Canto 36
More of the Same
Went on Hanuman in same vein
So that Seetha trusts him more.
O Lord Rama’s revered wife
Gave thy man this ring of his
Me to pass on to thee now.
Guessed thy man thy state of mind
Felt his ring would make thee trust
Me he sent in search of thee.
Grabbed then Seetha Rama’s ring
Fondled it for ever so long
As she would her husband’s hand.
Aided by that bright diamond
Face her glowed like moon in bloom.
Reminisced as she Rama’s love
Turned then coyer her demeanour.
For the valour he had shown
Seetha in time praised Hanuman.
One as would a small canal
Wonder how thou crossed the sea!
It’s but bravado O Hanuman
For thou came to face Ravan.
That thou enjoy my man’s trust
Know thee have my trust as well.
Came it when to judging men
Know my man is none to err.
That Rama is keeping fit
Take that as my good fortune.
Having lost his loving wife
Wonder why it takes so long
For him to scorch all this earth!
Looks like I am ill-fated
That Ravan could confine me
Wife of whom all gods give way.
Hope not my loss made Rama
Lose his nerve to face Ravan.
Despair in his at my loss
Hath it made him lose focus?
Hath he in his forlorn state
Lost all interest in his mates?
Came it when to foes of his
Hath he softened in his stance?
Bid in his to rescue me
Can he count on his allies?
Doth he draw his plans with care?
And yet to make it good in life
Need as men all gods’ blessings
Won’t he pray for his success?
Hope not year-long separation
Made him lose his love for me.
Knew he not what hardship is
Wonder how he bears all this!
Hope they are all doing fine
Won’t he get to hear from home?
Beset by grief of my absence
What if Rama got bogged down
And goes he slow on my rescue?
Dutiful sibling that he is
To join battle with Ravan
Did Bharata send his army?
Would thy good Lord Sugreeva
Force his bring to fight my cause?
Know I Lakshman on his own
Can take Ravan and his men.
Hope the day is not far off
Ravan when is felled by Ram.
Doth the heat of his passion
Stoked thus by my separation
Wont to wither his handsomeness?
Word to keep of his father
Left he crown with no regret,
With no bother in the world
Led me with him to the woods,
Now that I am not with him
Hath he lost the track of life?
Loves as he me dear than self
Loves his people nonetheless.
Having reminisced her man thus
Hoping Hanuman picks up threads
Kept then silent Rama’s spouse.
Having read her mind Hanuman
Made the position clear then thus:
In the know is not thy Lord
Ravan it was who snared thee.
Report as I back to Ram
Ravan it’s thee made captive
Won’t he descend on Lanka
With our vanar force to boot?
To help us land in Ravan’s land
Won’t he with his arrows make
Bridges across sea though vast?
Were the god of death to try
Stop to Rama in his tracks
Won’t he slain that god even?
Sans his consort to comfort
Stirs Ram in bed restlessly.
To espy thy man in Lanka
Takes it not long for thee now.
On my word O Rama’s dear
Day that now is not far off.
Sees as Rama demeanour thine
Won’t his visage turn so bright?
Touches he not drink or meat
Partakes but a meagre meal.
Fails he feel the flies on him
Lives as he lost in thy thought.
Engrossed as ever in thy thought
Thought he hath none for the rest.
Forlorn in his eyes so deep
Barring eyelids from closing
Fills thy picture to the brim.
Sees as he a flower or fruit
Wont it his to sigh for thee.
Sad though he in separation
None he slacks in preparation
To take thee back for reparation.
That her man would rescue her
Made the hapless Seetha glad,
But the plight of her beloved
Made the spouse of Rama sad.
