To bring Lanka to its knees
Moved then Hanuman to outskirts.
With still burning tail of his
Set fire Hanuman there dwellings.
Raged as fire in those buildings
Heard all bursting sounds from them.
Smoke that embers emitted then
Rose in columns to high skies.
Wondered all those who survived
Came if death in Hanuman’s form.
Brahma’s it was wrath felt some
Set what Hanuman to smash them.
Took some Hanuman for Vishnu’s
Avatar to end Ravan’s reign.
It’s in no time fire got spread
To nearby jungles all so deep.
Trapped as such in jungle fire
Died wildlife of forests there.
Rent was air with cries of all
Lost who then their kith and kin.
With the havoc that he caused
Lanka seemed an accursed land.
Climbed up Chitrakoot Hanuman
Surveyed Ravan’s land ravaged.
Felt glad Hanuman that Lanka
Lost its edge to fight Lord Ram.
Tail as his was still on fire
Looked he still the rising sun.
Having done his job Hanuman
Prayed he in all reverence Ram.
Gods all for his one-man show
Showered then praises on Hanuman.
Amidst the ruins of Lanka then
Stood like victor there Hanuman.
Felt on second thought gods all there
What they discerned was but dream,
For how could Hanuman on his own
Raze all Lanka at one go!
At the sight of Lanka thus
Rubbed all angels then their eyes,
At the havoc Hanuman caused
Worlds all trembled then dismayed.
Sages at that in their scores
As well angels there gathered
Not to speak of Yakshas then
Thought it augured well for world.
Canto 55 - What of Seetha?
Died as embers in Lanka
So to quench his burning tail
Went upto beach then Hanuman.
Cooled as he tail by seashore
Felt then Hanuman thus in qualms.
Have I gone wrong by burning
Lanka to the last dwelling?
Was it all wrong on my part
Lost I bearing in my wrath?
Of all what that afflicts man
Anger takes the pride of place.
Drives to extremes man anger
Thought in his ’n deed as well.
Whoever can nip his anger
In the bud is man seasoned.
Reckoned as I not her welfare
On whom Rama stakes his life
Raison d’etre of Odyssey mine
Doubt there none it’s foolhardy.
Now that Lanka is on fire
Wouldn’t have Seetha lost her life?
What for came I to Lanka
Is it to kill Rama’s wife?
While the going was so good
How come lost I my bearing!
Spared as fury of Fire God
Not a square inch of Lanka
Where was space for her to hide?
Were Seetha to perish in fire
How am I to show my face
To her Lord who trusted me.
Why not I now end my life
Why to go to Ram with guilt.
How am I go back to them
How to look all them in face?
How I subscribed to world-view
That vanars wouldn’t get foc
used!
To let him in spite all go wrong.
Makes man passion imperfect
Hear if they that Seetha died
Ram ’n Lakshman won’t live more.
At the death of their siblings
Bharat ’n Satrughn follow suit.
Reign if ends of Ikshvaakus
Orphaned would be world at large.
For the foolish act of mine
Won’t I turn the accursed soul?
As sunk Hanuman in sorrow
Omens he sighted all too good.
Felt he raging flames of fire
Won’t match power of Rama’s wife.
Won’t her aura keep at bay
Flames of raging fire from her.
Won’t the Fire God himself know
Touch he cannot Rama’s spouse?
How can ever be Rama’s wife
Destined to burn like some sack?
As well Agni spared my tail
Would he ever touch Seetha then?
Mainak as did offer help
To sustain cause of Lord Rama
Wouldn’t then Agni follow suit?
Won’t her love for Rama make
Lakshman rekha for Fire God?
Wavered as thus Hanuman then
Heard he angels speak in awe.
Gods too never dared to dream
Ever would Ravan get subdued,
With Lanka thus now on fire
Lankans have no place to hide.
What did Hanuman to Ravan
Was like taming lion on heat
In its own den with bare arms.
