Sundara Kanda: Hanuman's Odyssey by BS Murthy - HTML preview

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Canto 2

City in Clouds

 

On the landmass of Lanka

Chitrakoot was the king mountain

Kissed its peaks all clouds in skies

Reigned Ravan from peak foremost.

 

Climbed as Hanuman that mountain

Rained all trees then flowers on him.

 

Such was stamina of Hanuman

Fresh he looked from that short rest.

 

Felt he had still left in him

Strength to circle earth itself.

 

Flying wonder that Hanuman

Powerful soldier none the less.

 

Green all yonder found Hanuman

Reached as he that mountain range.

 

Valleys all of that hill range

Had thick trees ’n wide gardens.

 

Had he thus a full measure of

Land of Ravan that was green.

 

Bore all trees there fruits varied 

Besides date palms and santras.

 

Thick were bushes on those hills

Fragrant flowers all bloomed therein.

 

Birds well nestled on trees all there

Rustled leaves were by southern breeze.

 

Graced flowers lotus tanks all those

Swans in them swam with rare grace.

 

Grew fruits well in all seasons

Well-grown farms in scores there lay.

 

Itching to search Ravan’s town

Hanuman in time reached its gates.

Lest Rama should sneak in there

On high alert were Ravan’s troops.

 

Bricks of gold made Lanka’s wall 

Kissed its castles clouds in skies.

 

Mansions it had in millions

Wide ’n well laid were there roads.

 

Climbed creepers green gold arches

Looked like Lanka heaven on earth.

 

Seemed as Lanka city in clouds

Lay dwellings on mountain peaks.

 

Built it was by gods’ builder

Earned it fame in Ravan’s reign.

 

Lankan fort in that sea then

Seemed like saree clad maiden,

Compound wall its laid in gold  

Looked like virgin’s narrow waist,

Long-range guns its plaits parted

Seemed as gables gold ear-rings.

 

Moved as Hanuman languidly

Thought he thus in wonderment:

Sky scrappers these of Lanka

Won’t they lead to heaven itself!

 

None but Kubera owned it once

But vile Ravan grabbed from him.

 

Demons then came to own this place 

Teeth that protrude seem them fiends.

 

Such as reside in Lanka

Circled by seas as it were 

Foe to fear made king Ravan.

 

Came as cropper demigods all

Of what avail Rama’s vanar force!

 

Maginot line that Ravan built

Find would Rama hard to breach.

 

Rich as Lankans ’n powerful

Bribe ’n bravery might not work.

 

But for Angad, Neel ’n Sugreev

Rest might get stuck at these gates.

 

Place why horse before the cart

Makes it sense to strive my best.

 

So felt Hanuman it’s proper

Handled he better task on hand.

 

With my normal simian form

Won’t I hoodwink Ravan’s men?

 

Big and powerful they are all

How to throw wool in their eyes!

 

Why not I turn tinier

And wait till the sun goes down.

 

Lying in wait Hanuman then

Weighed all options on his hand.

 

Not by letting Ravan’s men

Smell a rat of my spying 

How am I to find Seetha!

 

Without muddling my errand

How to find here Seetha soon?

 

Towel in throws as night at dawn

Confronted by unforeseen

Mid-course dullards leave their jobs.

 

Mission one’s awry goes for sure

Meddles if one in half knowledge.

 

Thus for having come so far

Why not carry Seetha’s word

For the waiting ears of Ram.

 

Stop me if these in my tracks 

Derailed gets then Seetha’s search.

 

How to look for Rama’s spouse

Unseen by these guards in scores!

 

Given the strength of their network

None the disguise might well work.

 

Were I to surface as it were

Might I as well get captured.

 

Makes it eminent if I move

With darkness to aid me well.

 

It’s night that makes conducive

To search Ravan’s own premises.

Having worked out his plan thus

Waited Hanuman moon to come.

 

When the sun went out of scene

Cat-like instinct showed Hanuman.

 

Airborne was he soon over

Lanka’s well-laid avenues all.

 

Pillars silver had buildings

Windows whose wore golden frames.

 

Built were mansions eight-storied

Set on gold floors were cat’s eyes.

 

Stuccoes precious gems had walls

Adorned pearls their wide doors all.

 

Domes there were all gold plated

Bright they were by day and night.

 

Having had a bird’s- eye view

Flustered Hanuman Lanka’s wealth.

 

Land that was of king Ravan

Domicile of those demons varied.

 

As if to show him the way

Moon came out in full bloom then.

 

In the moon rays of full moon

Seen Hanuman the green signal.