Read Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman's Odyssey Page 6

At the diktak of his Lord

  Took leave Dadhimukh of them all.

   

  Flew he back then to Madhuvan

  With his flock to fetch Hanuman. 

   

  Speeded as he to his Lord

  Rushed he so back to Madhuvan. 

   

  In the garden he left them  

  Found he vanars turn sober.

   

  Went he straight to Angad then

  Spoke he thus with folded hands.

   

  Pardon my flock and me too

  For we tried to stop thee all

  From thy having fun of life.

   

  At thy pleasure O Prince Angad  

  Let thy folk have some more fun.

   

  Like thy dad in days of yore 

  Sugreev ’n thou make our Lords. 

   

  Told we Sugreev thy uncle

  Landed thou all in Madhuvan.

   

  Felt he so glad hearing that 

  Found I safe ’n sound all thee. 

   

  Flared up he not as I told

  Spoiled all of thee Madhuvan.

   

  Now he sent me here to fetch

  Thee all back to him forthwith.

   

  At this Angad told his flock

  Rama could be in the know.

   

  Inclined am to think so

  Seeing joyous Dadhimukh’s face. 

   

  Now that all of us had fun

  Why not go back to our Lord.

   

  Wish I none have to dictate

  Like to follow what thee say.

   

  Brought as thou us this glory

  Honour me thou as thy Prince

  It’s no time that’s opportune

  For me to thee dictate terms.

   

  Spake as Angad to his flock

  Made that happy one and all.

   

  Spoke they in turn to Angad

  All of them in one voice,

  Like thou take us as equals

  Who else would treat his subjects?

   

  Bow as thou to thy subjects

  Take thee that to top of world.

   

  Think as thee of thy uncle

  We too wish to see our Lord.

   

  Lead us all to where thee go

  None of us would drag his feet.

   

  Gave as Angad green signal

  Rose then his flock to the skies.

   

  Angad thus with at the head

  Flew they flying saucer like.   

   

  Thus in tow with Hanuman then

  Pulled his flock all back Angad. 

   

  Sighting Angad in the skies

  Spoke then Sugreev to Rama.

   

  See our vanars flying back

  Portends that well for Seetha.

   

  Espy speed at which they fly

  Would they do so had they failed?

   

  To me if he were to fail

  Would ever Angad show his face?

   

  Besides fouling my Madhuvan  

  Were he failed to find Seetha

  How dare Angad come to me?

   

  If not that they found Seetha

  Would have Angad let his flock

  At the pain of death enter

  Madhuvan that’s so dear to me?

   

  Feel I certain Hanuman did

  Find Seetha in thy waiting.

   

  Espouses as he some cause  

  Hanuman is ever dedicated.

   

  Whatever he might undertake

  Known is Angad for his luck.

   

  Now that Angad advances

  Like the one who succeeded 

  That should make us feel easy.

   

  That our vanars on errand

  Wrecked my garden in orgies

  Would but portend that Seetha

  Was found in the pink of health.

   

  Won’t they roar in joyous mood

  What’s that but they got it right.

   

  Saw vanar Lord in descent

  Angad’s flock in bid to land.

   

  In salute to that force his strong

  Raised then Sugreev tail his straight.

   

  Seeing Sugreev  in welcome  

  Signalled Angad to his flock

  Land they might all on the trot.

   

  Enthused as were all by then

  Lost no time to land vanars.

   

  Having went to Rama straight

  ‘Seen I Seetha’ told Hanuman.

   

  Gladdened tidings of the news

  Hearts of Ram and his sibling.

   

  Felt glad Sugreev that Hanuman

  Caressed was by Lakshman’s eyes.

   

  Melted loving look of Ram

  Hanuman to the core of heart.

  Canto 65 - News in Brief

  Followed Angad suit Hanuman

  Paid he respects to Lord Ram. 

   

  Such was vanars’ state of mind

  Spoke they out of turn they all.

   

  Blabbered they all one by one

  In bits ’n pieces what they heard.

   

  Amused by their hearsay Ram

  Heard them all for quite sometime.

   

  Enquired in time Ram of them

  What doth Seetha think of him.

   

  At that they all passed baton

  To Hanuman who was in the know.

   

  Set to recap then Hanuman

  Thought of Seetha in reverence

  And turned southward to face her. 

   

  Taking seat at Rama’s feet

  Handed him then that diadem  

  Given by Seetha for recall

  And thus spoke with folded hands.

   

  Pressed as I was by my peers

  Crossed I ocean lay there south

  In search of Seetha there yonder.

   

  Reached I Lanka in no time

  Land that ruled by vile Ravan.

   

  Found I Seetha in distress

  Jailed as Ravan to digress

  From her love to thee her Lord. 