Turned though Lanka to ashes
Wonder what made tongues of fire
Leave out Rama’s spouse unscathed!
Having heard all those angles
Spoke of her escape from fire
Heaved a sigh of relief he then.
That Seetha was left unharmed
Made then Hanuman jump for joy.
On the spur then felt Hanuman
Should go back to Rama’s spouse
So that he could take her leave.
Canto 56 - Havoc of a Take-off
Finding Seetha in fine shape
To her Hanuman prostrated.
As bade Hanuman her goodbye
Spoke in fondness Rama’s spouse.
Wish I now thee in some nook
Take some rest for day or two.
Well, O Hanuman thy advent
Made my sorrows turn their backs.
Bring as and when thou my Ram
Know am not sure whether I live.
Leave as thee to fetch Rama
Wonder whether I stand agony
Replace that would joy thou gave.
Can ever Ram ’n Lakshman cross
Sea this vast to reach Lanka
With the vanar force that’s large?
In spite of thy words so bold
Find I linger doubts these mine.
Apart Garud ’n Vayu, thou
Who else could cross sea this vast?
Tell me how thou would address
Problem this that confronts Ram.
If thee take me back I know
Spares the bother for my man
To cross this sea with force of his,
But then Rama wouldn’t have it
Since it’s not the proper way
For him to reclaim his Seetha.
It’s but proper for Lord Ram
That he takes me on his own.
Measure of Ravan as thou got
Guide my Ram to subdue him.
Impressed as he by her words
Addressed Hanuman her concerns.
Vast is bear and vanar force
To help thy man sure rescue thee
Lord Sugreev mine hath at hand.
Know our army is so vast
Once it lands on Lankan shores
Fills it to the last square inch.
Ram ’n Lakshman with arrows
Could kill Lankans to last man.
Once they thus end Ravan’s reign
Takes thee back Ram to thy town.
Having endured ordeals long
Time thou embrace hope from now.
Having Ravan seen thus dead
Walk thee would free to thy man.
Know the day is not far off
Lands when Ram on Lankan shores.
Having said thus Hanuman took
Leave of Rama’s spouse Seetha.
That Hanuman had come and gone
Seemed that all like dream for her.
That he did make Lankans rue
Portend well for things to come.
Assured that he Ravan’s end
Made Seetha pray Ram no end.
For his take-off to go back
Arishta mountain climbed Hanuman.
Passing clouds made Arishta look
Like the shy bride that was veiled.
Caressed by those sun rays thus
Seemed it woke up then from sleep.
Water falls of rivers on that
Sounded they like Vedic chants.
Seemed all trees of Arishta then
Like raised arms of scores of those
Ascetics engaged in prayers there.
Orchestra of magic flutes
Breeze made Arishta’s bamboos turn.
Covered by snow from tip to toe
Seemed Arishta then blissful soul.
Peaks sky high ’n caves all deep
Made Arishta seem cover all worlds.
Flowers varied of myriad trees
Gave that touch of bridal ware.
Beasts in woods all in their scores
Sauntered in groves that were thick.
Home it made all Gandharvas
Home away home for all of them.
Herbs it all had so myriad
Made they medicines that varied.
Set as Hanuman his huge foot
Rocks all got to pebbles reduced.
In his bid to sail across
Grew he further frame his large.
Sighted Hanuman sea across
Crossed that he to reach Lanka.
On his return trip to home
Veteran like he then took-off.
With the pressure it came to bear
Sank then Arishta deep in ground.
Pressed as Arishta to its core
Caved in with groan ocean bed.
Lost as Arishta its bearing
Trees then there got uprooted.
With their fate as thus got sealed
Roared lions all there in distress.
Flew as Gandharv women all there
Slipped their pallus off their breasts
.
Serpents there lay furlongs long
Curled in pits of square foot then.
Angels all then came to rest
On its lovely peak foremost,
With that havoc of take-off
Took flight all of them in fright.
In time only seen was tip
Of that Arishta of great girth.
