Blurb
Whereas Mahabharata's Bhagvad-Gita is taken as a philosophical guide, Ramayana's Sundara Kãnda is sought for spiritual solace; many believe that reading it or hearing it recited would remove all hurdles and usher in good tidings! Miracles apart, it's in the nature of this great epic to inculcate fortitude and generate hope in man for it's a depiction of how Hanuman goes about his errand against all odds.
Besides, it portrays how Seetha, on the verge of self-immolation, overcomes despair to see life in a new light? With rhythm of its verse and the flow of the narrative this sloka to sloka transcreation of the canto beautiful of Valmiki's adi kavya - the foremost poetical composition in the world, Hanuman's Odyssey that paves the way for Rama to rescue his kidnapped wife is bound to charm the readers and listeners alike.
Interestingly, as the following verse illustrates, this epic was the forerunner of the magic realism of our times – "Gripped she then him by shadow / Cast which Hanuman coast to coast, Recalled he in dismay then / What Sugreev said at outset / That one fiend had aptitude / To grip its prey by mere shadow."
On a personal note, my paternal grandfather, Bulusu Thimmaiah-garu, like many in his time, was a life-long practitioner of Sundara Kãnda parayana (the epic's daily recital in part or full), whose spirituality could have providentially guided me in this, rather an effortless, trans-creative endeavour.
-----------------------------------------
Sundara Kānda - Hanuman's Odyssey
BS Murthy
ISBN 81-901911-7-9
Copyright © 2005 BS Murthy
Originally published by Self Imprint in 2005
This improved E-book edition is of 2013
Cover designed with Madhubani painting
Self Imprint
F-9, 1-10-234, Ashok Nagar
Hyderabad – 500 020
----------------------
Other books by BS Murthy
Benign Flame- Saga of Love
Jewel-less Crown – Saga of Life
Crossing the Mirage – Passing through youth
Glaring Shadow - A stream of consciousness novel
Prey on the Prowl – A Crime Novel
Stories Varied – A Book of Short Stories
Onto the Stage – Slighted Souls and other stage and radio plays
Puppets of Faith: Theory of Communal Strife ( A Critical Appraisal of Islamic Faith, Indian Polity 'n More)
Inane Interpolations in Bhagvad Gita (An Invocation for their Revocation)
Bhagvad-Gita: Treatise of self-help ( A trans-creative work in verse)
Dedicated to -
Childhood friends, Nittala Rama Rao, who envisaged that I transcreate in English this momentous episode of the adi kavya and Erramilli Rohini Kumar, who, besides encouraging me to undertake the challenge, came up with the book jacket besides Katlin Darnall of the World Public Library for the enriching editing."
-------
Cantos of the Kanda
Canto 1 - Hurdles in Skies
Canto 2 - City in Clouds
Canto 3 - Prelude to Entry
Canto 4 - Foray into Fort
Canto 5 - Life in Lanka
Canto 6 - Precincts to Beat
Canto 7 - Palace in the Plane
Canto 8 - Pushpak's Prowess
Canto 9 - Harem at Night
Canto 10 - Women in Want
Canto 11 - Qualms of Celibate
Canto 12 - At Wits End
Canto 13 - Errand in the Bend
Canto 14 - Garden of Grief
Canto 15 - Withered Flower
Canto 16 - She is Seetha
Canto 17 - Guards all Hideous
Canto 18 - Ravan on Heat
Canto 19 - Dame in Despair
Canto 20 - Womanizer at Work
Canto 21 - Steadfast in Love
Canto 22 - Deadline to Death
Canto 23 - Guards that Pander
Canto 24 - Carrot and Stick
Canto 25 - Hapless Soul
Canto 26 - Wandering Thoughts
Canto 27 - Dream of a Nightmare
Canto 28 - On the Verge
Canto 29 - Good Tidings
Canto 30 - Hanuman's Dilemma
Canto 31 - Rama's Ballad
Canto 32 - Is it True?