   

  In the hope of her rescue

  Lingers she on in thy thought.

   

  Never having had bad dream 

  Wonder how her life turned sour. 

   

  In tight rein is Seetha held 

  Day ’n night of vigil to boot

  Of the devilish guards in scores. 

   

  Floor she uses for her bed 

  Curses Ravan for her plight.

  It’s that Seetha in lament

  Found I at length in torment. 

   

  In time I could impress her

  That am but thine own agent.

   

  How glad was she as I told

  Hath Lord Sugreev turned thy friend.

   

  Steadfast as she in thy thought

  Prayed thee for long in reverence.

   

  Told me she then that story

  Of the eager crow and thee.

   

  Beseeched Seetha then with me

  To tell her tale of owes to thee.

   

  Give this diadem to my Lord

  When thy Lord is there with him. 

   

  Tell my Ram that I
relive

  Touch his as he adorned me

  With this diadem my dad gave

  To me on our wedding day.

   

  It’s this one that makes me feel

  As if thee are ever with me.

   

  Gave though Ravan two more months

  To change my mind or face then death

  Prefer I would to end my life

  At the end of one more month. 

   

  In her state of distress Lord

  That’s how Seetha spoke to me. 

   

  Now that I made thee privy 

  To the plight of thy Seetha

  Think of ways ’n means to take  

  Our force there to bring her back.

   

  Felt though Ram then so sad

  Spouse his was in such distress

  Yet he felt glad that Hanuman

  Could show him the way to her. 

  Canto 66 - Tears in Torrents

  Moved by Seetha’s plight he heard

  Wept Ram holding her diadem. 

  Welling his eyes to then brim

  Brought it memories in torrents.

  Told he then the import of

  Diadem that to Lord Sugreev.

   

  It was gift of her father

  At the time of our wedding.

   

  Given it was by nonetheless

  Than Lord Indra to her dad.

   

  As I see this diadem now

  Recall I well our wedding

  Graced by parents of us both.

   

  Ever I recall that aura

  Gives this diadem to Seetha.

   

  For the solace of my soul

  Make it encore O Hanuman

  How my Seetha misses me.

   

  My dear sibling O Lakshman

  How this diadem in my hands

  Wrenches my heart to the core.

   

  Though gave Seetha thirty days

  Outer limit for me to act

  How can ever I wait that long.

   

  To my Seetha whom I love

  Take me forthwith O Hanuman. 

   

  Delicate being her nature

  What an ordeal it could be

  To be confined thus for long? 

   

  Won’t her moon like face look like

  Full moon shrouded by thick clouds?

   

  Tell me what all Seetha said

  Want I hear to her last word. 

   

  Keen am I to get picture

  Of the pining of my spouse. 

  Canto 67 - Hanuman’s Replay

  Moved no end by Rama’s plight  

  Spoke with ardour then Hanuman.

   

  Narrate I would verbatim

  Tale she told me to tell thee.

   

  Woke up as I ahead of Ram

  Slept when we both in open

  Pecked my bosom Kakasur. 

   

  Bore I pain all in silence.

  Not to disturb his sleep then. 

   

  Taking advantage of that

  Went on hurting me that crow

  Making fountains of my breasts.

   

  Fell as my blood on his chest

  Woke up Ram to find me bleed. 

   

  Saw he as me in distress

  Hissed my man like king cobra. 

   

  Dare who did to lay his hands

  On thy breasts that brush my chest! 

   

  To his dismay he then found

  Kakasur with blood on hands.

   

  Realized Ram that Kakasur

  Bird of birds was Indra’s son.

   

  Misdeed that of Indra’s son

  Found then my man hard to bear. 

   

  Plucked he then a nearby reed

  And with power of his mantra

  That he turned to Brahmastra.

   

  Let as Ram that Brahmastra

  To chase Kakasur to death

  Spewed it tongues of fire at him.

   

  So to save his life his dear

  Turned that crow to one and all

  Including hid dad Indra.

   

  None as came forward to help

  Came back Kakasur to Ram

  Sought he  pardon for his foul.

   

  Inclined though Ram to pardon

  Yet he couldn’t help hurt his eye

  Since none retracts his mantra. 

   

  Thanking Ram for his reprieve

  Left Kakasur with left eye then. 

   

  Said she thus she fails to grasp

  How come Rama spares Ravan. 

   

  Is there someone in all worlds

  Who would stand up to fight Ram?

   

  Concern if hath Lord Rama 

  For me his spouse ever loyal

  May he come ’n slay Ravan.

   

  Am I not like mother to him

  What made Lakshman thus stay put?

   

  Oh my man and his sibling

  Could kill Ravan on their own, 

  And if they both feel for me

  Why they fail to rescue me?