Left no trace of its glory
At length that peach of mountains.
Unmindful of that havoc
Had a smooth sail back Hanuman.
Canto 57 - Flight sans Hassles
Airborne as he so he seemed
Like a mountain with huge wings.
Nagas all from stratosphere
Saw him then in his flight route.
Stars all in their resplendence
Saw him as he passed them by.
Hanuman got a feeling then
Was he there in another world.
Moved as he thus in high skies
Seemed he swallowed clouds all there.
Picked as up he speed in flight
Seemed as if skies shrunk in size.
Formed then rainbow in mid-air
Looked that like a welcome arch.
Clouds as darkened in mid-course
Played he hide ’n seek like moon.
As and when he came in view
In his vest he shone like moon.
Acquired as if Garuda’s grace
With such ease then Hanuman flew.
Seemed then ether spread to world
Words those Hanuman spoke to self
About the valorous deeds of his
Done by grace of Lord Rama.
Approached when he Mainaka
Touched him Hanuman in reverence.
Sighted as he Indra’s hill
Roared then like a lion Hanuman.
Induced by the roars of his
Thundered all the clouds in skies.
Sighted as he home shore soon
Waved his tail in triumph Hanuman.
Sounded as he his comeback
Seemed all worlds then shook to roots.
With such chaos in the skies
Guessed his peers all his approach.
Waited they with bated breath
For Hanuman to come then in sight.
Soared their spirits as with his roars
Reached they shores to see him land.
Urge of theirs to see Hanuman
Made them all jump up and down.
Jambavan it was then addressed
All the vanars there gathered.
Doubt there none that our Hanuman
Is well on his way back home.
Neared as Hanuman southern shore
Raised sea mean level in welcome.
For the sight of Hanuman then
Climbed all vanars then treetops.
Jumped for joy as those vanars
Fell all leaves from their branches.
Heard they roar of their hero
Raised that decibels all over.
Sighted as all Hanuman soon
Raised they hands in salute then.
Folks as his lay awestruck then
He on Mahendra’s peak landed.
Jumped he down to rejoin
All those vanars whom he left.
In their joy then vanars all
Ran to mob their own hero.
Finding him in pink of health
Sigh of relief heaved they all.
Looked at him all in reverence
Fetched they rare fruits all for him.
Sounding welcome for Hanuman
Gave their throats then vanars all.
To elders all and Prince Angad
For his part then bowed Hanuman.
Knew as he their eagerness
To hear the story in detail,
As though to save all for Ram
Gave he brief as ‘Seen Seetha’.
Having embraced Prince Angad
Squatted Hanuman there on lawn.
Goaded by the vanars then
Told he how he found Seetha.
In her lament for her man
Found I famished her to bone.
That he himself saw Seetha
Cheered the vanars there gathered.
Roared as vanars with one throat
Shocked were birds all in their flight.
Raised as vanars tails their long
Looked like ladders they to skies.
Pachyderm like as sat Hanuman
In their joy they hugged him all.
Bringing order then Angad
Addressed Hanuman thus in praise.
None can equal thee on earth
Flew who over sea this twice.
Swore as all of us to die
Had thee failed to find Seetha
It’s thy valour saved our lives.
It’s thy reverence to Sri Ram
Made thee as the chosen one
To discern Seetha there yonder.
News of Seetha in his wait
Sure to gladden Rama’s heart.
Clapped all vanars to one man
At what all Angad just then said.
Kept they silence of pin drop
So that Hanuman could go on.
So to let him unfold then
With their hearts in mouths they sat.
So to catch his every word
Sat next Angad to Hanuman.
With the vanars there thus sat
Seemed the place then royal court.
Canto 58 - Odyssey in a Nutshell
Where to start and what to tell
Felt like Buridan’s ass Hanuman.
For their part then all his folk
Sat there tight to catch his words.
As though to help him in script
Addressed Jambavan Hanuman thus:
Tell O Hanuman where and how
Found thee Seetha Rama’s spouse.
