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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
Not enough ratings
70 Chs

Doubts to the Fore

In her new found hope Seetha

Voiced then her feelings thus:

Once Rama sees this diadem

Warmth of my love fills his heart.

It's all left to thee Hanuman

How thou make it back to Ram.

Hope thou slip not on thy way

So that I could come out clean.

Having assured her Hanuman

Inclined was he to take leave.

Lost her nerve then Rama's wife

Leave would Hanuman all too soon.

In the choking tone of hers

Encored she her feelings thus:

Tell O Hanuman my concern

To my man and his sibling.

Protocol by thou deem it fit

Regards mine pay to thy folk

One by one to each of them.

Feel I thou art the right one

To goad my Lord to save me true.

Fetch thou Rama for my sake

Earn thee goodwill of us both.

Like a rock thou stand by Ram

Hurricane like stir his conscience.

Roused if Ram by thee Hanuman

Know he would turn typhoon then.

Having heard thus Seetha speak

Assured Hanuman Rama's spouse.

At the head of vanar force

In no time would land Lord Rama.

Declares as Ram war on him

Face would Ravan wrath his then.

Surely thy hurt would impart

Cutting edge to thy Lord's wrath.

Know thy Ram is all eager

To make thee empress of this world.

Felt then Hanuman Seetha's words

Worthy they all woman of note

So he addressed her nerves thus:

How thee fail to reckon Sugreev's

Resolve to win this war for Ram?

To take on Ravan and his men

Know brings Sugreev to Lanka

Tens and thousands of vanars.

Know our vanar force excels

Man to man all Ravan's men.

Creed it's that of us vanars

Not to show our backs to foes.

Bears in our force in numbers

None the less than our vanars.

Deem if thou me fit and strong

Know my folk score more than me.

Came as I here all the way

For the rest all it's child's play.

Thus O Seetha in no time

Land would vanars in Lanka.

On my shoulders take I Ram

As well Lakshman to fly them.

Once they set foot in Lanka

Know that would end Ravan's reign.

Perish as Ravan and his men

Take thee back would Rama home.

Lurks as Ravan's end in corner

Come to quick end thy sufferings.

As would Ravan bite thus dust

Reach thou thy Lord as free soul.

Bound as Ravan to exit

Bid all sorrows thee adieu.

Though he felt he said it all

Resumed Hanuman on second thought.

Mark my word O Rama's wife

Man thy would soon kill Ravan.

So to slay all Ravan's men

Vanars know need no more than

Mere their nails 'n teeth of theirs.

Won't the war cries of vanars

Make all Ravan's men stone-deaf?

Piqued as by pain in groin

Caused by longing for thee long

Heat thy man turns on Ravan

Caused who thus thy separation.

Thus O Seetha be certain

Bound is Ram to take thee back.

Man as thy hath his sibling

Face to Ravan's force in tow

What is there for thy worry?

With the end of Ravan thus

Turn thou new leaf in thy life.