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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

Women in Want

Hanuman on the sly entered

Chambers private of Ravan.

Such a cot he found lay there

Made to rival Ravan's throne.

Meant to impart moon's aura

Had it canopy made of wreaths.

Cot his huge was made of gold

Seemed on it sun came to rest.

Fanned by lovely handmaidens

Rent air perfumes rare fragrance.

Bed it had of soft sheepskin

Stuffed to brim with silk cotton.

With red eyes for want of sleep

He-man Ravan lay there spread.

Layers thick of sandal paste

Applied on his manly frame

Soothed those scores of love bites deep.

Splendid jewels wore he then

Seemed they lightning in grey cloud.

In the forest of fair sex

Slept there Ravan like a log.

Signs there were for all to see

Left he none there to make love.

Hanuman in awe neared Ravan

But the fact that he played foul

Made him stop then in his tracks.

Such was aura of Ravan

Made the simian stare at him.

Harem in his lay Ravan

Like a trunk with thick creepers.

Arms his long with gold epaulets

Looked like poles for Indra's flags.

Sported scores both combat scars

Of his battles fought with gods.

Like the mythical five-hood snakes

Arms his strong were well tapered.

Of hair oils his women had used

Smelled his hands of varied scents.

Rings he wore on his fingers

Gave a measure of his strong hands

Made which worlds all bow to him.

With the power of his own hands

Subdue he could all three worlds.

In that king-size bed Ravan

Lay he like a king elephant.

Such was the build of his frame

Looked he like a mountain then.

Breaths of Ravan seemed to fill

The insides all of that Pushpak.

Thus the aisles of that Pushpak

Were then filled with flowery scent.

Diamond ear-studs of Ravan

Seemed as diadem askew then.

On his hairy chest that broad

Glistened golden chains he wore.

Loincloth he wore of white silk

Left its guard on legs his strong.

Lay as he on white bedspread

Looked he like a black diamond.

Amidst the candle light that night

Seemed he like rain-bearing cloud.

Women that slept on his huge bed

Shone like stars in clear blue skies.

Saw Hanuman all Ravan's wives

With their aura that paled moon.

While some slept on arms his long

Others lay on his thighs that strong.

Had they ear-rings of cat's eyes

Wore they armlets of large gems.

It's their aura in Pushpak

Made it Milky Way on earth.

Hourglass figure women all had

Had them Ravan all of them.

For those in queue to make it to

Ravan's bed of hot pursuit

Thought of his was so pumping

Failed they manage to have wink.

Like a wreath that logged to boat

Lasses some hugged their veenas.

Slept a dame with drum by side

As would she have her newborn.

One with throbbing boobs so big

Hugged a drum like lover in want.

Pressed one flute in her valley

As would amorous woman manhood.

Hugged as eager a woman violin

Pressed by heaving breasts of hers

Scored it erotic notes on own.

Looked one temptress every inch

Hugged she trumpet like a wrench.

One who drank all to the dregs

Tabor she locked in armpit.

Demure was the one that hugged

Drum so small her breasts could hold.

Those that could hold no longer

Made they dildos of their flutes.

Tipsy turned a woman in sleep

Jug of lavender thus upturned.

One of those whom Ravan had

Drained as she to dress herself

Laid her hands on her nipples.

Amorous woman in all her want

Locked one lissome lass like brace.

Came to Ravan's women handy

Instruments varied that there lay.

Saw he then the gem of all

Slept who on a separate cot.

Charm hers was such made the rest

Woman of golden hue there lay

None other than king Ravan's queen.

Heard as he all gods coveted

Mandodari the marvellous one

Yet felt Hanuman that peerless

Woman might as well be Seetha.

In his joy he found Seetha

Got he into simian ways.