Tell us how thou zeroed on
Rama’s spouse in wilderness.
Brief us now of odyssey thine
So that we can plan ourselves.
At the request of his peer
Spoke then Hanuman in loud tone.
Of course thee all bear witness
That I flew off from these shores.
Came across I in mid-seas
Mountain that was made of gold.
Sky high grew it in no time
Blocked it my way all the way.
To the errand on my hand
Saw it as I then hindrance.
Lashed it as I with my tail
Went it crashing down on knees.
Assumed form
it then human
And in warmth thus spoke to me:
For my friendship with thy dad
Thou should take me as thy kin.
Am king of mountains Mainaka
Dwell in seas these underneath.
Mountains all in times of yore
Had we wings to circle worlds
Afraid of our crash landing
Complained all to Lord Indra.
Chose as Indra to clip wings
Of the mountains there are all
It’s thy father but who saved
Wings of mine from being clipped.
Bound am I to extend help
To thee now on this errand
With the intent to serve Ram
That he reclaims his lost spouse.
Offered though he me to take
Rest on golden peak of his
Wanting not to waste my time
Wished I none of that for me.
Having grasped my urgency
Pressed he none more Mainaka.
Bid as I him adieu then
Slipped he back then to sea bed.
Resumed then I unhindered
Journey mine that seemed so long.
Came across I then Surasa
Mother of serpents of all seas.
Oh how she made clear her intent
That she would make meal of me!
Not to rub on her wrong side
Pleaded my case with her thus:
Lived with Seetha ’n Lakshman
For long Ram in Dandak woods.
Snared as Ravan fair Seetha
Sent me her man to find out.
For thy being his subject
Dharma it’s thine aid his cause.
As and when I find Seetha
Convey I would to that Ram
And come back to thee forthwith
So that thou me have for meal.
But she would have none of it
And said none can escape her.
Mouth as she hers wide open
Gained I size to thwart her move.
Pulled as she jaws her so wide
To thwart her then I turned tiny.
So to beat the boon she got
That none can ever detour her
Went in and I came out swift
Brought as she her jaws to close.
In spite of the fact I tricked
Yet she wished me all the best.
Bade as she me then adieu
So all creatures of the seas.
Hardly had I flew a league
Felt as if was slowing down.
Surveyed as I all over
Found no hindrance in my route.
In awe then I continued
Straining every nerve of mine.
To get to the roots of problem
As saw I down from high skies
Found a fiend at my shadow.
Though she saw the giant of me
Yet she challenged me that fiend.
Said the fiend then all in glee
Glad I’ve found a giant in thee
Sure thou make full meal for me.
Like I did with that Surasa
Grew up in size all the more.
Rose as it to swallow me
Made I myself then puny.
Deftly then I entered her
Came out swiftly with her heart.
With her heart thus in my hand
Fell its corpse on high seas then.
From the talk of Siddhas then
Witnessed who all that from skies
Simhik was the fiend I slain
Killed as I the fiend that weird
Came to know that pulls its prey
Clutching at but their shadows.
Sank at length as sun in seas
Set then I foot on those shores.
As I reached the Lankan gates
Found there a fiend to confront.
Having tongues of fire for hair
Tried that fiend to slay me straight.
Needed as I no more than
Fist of mine to pin her down
Spoke that terrified fiend to me.
O great vanar thou may know
Me as Lanka’s main deity
That thee could well beat me true
All else here would bite the dust.
In spite of the guards all there
Covered I Lanka all that night
Yet I found not Seetha there.
Searched I Ravan’s palace then
Came a cropper there even.
Sauntered as I in and out
Found I to my wonder there
Garden with all golden walls.
Entered then I in great hope
Garden that was out of world.
In the midst of that garden
Found a dame I there squatted.
Unkempt all her pitch dark hair
Wide-eyed she was of middle age.
Downcast was she by demeanour
On guard there were women garish.
Taunted her all in their turns
Looked she like a trapped creature.
