Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman's Odyssey

Canto 58 - Odyssey in a Nutshell

In awe then I continued
Straining every nerve of mine.

To get to the roots of problem
As saw I down from high skies
Found a fiend at my shadow.

Though she saw the giant of me
Yet she challenged me that fiend.

Said the fiend then all in glee
Glad I've found a giant in thee
Sure thou make full meal for me.

Like I did with that Surasa
Grew up in size all the more.

Rose as it to swallow me
Made I myself then puny.

Deftly then I entered her
Came out swiftly with her heart.

With her heart thus in my hand
Fell its corpse on high seas then.

From the talk of Siddhas then
Witnessed who all that from skies
Simhik was the fiend I slain

Killed as I the fiend that weird
Came to know that pulls its prey
Clutching at but their shadows.

Sank at length as sun in seas
Set then I foot on those shores.

As I reached the Lankan gates
Found there a fiend to confront.

Having tongues of fire for hair
Tried that fiend to slay me straight.

Needed as I no more than
Fist of mine to pin her down
Spoke that terrified fiend to me.

O great vanar thou may know
Me as Lanka's main deity
That thee could well beat me true
All else here would bite the dust.

In spite of the guards all there
Covered I Lanka all that night
Yet I found not Seetha there.

Searched I Ravan's palace then
Came a cropper there even.

Sauntered as I in and out
Found I to my wonder there
Garden with all golden walls.

Entered then I in great hope
Garden that was out of world.

In the midst of thatgarden
Found a dame I there squatted.

Unkempt all her pitch dark hair
Wide-eyed she was of middle age.

Downcast was she by demeanour
On guard there were women garish.

Taunted her all in their turns
Looked she like a trapped creature.

Ceased she not to pray her man
Cared she none fore self-upkeep.

Cursing Ravan in between
Wished she then to end her life.

By the virtue of her soul
And the beauty of her self
Felt I she could be Seetha.

Heard I tinkles of anklets
Sensed I women were nearby there.

Hiding myself on high branch
Waited for those women to come.

Sighted then I Ravan there
With his queens 'n keeps in tow.

Seetha who sat in sorrow
Changed her posture to cover more.

Neared as Ravan her in lust
Cowered all the more then Seetha.

In his bid to gain her love
Fell then Ravan at her feet.

Snubbed by Seetha even then
Gave her Ravan two more months
For her to choose from him or death.

At that Seetha seethed in rage
Spoke she to him with disdain.

How thou fail to know Ravan
Spouse am I of godly Ram?

Snared as crooked way by thee
Don't I know how coward are thou?