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Sundara Kānda: Hanuman's Odyssey

Whereas Mahabharata's Bhagvad-Gita is taken as a philosophical guide, Ramayana's Sundara Kãnda is sought for spiritual solace; many believe that reading it or hearing it recited would remove all hurdles and usher in good tidings! Miracles apart, it's in the nature of this great epic to inculcate fortitude and generate hope in man for it’s a depiction of how Hanuman goes about his errand against all odds. Besides, it portrays how Seetha, on the verge of self-immolation, overcomes despair to see life in a new light? With rhythm of its verse and the flow of the narrative this sloka to sloka transcreation of the canto beautiful of Valmiki's adi kavya - the foremost poetical composition in the world, Hanuman's Odyssey that paves the way for Rama to rescue his kidnapped wife is bound to charm the readers and listeners alike. Interestingly, as the following verse illustrates, this epic was the forerunner of the magic realism of our times – “Gripped she then him by shadow / Cast which Hanuman coast to coast, Recalled he in dismay then / What Sugreev said at outset / That one fiend had aptitude / To grip its prey by mere shadow.” On a personal note, my paternal grandfather, Bulusu Thimmaiah-garu, like many in his time, was a life-long practitioner of Sundara Kãnda parayana (the epic’s daily recital in part or full), whose spirituality could have providentially guided me in this, rather an effortless, trans-creative endeavour.

BS_Murthy · Fantasy
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70 Chs

Carrot and Stick

Finding Seetha still unmoved

Thought the better of guards all then

Brought they dreamland close to her.

Said they all in one tone then

None there ever a Pushpak like

In which Ravan keeps his queens.

For thy man the Lankan gates

Out of bounds by Ravan made

Stop thy lament for lost cause

Make the best as Lankan queen.

Know Ravan is Fortune One

Takes thee as his beloved one

Grant he would thine every wish.

Even one-night stand with him

Make thee forget thy man's want

Lost who throne 'n failed thee too.

For all they said to pander her

Hurt was Seetha's aggrieved soul

Take she could no more of that.

Stop thy tirade of my man

Know it's sin to belittle him

And to pander his spouse thus.

Prefer I die as Rama's wife

Than to live as Ravan's queen.

Though he lost the crown of his

Sits he yet on my heart's throne.

What if he lacks worldly wealth

Makes me rich his manly worth.

Apart though are our bodies

Milk and water make our souls.

It's thy foolishness to think

My man can't ever make it here,

In the palanquin of my heart

Didn't I bring him so long back?

Raged as were they by her sneer

Enraged they mobbed all her then.

Saw as he the scene Hanuman

Feared he then for Seetha's life.

Frightful as all made themselves

Shivered then Seetha in her shoes.

Picked up they all pick-axes

Poked they Seetha with stick's end.

At that Hanuman saw Seetha

Run for cover to where he was.

Chased all Seetha all the way

Nail they could her in the end.

Worked all single minded then

To make Seetha change her mind.

To floor Seetha for their Lord

Took then fiendish Vinatha floor.

It's as well thee stood by Ram

It's time that thee shift thy base.

For thy steadfastness to Ram

Looks like gods all granted thee

Fortune that's rare for fair sex

That of becoming Ravan's queen.

Why to speak in equal terms

Can Ram match his little finger?

Block thy past as Rama's wife

Gloat thyself as Ravan's queen.

Why not take thee Ravan's hand

And turn toast of all three worlds?

In time thy man in despair

Wander would he to deathbed.

Were thou fail to heed our words

Won't we make a meal of thee?

With her sagging breasts that swing

Venomous Vikata came forward.

Spoketh as thee words such rash

It's our goodness that spared thee.

Brought thee Ravan to this shore

Forget that Ram comes this far.

Dares none ever to eye Lanka

Scope there none for thy escape.

Invoke and see Lord Indra

How he fears our king Ravan.

What's the sense in thy crying

It's time that thee jump for joy.

Surely thou pass prime in time

As the favoured of Ravan

Why not make the best of prime?

In the garden of thy bloom

It's all joy rides with Ravan.

At the beck and call we all

Come to serve thee all the time.

Fail if thee take Ravan's hand

Fail we not to sever thy head.

Chandodari then put her mace

On breasts daunting of Seetha.

Is it not to enjoy these

Assets ample of snow white

Brought thee Ravan all the way?

As thou let not Ravan lay

Hands his eager on thy breasts

Make I would them food for me.

At that Praghasa spoken thus:

Why to waste our breath on her

Why not stuff out breath of hers.

As she failed to lay with him

Learns as Ravan of her death

Won't he let us feast her flesh?

Set the pyre to roast her well

And fetch I arrack in barrels.

Surpanakha thus spoketh then:

Find I tiring all this grind

Guarding Seetha round the clock,

High time it's all brought to end

In grand orgy with her flesh.

Put they thus the fear of death

In Seetha who then liked to live

For the sake of Ram she loved.