Genesis of Exile
Seeing Seetha's demeanour change
Gladdened Hanuman's heart no end.
Folding his hands in reverence
Approached he then Rama's wife.
Find thee grieving for some time
What doth make thee feel so sad?
Thy eyes that are all welled up
Make they clear that thou are hurt.
From thy bearing one can see
Come that thou from noble stock.
Tend I think that thou are none
But an angel strayed to earth.
Wonder thou could be North Star
Came down here from those high skies.
Pray thee tell me who art thou
Have thee left thy man in huff?
Seen thee grieving for some time
Have thee lost some dear soul then?
The more I see thee lovely one
All the more I hold thee high.
O thy bearing 'n demeanour
No less empress make thee look.
Are thee hapless Seetha then
Snared by Ravan from thy man?
Making two plus two as four
Take I thee for Rama's wife.
Spoke as Hanuman to her thus
Seetha thought it fit to speak.
Dasarath was the king of kings
Daughter in-law am his near
Treated me he daughter like.
Seetha am king Janaka's dear
Given in marriage to Rama
Son of Kausalya the Queen.
In that palace of Koshal
What a life I led with Ram
For the best of twelve summers.
Heavenly rule to bring on earth
Came then time to crown Rama.
Thought it fit then Kaikeyi
Dasarath's favoured number three
To see her son then ascend throne.
Made she clear then to Dasarath
Surely she would starve to death
Were he to crown Ram instead.
Pressed as she her suit to hilt
Cited she then that caveat
Cater would the king to her
Wishes three all when expressed.
Pulled as by his love for Ram
Stressed as Dasarath to the core
Wanted she that Ram may spend
From then fourteen years in woods.
Bound as Dasarath to his word
Sounded he then his first-born.
Gladly my man gave up then
Birthright his to rule his land.
Ordained thus by Kaikeyi
Set to Dandak woods then Ram.
Wanting hassles none for me
Wanted Ram that I stayed back.
What was there for me to cling
On to Dasarath's palace then
When my man was not at home?
Not the one to forego Ram
Lakshman too then joined us.
That's how three of us entered
Those thick jungles of Dandak.
Neared as end of our exile
Snared me Ravan from my man.
Intends Ravan to kill me
Were I to fail to take his hand
No more than in two more months,
Who is there to tell my man
Made up my mind to die now
For none I would have of Ravan.