Canto 24
Carrot and Stick
Finding Seetha still unmoved
Thought the better of guards all then
Brought they dreamland close to her.
Said they all in one tone then
None there ever a Pushpak like
In which Ravan keeps his queens.
For thy man the Lankan gates
Out of bounds by Ravan made
Stop thy lament for lost cause
Make the best as Lankan queen.
Know Ravan is Fortune One
Takes thee as his beloved one
Grant he would thine every wish.
Even one-night stand with him
Make thee forget thy man’s want
Lost who throne ’n failed thee too.
For all they said to pander her
Hurt was Seetha’s aggrieved soul
Take she could no more of that.
Stop thy tirade of my man
Know it’s sin to belittle him
And to pander his spouse thus.
Prefer I die as Rama’s wife
Than to live as Ravan’s queen.
Though he lost the crown of his
Sits he yet on my heart’s throne.
What if he lacks worldly wealth
Makes me rich his manly worth.
Apart though are our bodies
Milk and water make our souls.
It’s thy foolishness to think
My man can’t ever make it here,
In the palanquin of my heart
Didn’t I bring him so long back?
Raged as were they by her sneer
Enraged they mobbed all her then.
Saw as he the scene Hanuman
Feared he then for Seetha’s life.
Frightful as all made themselves
Shivered then Seetha in her shoes.
Picked up they all pick-axes
Poked they Seetha with stick’s end.
At that Hanuman saw Seetha
Run for cover to where he was.
Chased all Seetha all the way
Nail they could her in the end.
Worked all single minded then
To make Seetha change her mind.
To floor Seetha for their Lord
Took then fiendish Vinatha floor.
It’s as well thee stood by Ram
It’s time that thee shift thy base.
For thy steadfastness to Ram
Looks like gods all granted thee
Fortune that’s rare for fair sex
That of becoming Ravan’s queen.
Why to speak in equal terms
Can Ram match his little finger?
Block thy past as Rama’s wife
Gloat thyself as Ravan’s queen.
Why not take thee Ravan’s hand
And turn toast of all three worlds?
In time thy man in despair
Wander would he to deathbed.
Were thou fail to heed our words
Won’t we make a meal of thee?
With her sagging breasts that swing
Venomous Vikata came forward.
Spoketh as thee words such rash
It’s our goodness that spared thee.
Brought thee Ravan to this shore
Forget that Ram comes this far.
Dares none ever to eye Lanka
Scope there none for thy escape.
Invoke and see Lord Indra
How he fears our king Ravan.
What’s the sense in thy crying
It’s time that thee jump for joy.
Surely thou pass prime in time
As the favoured of Ravan
Why not make the best of prime?
In the garden of thy bloom
It’s all joy rides with Ravan.
At the beck and call we all
Come to serve thee all the time.
Fail if thee take Ravan’s hand
Fail we not to sever thy head.
Chandodari then put her mace
On breasts daunting of Seetha.
Is it not to enjoy these
Assets ample of snow white
Brought thee Ravan all the way?
As thou let not Ravan lay
Hands his eager on thy breasts
Make I would them food for me.
At that Praghasa spoken thus:
Why to waste our breath on her
Why not stuff out breath of hers.
As she failed to lay with him
Learns as Ravan of her death
Won’t he let us feast her flesh?
Set the pyre to roast her well
And fetch I arrack in barrels.
Surpanakha thus spoketh then:
Find I tiring all this grind
Guarding Seetha round the clock,
High time it’s all brought to end
In grand orgy with her flesh.
Put they thus the fear of death
In Seetha who then liked to live
For the sake of Ram she loved.