Canto 21
Steadfast in Love
Hurt by Ravan’s words Seetha
Spoke to him thus in smooth tone.
How thou belittle my Lord Ram!
Doth it behove a learned man?
Blinded by thy lust Ravan
Fail thou see the God in Ram.
Having lovely wives in scores
Why eye me Ram’s only wife?
How come thou think Rama’s wife
Would ever bed with another man!
Pray thee divert from me lust
Engage all thy women in want.
Want as thou thy wives loyal
Let me be bound to my man.
Lust if thou for another’s wife
Won’t thou know that mars thy life?
That thee take the righteous path
Won’t’ thou have a right counsel?
Wonder how thee fail to see
Lanka by thine act would rue.
History all know bears witness
Ruined are kingdoms ruled by vile.
If thou wish thy Lanka well
Better bear that in mind O king.
Well O Ravan wicked as thee
Sure thou die like some street dog.
Hear as all those by thee hurt
Sure they feel good at thy death.
Sever as its rays never from sun
Never I would wean from my Ram.
Had I Rama’s arm for rest
Is there better for thee to give?
Gain as wisdom read who Vedas
It’s my Lord who gained my hand.
Help as might a gamekeeper
Beast on heat to find its mate
Let me lovelorn meet my man.
Why thou want to ruin thyself
Why not fences mend with Ram.
My Lord I tell is large hearted
Treats he kindly those penitent.
Take O Ravan my counsel
So thou could live for so long.
Plead I would thy case with Ram
Though thou hurt my cause no end.
Scare thou might the death even
Escape there none from his wrath.
Comes when Rama with war cry
Thou then shiver in thine own shoes.
Leave my Lord the king archer
Can thou stand up to Lakshman?
Come their arrows thick and fast
Where thee find some place to hide?
Know it won’t be beyond my man
Lakshman being there with him
To hunt down thee all to last man.
It’s no big deal for my man
To take me back by slaying thee.
Having known thy limitations
To confront my man in person
Don’t I know that thou contrived
That golden deer to keep him out.
Shame on thee O low Ravan
With that golden deer as ruse
The way thou snared me to Lanka.
It’s one thing to trick me then
When my man was not at home
As thou face Ram ’n Lakshman
Ball game it would be different.
Canst thou hold their little fingers
How can then thou fight them both?
Scorch as sun-rays ponds there all
Sharp their arrows sieve thy frame.
Earned as thee, wrath of Ram
Know thine end is so near end.