Ceased she not to pray her man
Cared she none fore self-upkeep.
Cursing Ravan in between
Wished she then to end her life.
By the virtue of her soul
And the beauty of her self
Felt I she could be Seetha.
Heard I tinkles of anklets
Sensed I women were nearby there.
Hiding myself on high branch
Waited for those women to come.
Sighted then I Ravan there
With his queens ’n keeps in tow.
Seetha who sat in sorrow
Changed her posture to cover more.
Neared as Ravan her in lust
Cowered all the more then Seetha.
In his bid to gain her love
Fell then Ravan at her feet.
Snubbed by Seetha even then
Gave her Ravan two more months
For her to choose from him or death.
At that Seetha seethed in rage
Spoke she to him with disdain.
How thou fail to know Ravan
Spouse am I of godly Ram?
Snared as crooked way by thee
Don’t I know how coward are thou?
What if thou are Lankan king
Measure thou none to Ram’s valet.
Slighted as by Rama’s wife
Burned in anger Ravan then.
Having thus lost his bearing
Moved Ravan to throttle her.
Stopped him in his tracks his queen
With these words that pleased him well.
Measure as thou to Lord Indra
Make
s she no patch ever on me.
Why run after Seetha then
With me at thy side for fun?
Won’t thou have in thy harem
Women ever eager to please thee?
Having massaged ego his
Led she back him to harem.
Turned guards all then too hostile
To Rama’s spouse who snubbed Ravan.
Though they scolded her loudly
Paid them deaf ear then Seetha.
Seeing Seetha unmoved thus
Ran some then to brief Ravan.
Rest of them in exhaustion
Fell asleep all one by one.
In spite of that sans respite
Wept then Seetha for her man.
Woke up in trance Trijata then
From their ranks to address them.
Dream I had that bodes all ill
To Lanka ’n our Lord as well
Of course owing to this dame.
Better we make up with her now
So that she would save our lives.
For the suffering women like her
Dreams such as those portend well.
Better we seek now her mercy
So that we could come out clean.
Having heard what Trijata said
Assured Rama’s spouse them help.
Seeing her in such a plight
Felt I wretched for her sake.
Contrived I then to be heard
By her as I praised her man.
Having heard me tell her tale
Moved as she then spoke to me.
O little vanar who art thou
Who did send thee to Lanka?
Got as thee so close to Ram
Tell me how thou met my Lord?
Then I said to soothe her thus:
Made Lord Rama friend my Lord
Sugreev king of vanar world.
Hanuman am I sent by Ram
In search of thee in Ravan’s land.
Gave me Rama to show thee
Ring this he wears ever on him.
At thy beck and call am now
Bid me to take thee to Ram?
Such was Seetha’s perspective
Thought it would be fit for Ram
If he were to slay Ravan
And then take her back with him.
Wanted then I from Seetha
Something dear to both of them
So that I could show that Rama.
Thus she gave me this diadem
That she said would please her man.
Then she told me that episode
Wherein a crow turned eager
All to savour Seetha’s charms
That too when she was with Ram!
She was not to let me go
Wished as I to take her leave.
Wanted Seetha I tell Ram
Suffering hers for want of him.
Bid me she to fetch her man
Soon with Lakshman ’n Sugreev.
Were thou fail to bring Rama
And the rest in just two months
Live I not a day longer.
Spoke as she in such despair
Seized I was with burning rage.
Then and there I turned a fiend
Ravaged the grove that held her.
Cowered all beasts there so varied
Woke up in fright Seetha’s guards.
Seeing me thus in fury
Ran they all to tell Ravan.
Pictured they then to Ravan
Havoc I wrought in garden.
Were Ravan to give orders
Boasted they would make me pay.
In his bid to subdue me
Sent Ravan then his kinkars.
Eighty thousand strong they were
Slew I them all to last man.
‘Lost Lanka its vast army’,
Told Ravan his spies on prowl.
