Canto 67
Hanuman’s Replay
Moved no end by Rama’s plight
Spoke with ardour then Hanuman.
Narrate I would verbatim
Tale she told me to tell thee.
Woke up as I ahead of Ram
Slept when we both in open
Pecked my bosom Kakasur.
Bore I pain all in silence
Not to disturb his sleep then.
Taking advantage of that
Went on hurting me that crow
Making fountains of my breasts.
Fell as my blood on his chest
Woke up Ram to find me bleed.
Saw he as me in distress
Hissed my man like king cobra.
Dare who did to lay his hands
On thy breasts that brush my chest!
To his dismay he then found
Kakasur with blood on hands.
Realized Ram that Kakasur
Bird of birds was Indra’s son.
Misdeed that of Indra’s son
Found then my man hard to bear.
Plucked he then a nearby reed
And with power of his mantra
That he turned to Brahmastra.
Let as Ram that Brahmastra
To chase Kakasur to death
Spewed it tongues of fire at him.
So to save his life his dear
Turned that crow to one and all
Including his dad Indra.
None as came forward to help
Came back Kakasur to Ram
Sought he pardon for his foul.
Inclined though Ram to pardon
Yet he couldn’t help hurt his eye
Since none retracts his mantra.
Thanking Ram for his reprieve
Left Kakasur with left eye then.
Said she thus she fails to grasp
How come Rama spares Ravan.
Is there someone in all worlds
Who would stand up to fight Ram?
Concern if hath Lord Rama
For me his spouse ever loyal
May he come ’n slay Ravan.
Am I not like mother to him
What made Lakshman thus stay put?
Oh my man and his sibling
Could kill Ravan on their own,
And if they both feel for me
Why they fail to rescue me?
Seems both of them mistook me
For some reason know not what.
Seeing Seetha doubt herself
Gave I her thus assurance.
It’s his sorrow for thee know
Made that Rama lose his way.
Seeing thy man immobilized
As well Lakshman lost his wits,
Now that I would tell thy tale
Both of them would spring to life.
Enthused by the news I fetch
Land they would soon in Lanka.
That would be the beginning of
The end of Ravan’s reign on earth.
For thy Lord to trust my word
Give me keepsake he gave thee.
Having thought a while Seetha
Gave this diadem now thou hold.
In my hurry to see thee
Bid I adieu to thy spouse.
As I started to gain size
So that I could cross the seas
Spoke then Seetha to me thus.
As she took thy name O Lord
Broke she down then in despair.
Having at length set her tone
Chanted thy name like mantra.
That thou bestow trust in me
Praised my fortune then Seetha.
As a seat for her fly back
Offered then I her my back.
Told I she would be with thee
Before she could spell thy name.
Said she it’s not in her vein
Touch to alien male on own.
Felt I it’s my misfortune
Laid as Ravan hand on me
Kidnapped as he me then thus.
So can’t I make on thy back
Though thou are a friendly soul.
Once thou go back to thy folk
Pay my respects to them all.
Implore upon my Lord Ram
Help me come out clean early.
Mind thee tell all to my Lord
How guards all these distress me.
Men of men O Lord Rama
That’s how Seetha pines for thee.
Canto 68
Times of Hope
Said then Hanuman to Rama
Came as thy spouse to trust me
Spoke she further thus with me.
Stress the need to do needful
Speak as thou to my Lord Ram.
How I wish thou gone by now
Yet I feel thou need some rest
Stay so back for one more day.
It’s thy coming O Hanuman
Set the mind of mine at rest.
Leave as thee the Lankan shore
High ’n dry me that would leave.
In contrast to strength thee gave
Won’t thy absence make it worse.
Be that as it may Hanuman
Reach to Lanka as thee did
Can all vanars cross this sea?
To slay Ravan for my sake
How my Lord ’n his sibling
Can cross over sea this vast?
But for Vayu, Garud ’n thou
Who else could cross Lankan seas?
How to bring all to these shores
Thus O Hanuman give a thought.
Surely on thy own Hanuman
Make can Ravan bite the dust
Yet that leaves no role for Ram
In the rescue of his spouse.
If my Lord doth declare war
And downs Ravan in combat
That would enhance his prestige
And earns me honour in reclaim.
Ravan as did snare me then
Spirit if thou me from Lanka
Won’t it go down well with Ram.
Proper thus it’s for my Lord
Comes he here ’n takes me back.
Keeping all this in thy mind
For my rescue by my man
Need there is for thee to come
Up with foolproof plan some now.
Seeing how she lays in store
Honour of her beloved man
Spoke I to her in reverence.
Goddess like O Rama’s spouse
Know Sugreev is committed to
Help thy man to set thee free.
Know we vanars in millions
Stake our lives to keep the word
Lord our thus gave to thy lord.
Choose if vanars to breach earth
Is there someone to stop them?
Blessed are all of us with skills
Roam we may all worlds are there.
Falls none ever as short of me
Vanars in scores better me true.
As I could do what I did
What to speak of rest of them?
Now it’s time thee feel easy
Soon we vanars land in droves
With thy Lord to set thee free.
Discount if thou vanar strength
Don’t thee know that I could fly
Ram ’n Lakshman on my back
Shores to these to fight Ravan?
Thou well know that thy man with
Sibling his would come out trumps.
Nevertheless we all vanars
To fight the forces of Ravan
Would be there on hand to Ram.
Land as we on Lankan shores
To hear the roars of vanar force
Won’t it take thee now so long.
Slays when Ram the evil Ravan
Won’t thee hand in hand in time
Ascend Ayodhya’s throne with him?
Having heard my words Seetha
Said she would ever live in hope
That thee would soon set her free.
