Canto 6
Precincts to Beat
Having recouped from despair
Roamed then Hanuman all the more.
Entered he then Admin block
Came with face-to-face palace.
Keep at bay as lions poachers
Looked all scary palace guards.
Archways silver, gateways gold
Made that look like heaven on earth.
Vigil while some kept on elephants
Rode others tireless horses there.
Guards had ivory chariots there
Wheels of which were made of gold.
Facades had all well cut gems
Furniture there lay out of world.
Deer as ran fast in their stride
Birds went helter-skelter then.
Like a diamond in the sky
Lay there palace of Ravan.
Wore there dames all such jewels
Made which them all seem angels.
Lay shaking hands sandal trees
And that gave it woods like look.
Kettledrums as raised high decibels
Conchs in chambers blared in scores.
Ocean like spread had that fort
Paved its rooftop with rare gems.
Such was splendour of that place
Gaped it Hanuman wonder-struck.
Felt of Ravan’s place he then
As the jewel crown of worlds.
Left he none there bush to search
Peeped he then through all windows.
Done with dwellings of hirelings
Prahastha’s mansion then he reached.
Kumbhakarn ’n Vibhishan
Ravan’s siblings both of them
Lived in mansions magnificent.
Went in Hanuman one by one
Quarters there of eminent men.
Entered he then abodes of
Vidyunmal ’n Vidyujjivih.
Spared he not the places of
Sons of Ravan in his search.
Sumali’s palace he sauntered
Jambumali’s own not to spare.
Hurried Hanuman in his search
Of Math’s as well Yuddhonmath’s.
Into Sukana’s house he went
Came he out of Vikata’s place.
Got as he in Vakra’s suite
Lost his privacy latter then.
Karala’s residence came under
Hanuman’s scanner along with
Pisaacha’s palace that was next.
In his search of Seetha thus
Laid he bare there all nobles.
Having drawn blank with Lieutenants’
Quarters he searched then General’s.
Hideous ogresses at the gates
Guarded Ravan’s high fortress.
Fearful they looked head to foot
Carried weapons they weird in shape.
As though to catch foes in flight
Harnessed scores were horses there.
Battle hardened elephants then
In their hundreds he found there.
Mountain-like they move in wars
Make they enemies run for life.
Shiver all mighty down the spine
When they come to hear trumpets.
In their gold shields soldiers all
Glittered then like mid-day sun.
Found he there all palanquins gold
Galleries filled with masters’ works.
Gyms as there for body builders
Parks to peck for lovers there were.
Ravan’s place was mountain like
Peacocks there strolled on their toes.
Flags there fluttered in their scores
Lent they breeze the roaring sound.
Like hot sun of mid-summer
Dazzled Ravan in nightgown.
Vessels of gold and ivory cots
Hanuman in scores saw them there.
Sauntered as he in aisles then
Spillover on wine he stepped.
Women there as had lovely gait
Rustled sarees to rhythmic beat.
Women in numbers he found there
Looked who charming dream-girl like.
Canto 7
Palace in the Plane
To probe Ravan’s own chambers
Ventured Hanuman further down.
Armaments stacked in piles he found
With rare conchs that give war cries.
With flaw none in cut or shine
Vessels he found with gems to brim.
What he saw in Ravan’s place
To his wonder he found parked
Aircar unique called Pushpak.
Stood out for its looks Pushpak
Seemed it was like made for gods.
Lodged in it were women of charm
Live wire like they moved in aisles.
In its splendour looked Pushpak
Like the moon on earth landed.
Insignia it had hills of gold
Bore they trees of flowers diamond.
Housed it mansions furrows-long
Lawns theirs had large swimming pools.
Seemed it as if on take-off
Sight that made him rub his eyes.
Carved were birds on huge corals
Made of gems were horse statues.
Birds therein all seemed to him
Like the allies of Love God.
Goddess Lakshmi’s deity lay
On lotus red in blue waters
With elephants white on either side.
Swayed as it him no end then
Went he in thrall round Pushpak.
Overawed though he by Pushpak
Resumed his search soon Hanuman.
Having failed to trace Seetha
Seized was he with thus sorrow.