Chose I then their funeral place
Slew its guards with just one stroke.
With huge force to capture me
Sent then Ravan Prahastha’s son.
Spared I not then one even
Broke their backs with iron latch.
With the death of Prahastha’s son
Dispatched Ravan ministers’ sons.
One by one to hell all them
With that latch I then dispatched.
Not the one to give up soon
Sent Ravan his five Generals.
As I made them bite the dust
Chose Ravan to send his son.
Akshay though of tender age
Astute was he in warfare.
Yet I caught him by his legs
Flung him thus to Ravan’s court.
Enraged Ravan by all that
Sent his first born to battle.
That he subdued Lord Indra
Knows him world as Indrajit.
All his valour came to naught
When it came to me subdue.
Realizing I matched him well
Stunned me he with Brahmastra.
At his behest his flock then
Tied me with all sorts of ropes.
As they took me to Ravan
Fumed at me then he in rage
Wanted he to find out then
Why thus I played spoilsport.
Him I told for Seetha’s sake
Caused I all that destruction.
Moreso made it clear to him
Sent I was by Lord Rama.
Gave thee counsel I told him
Lord Sugreev too for thy good.
Sent Sugreev thee his greetings
Words these with to caution thee.
In my exile I met Ram
Vow I took to stand by him.
Ram then wanted me to help
Him to fight who snared Seetha.
Thereby had I that barter
Whereby he would slay Vali
Stole who my wife unfairly.
To his vow to kill Vali
Made Ram Lakshman bear witness.
With that single arrow Ram
Brought an end to Vali’s reign.
Made as he me vanar king
Owe him I to stand by him.
‘Send back Seetha to Lord Ram’
Advice this mine to thee now
Come would Hanuman to deliver.
That thou know the vanar force
Could well conquer all three worlds
Hope thee heed this advice mine.
Slighted as he by these words
Lost his cool then Lankan king.
Gave he go by to dharma
Ordered I be put to death.
Spoke then sibling of Ravan
Revere all there as Vibhishan.
Goes thy diktat O my Lord
Not with grain of thy dharma.
In the annals of state craft
Sent are men to mend fences
Ill behoves the recipient king
Kills if he the one thus sent.
Punish if we must this vanar
Sever we could a limb or two.
At that Ravan gave orders
Tail mine be then set on fire.
Having hit my tail with sticks
Tied it they with jute and all.
Poured they tons of oil then
Set they thus my tail on fire.
So to slight me all the way
Taken was I round the streets.
That they could make fun of me
Led I was then to main square.
Vanar then I turned tiny
Slipped out of the ropes they tied.
Grew I then to touch the skies
Slew them all there at one go.
Set I fire to buildings all
There in Lanka one by one.
Burnt as Lanka to the core
Worried I was for Seetha.
Took I Seetha’s death for sure
Sank in sorrow to my knees.
Cried then as I unceasing
Heard I Yakshas talk in skies.
From their talk I learnt for sure
Came no harm to Rama’s spouse.
Felt it’s all but grace of hers
Gave that respite to my tail.
Reached I then the Lankan beach
Quenched there well my burning tail.
Went I straight to Seetha then
Took her leave to fly back home.
Took-off then I from Lanka
To head home to see thee all.
There in high skies I flew past
Sun with trillion stars ’n moon.
With the blessings of Rama
And the wishes of our folk
Bring I could thee good tidings.
In brief that’s all what happened
Much is left for us to do.
Canto 59 - Pep Talk to Peers
Having told the main story
Fillips these then gave Hanuman.
Heartened that I found Seetha
Glued I then to Rama’s thought.
Lays who store on spouse like her
Woman there none so ever like her.
Ravan is no common man
For he survived Seetha’s ire.
Can turn Seetha to ashes
With her looks the gods even
Should they come ever coveting her,
But Ravan who laid on her
Hands his as he kidnapped her
Came out unscathed from her wrath.
How I wish that I could have
Brought her back to meet her man.