   

  Seems both of them mistook me

  For some reason know not what. 

   

  Seeing Seetha doubt herself

  Gave I her thus assurance. 

   

  It’s his sorrow for thee know

  Made that Rama lose his way.

   

  Seeing thy man immobilized

  As well Lakshman lost his wits,

  Now that I would tell thy tale

  Both of them would spring to life.

   

  Enthused by the news I fetch

  Land they would soon in Lanka.

   

  That would be the beginning of

  The end of Ravan’s reign on earth.

   

  For thy Lord to trust my word

  Give me keepsake he gave thee.

   

  Having thought a while Seetha

  Gave this diadem now thou hold. 

   

  In my hurry to see thee

  Bid I adieu to thy spouse.

   

  As I started to gain size

  So that I could cross the seas

  Spoke then Seetha to me thus.

   

  As she took thy name O Lord

  Broke she down then in despair. 

  Having at length set her tone

  Chanted thy name like mantra.

   

  That thou bestow trust in me

  Praised my fortune then Seetha. 

   

  As a seat for her fly back

  Offered then I her my back.

   

  Told I she would be with thee

  Before she could spell thy name.

   

  Said she it’s not in her vein

  Touch to alien male on own.

   

  Felt I it’s my misfortune

  Laid as Ravan hand on me

  Kidnapped as he me then thus.

   

  So can’t I make on thy back

  Though thou are a friendly soul. 

   

  Once thou go back to thy folk

  Pay my respects to them all.

   

  Implore upon my Lord Ram

  Help me come out clean early.

   

  Mind thee tell all to my Lord

  How guards all these distress me. 

   

  Men of men O Lord Rama


  That’s how Seetha pines for thee. 

  Canto 68 - Times of Hope

  Said then Hanuman to Rama

  Came as thy spouse to trust me

  Spoke she further thus with me. 

   

  Stress the need to do needful

  Speak as thou to my Lord Ram. 

   

  How I wish thou gone by now

  Yet I feel thou need some rest  

  Stay so back for one more day.

   

  It’s thy coming O Hanuman

  Set the mind of mine at rest.

   

  Leave as thee the Lankan shore

  High ’n dry me that would leave. 

  In contrast to strength thee gave

  Won’t thy absence make it worse.

   

  Be that as it may Hanuman

  Reach to Lanka as thee did

  Can all vanars cross this sea?

   

  To slay Ravan for my sake

  How my Lord ’n his sibling

  Can cross over sea this vast?

   

  But for Vayu, Garud ’n thou

  Who else could cross Lankan seas?

   

  How to bring all to these shores

  Thus O Hanuman give a thought. 

   

  Surely on thy own Hanuman

  Make can Ravan bite the dust 

  Yet that leaves no role for Ram

  In the rescue of his spouse.

   

  If my Lord doth declare war

  And downs Ravan in combat

  That would enhance his prestige

  And earns me honour in reclaim. 

   

  Ravan as did snare me then

  Spirit if thou me from Lanka

  Won’t it go down well with Ram.

   

  Proper thus it’s for my Lord

  Comes he here ’n takes me back. 

   

  Keeping all this in thy mind

  For my rescue by my man

  Need there is for thee to come

  Up with foolproof plan some  now.   

   

  Seeing how she lays in store

  Honour of her beloved man

  Spoke I to her in reverence.

   

  Goddess like O Rama’s spouse

  Know Sugreev is committed to

  Help thy man to set thee free.

   

  Know we vanars in millions

  Stake our lives to keep the word

  Lord our thus gave to thy lord.

   

  Choose if vanars to breach earth

  Is there someone to stop them?

  Blessed are all of us with skills 

  Roam we may all worlds are there.

   

  Falls none ever as short of me

  Vanars in scores better me true.

   

  As I could do what I did

  What to speak of rest of them?

   

  Now it’s time thee feel easy

  Soon we vanars land in droves

  With thy Lord to set thee free.

   

  Discount  if thou vanar strength

  Don’t thee know that I could fly

  Ram ’n Lakshman on my back

  Shores to these to fight Ravan? 

   

  Thou well know that thy man with

  Sibling his would come out trumps.

   

  Nevertheless we all vanars

  To fight the forces of Ravan

  Would be there on hand to Ram.

   

  Land  as we on Lankan shores

  To hear the roars of vanar force

  Won’t it take thee now so long.

   

  Slays when Ram the evil Ravan

  Won’t thee hand in hand in time

  Ascend Ayodhya’s throne with him?

   

  Having heard my words Seetha

  Said she would ever live in hope

  That thee would soon set her free.

  Peep into Yuddha Kanda: War on Ravan