Canto 42
Panic in the Town
To the sound of falling trees
Woke up Lanka from siesta.
Cried as flying birds all then
Cuddled all Lankans in panic.
Reached as tongues of flame to skies
Rushed out Lankans from their homes.
So to put the fear of death
In them into giant he turned.
Ran to Seetha women in fright
Hoping that she throws some light.
Tell us Seetha what thee know
Why this fiend did came to us?
Fear thee have none to tell us
What was that he spoke to thee?
Playing her cards close to chest
Countered Seetha them all thus:
How can thee ever expect me
Privy to thy demonic tricks?
Find as serpents their kindred
Thou should know him from his ways?
If thou let me I surmise
Demon some could be on roll now.
Ran as some to Ravan then
Went round some to see debris.
Appraised Lankans then Ravan
About the fiend that came to town.
O Lord Ravan came vanar
With whom Seetha spoke for long.
Pressed as we her long ’n hard
Preferred she not to divulge things.
It’s quite likely that vanar
Is one sent by her own man.
Garden that is Lanka’s pride
That is after thine own heart
Razed that vanar to the ground.
In spite of the fire he set
Sits as Seetha though unfazed,
What else it’s but his miracle
Touch her none those tongues of fire?
Clearly it was his intent
To see that Seetha was not hurt.
Sits still Seetha in cool shade
Right under the tree thus spared.
That he conferred with Seetha
And caused arson in thy land
Feel that fiend hath doubly sinned.
Thus we feel O Lankan king
Spare thou must not that simian.
Words those uttered by his folk
Made then Ravan fume in rage.
Scorch as if to all three worlds
Burned he like the mid-day sun.
To restrain vanar on rampage
Committed Ravan his panzers.
Eighty thousand strong it was
Force he sent to take Hanuman.
On their way to pin him down
Armed they all were to the teeth.
Went they all to have a go
As if to keep date with death.
Came as he in striking range
Spears they threw all at him sharp.
Closed in they all soon on him
With their swords ’n clubs as well.
Itching for a fight with them
Hit the ground with tail Hanuman.
Grew then Hanuman all the more
Slapped he arms his to scare them.
Sound that traversed to high skies
Made birds drop dead in their scores.
* Invoking Ram ’n Lakshman
As well vanar Lord Sugreev,
Laid who store on Lord Rama
Thundered Hanuman at them thus:
Hanuman I’m Vayu’s son
Privileged to serve mighty Ram
Lord of Koshal land there yore,
None him in this world equals
Sent by him am errand boy
Smash I would now all thy heads.
Ravans in their scores even
Match me not in battle skills,
Slabs ’n trees are all I need
For razing Lanka to the ground.
Watch as thou in wonderment
Find I Seetha unhindered
Leave then Lanka blessed by her. *
* These verses are the most
revered by the devout readers.
In the face of Hanuman then
Saw there Ravan’s men nadir.
Being loyal to their Lord
Battle yet they gave Hanuman.
Unarmed as he flew in there
For use as his makeshift club
Pulled he latch of Lanka’s gates.
With that latch so thick and strong
Amuck he ran then amidst his foes.
In times yore as Indra did
Slew then Hanuman them in scores.
Scanned he then the battleground
To take on them who stood the ground.
Managed who then to escape
Ran to Ravan with that news.
Slighting that as storm in teacup
So to throw the book at Hanuman
Sent then Ravan Prahastha’s son.