On my own then I could have
Killed all Lankans with Ravan.
Land as we all in Lanka
What would Ravan’s fate be then?
For me to slay all of them
Could have taken day or two,
So to bring them to their knees
Need we but an hour at most.
But then Ravan’s eldest son
By no means a pushover,
Dared he as well subdued too
None the less than Lord Indra,
Shy as gods all from him thus
Hails him world as Indrajit.
How I wish to fly back now
So to make him bite the dust.
With thy blessings on my own
Conquer could I all three worlds.
Were Jambavan to confront him
Where would Ravan hide his head?
Won’t our Angad on his own
Give a run to demons there all.
We’ve Neel ’n Panasa too
Need but fists to smash mountains.
None there ever in angels too
Match who might well Manduni.
What to speak of Dwividu then
Comes when it to fighting foes.
These two of the Aswin clan
Ever eager to fight such wars.
Come not to grief they in wars
Blessed are thus by Lord Brahma.
Partook both they nectar then
Subdued when they angels all.
Having them at our forefront
For us on the Lankan shores
Figure it would make but picnic.
Fire as I set to Lanka
Prayed all Lankans to Lord Ram.
Ram ’n Lakshman I extolled
Besides vanar Lord Sugreev.
Wondered as they who I was
Gave them that I’m Vayu’s son.
As I reached her to take leave
Found Seetha in great distress.
Amidst the guards who circled her
Seemed she full moon sunk in clouds.
Confined as thus by Ravan
Lost she none the sight of Ram.
Thinks she none of another man
Breathes she air that sounds Rama.
Wore she saree same old one
That which she had on her then
Snared when Ravan so long back.
Plaited she seems not her hair
Ever since she was thus confined.
Wont it’s her to chant Rama
Threaten her as and when her guards.
Pester ever as her captors
Rama’s wife is tired of life.
Felt all glad as Seetha learned
Her man made our Lord his friend.
Doomed as Ravan by her curse
Bound to get killed by her man.
Slim as Seetha by nature
Got she slimmer in despair.
Left it’s now to us vanars
How to see her out of woods.
Canto 60 - Angad on Rebound
Spoke thus Angad Vali’s son:
Found as Hanuman Seetha now
Why not we fetch her to Ram?
How it feels if we tell him
Found though we failed to fetch her.
Know we all could fly across
Ocean this vast to reach there
And slay Ravan and his men.
Then we could bring Seetha back
And make Rama meet his spouse.
Slain as Hanuman Ravan’s men
What is left for us to do
Than lead Seetha back to Ram?
Why to bother folk back home
For what we could do on our own?
When he expects her the least
Won’t it be a pleasant surprise
That we fetch her to h
im thus.
Having heard thus Angad speak
Said then Jambavan in response:
Sent we were to find Seetha
Not to take her back with us.
Exceed if we Rama’s brief
Might we earn his ire as well.
Better we mind all Rama’s vow
That he would slay with his hands
The one who dared to snare his wife.
Should we go by route thee show
Won’t we make him fail his word?
Sounds it prudent that we might
Go back to Ram with her news.
Move thine surely saves bother
For the rest of folks back home
But know Ram would like it not.
Canto 61 - Eying the Madhuvan
At that Angad retracted
Agreed he to fall in line.
Thought it fit then vanar folk
To let Hanuman lead them back.
Moved as they like cloud in skies
Played the sun then hide and seek.
Kept all vanars their eyes on
Hanuman at the head of them.
Felt all they were indebted
For him having saved their lives.
Buoyed were all by the thought
That Ram would be pleased with them,
Proud all felt that they could help
Lord Rama who helped their Lord.
In that mood they saw Madhuvan
Garden like which nowhere there
Full of honeycombs on huge trees.
Garden that was Sugreev’s own
Dared none ever to step in there.
Aided by all well-built guards
Dadhimukh, Sugreev’s own uncle
Guarded that place round the clock.
Tempted as were vanars all
Licked their fingers all of them.
