webnovel

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

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 his 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.