Pleaded all with Prince Angad
To let them have a glassful each
Of honey in plenty in Madhuvan.
Nod as he got from elders
Gave nod Angad to vanars.
Swarmed then simians all over
Honey they savoured to last drop.
Left they not a fruit or root
Fill to the hilt they had all.
In their mirth then those simians
Danced they all till legs them failed.
Sang some then in sonorous tunes
Blabbered others as in small groups.
Pranks they played of every sort
Spared they none of one another.
Leapt as some from tree to tree
Others did jump from branch to branch.
Lost they all then their bearings
Poked some of them their noses.
Turned they naughty all in end
Spread they all then far and wide.
Wretched as made they garden rare
Warned then Dadhimukh all of them.
Heeded but they not his words
Made that Dadhimukh think over.
Took he then them all to task
And that spoiled their party.
Swarmed all vanars then Dadhimukh
As would bees when stirred from comb
And that frightened Dadhimukh then.
With their nails all long and sharp
Scratched as some the garden chief
Dug their teeth strong others in him.
Canto 62 - Orgy in the Garden
At length on the same coin
Paid as Dadhimukh trespassers
Went then Hanuman to save them.
Sending Dadhimukh then packing
Goaded Hanuman them for more.
With that go by from Hanuman
Beseeched Angad then his flock
That they could have more of fun.
Vanars at that hailed Hanuman
As well Angad their young prince.
Having got the license thus
Indulged they in wild orgies.
Cared they two hoots for the guards
And chased them out of that garden.
Having had their fill in time
Vanars then had their siesta.
To take the vanars then to task
Guards all regrouped in their scores.
Drove but vanars all of them
Back to their posts in no time.
Fought then vanars mock battles
Honeycombs with those they emptied.
Vanars some were high by then
Made they beds of leaves to sleep.
Faltered they all in their steps
Tried as some to walk a while.
Stumbled as some in mid-course
Stepped them over rest of them.
Inhaled as though laughing gas
Went on laughing some of them.
Twice shy being bitten for once
Staid put guards all in their posts.
Yet vanars all itched for fight
And threw them all in mid-air.
Injured as they fell on ground
Limped all in pain to Dadhimukh.
Annoyed as he with vanars
Addressed thus the chief of guards.
Time it’s not to lose our hearts
Better we regroup ’n fight them.
Bucked up as all by his words
Back they went to trespassers.
Uprooting a tree Dadhimukh
Signalled he the fight on hand.
Lined up guards all then in files
Marched on rampant vanars there.
Followed suit as some their chief
Lifted boulders others there large.
Angad’s vanars there scattered
Turned they sitting ducks all then.
So to save his men Angad
Took on Dadhimukh on his own.
Half drunk by then as Angad
Gave no quarter to Dadhimukh
And hit him hard with fist his strong.
Fell on floor as then Dadhimukh
Who was none but his grandad
Ceased not Angad to hurt him.
Beaten thus by his grandson
Lost his consciousness Dadhimukh.
Woke up Dadhimukh thereafter
Guards he led back to barracks.
Lost no time the Guards-in-Chief
Addressed his men thus aggrieved.
Serves no purpose to fight back
Appraise we might vanar Lord
Of the havoc wrought by these
To the Madhuvan loves he most.
Be it Angad for such foul
He’s not the one to spare.
Got this garden vanar Lord
As a bequeath from his dad
Who in turn got from his dad.
&n
bsp; Treats as Madhuvan as his child
Sure this carnage would outrage
Sugreev our Lord no end now.
Count on me to tell Sugreev
That they be all put to death.
Having spoken thus Dadhimukh
Flew to Sugreev with his flock.
In no time did Dadhimukh sight
Lord his Sugreev with his folks.
Having with his aids landed
Headed Dadhimukh to his Lord.
Saw then Sugreev his uncle
Approach him with dull demeanour.
Led then by the boss of theirs
Guards of Madhuvan saluted
Vanar Lord all one by one.