Canto 33 - Genesis of Exile
Canto 34 - Swings in Mood
Canto 35 - Winning the Trust
Canto 36 - More of the Same
Canto 37 - Aborted Move
Canto 38 - Story to Tell
Canto 39 - Doubts to the Fore
Canto 40 - Repeats the Dose
Canto 41 - Rampage in the Park
Canto 42 - Panic in the Town
Canto 43 -Itching for Fight
Canto 44 -Takes on Prahastha's Son
Canto 45 - Marshals in the Mire
Canto 46 - Generals in the Dumps
Canto 47 - Akshay's Life on Line
Canto 48 - It takes Indrajit
Canto 49 - Ravan's Darbar
Canto 50 - Cause of Loss
Canto 51 - Advice to Deliver
Canto 52 - Placates the Sibling
Canto 53 - Tail on Fire
Canto 54 - Arson to Hurt
Canto 55 - What of Seetha?
Canto 56 - Havoc of a Take-off
Canto 57 - Flight sans Hassles
Canto 58 - Odyssey in a Nutshell
Canto 59 - Pep Talk to Peers
Canto 60 - Angad on Rebound
Canto 61 - Eying the Madhuvan
Canto 62 - Orgy in the Garden
Canto 63 - Sugreev's Reading
Canto 64 - Return of the Platoon
Canto 65 - News in Brief
Canto 66 - Tears in Torrents
Canto 67 - Hanuman's Replay
Canto 68 - Times of Hope
Yuddha Kanda (War on Ravan)
Canto 01 - Embrace of a Gift
Canto 128 - Coronation and After
------------------------
Canto 1, Hurdles in Skies
Egged on by peers Vayu's son
Enshrined by man as Hanuman
Enthused himself to shoulder
Search of Seetha, Rama's spouse
Snared whom Ravan to Lanka
Sea across that hundred leagues.
With his head then held so high
Gained he size for task on hand.
On that Mahendra mountain then
Colossus like he sauntered there.
Uprooted were trees all those
Brushed as with his chest that strong.
Varied hues of elements there
Made that mountain resplendent.
Grace angels those hill ranges
For their honeymoon so near moon.
At length he reached that hilltop
Lay where elephants in their scores.
Besides Brahma 'n Surya
Prayed he Indra and Vayu.
Facing east he sought blessings
Of Vayu then his Wind God dad
And grew more by turning south.
Grew as Hanuman more and more
To cross that sea vast as it roared
With full tides of full-moon night
Came he face to face with clouds.
As though to test that mountain
Whether it's right for his take-off
Tapped it Hanuman with his feet.
Shook that mountain his impinge
Shed trees flowers of hues varied.
Flowers all fell then covered it full
Spread they fragrance far and wide.
Welled out water in thick springs
Such was pressure of Hanuman's feel.
From the cracks it developed thus
Creaked out molten metals varied.
While huge boulders slid in scores
Out came smoke in thick columns.
With that squeeze it came under
Cried all creatures in their caves.
Frightened was no less wildlife
Heard were their howls world over.
In their state of confusion
Serpents with all fiery fangs
Marks of swastik on their hoods
Spewed then venom in profusion.
Venom they spit was fireball like
Turned to tiny stones there rocks.
Herbs of anti-venom were there
Turned though antidote none of them.
Felt all yogis spirit at play
Took to their heels demigods then.
Not to speak of vessels of gold
In their fright gods left all goods.
In panic they left mid-meal
Thought they none of gold armour.
In their sodden demeanours then
Reached they all their heavenly homes.
Amorous angels in their scores
Built their love-nests in those skies.
Ascetics of earth ascended
For bird's eye view of Hanuman's feat.
Heard all averments of siddhas
As well seers all stationed there.
Hill like Hanuman is all set
Agile as ether to cross seas.
It was vanar Lord Sugreev
That sent him on Ram's errand.
Angels there who heard those words
Looked at Hanuman then wide-eyed.
Raring to go then Hanuman
Slapped his thighs and roared like clouds.
Stretched he full then his long tail
Jerked it like would eagle its prey.
Circled Hanuman his tail then
Looked that eagle-clawed serpent.
Set to take off on that flight
Stance he took for task that tough.
In that as he shrugged himself
Seemed he eager and vigorous.
Stared he long at his flight route
Deep breathed he for take-off then.
All set to go Hanuman then
Thought it fit to them address
Folks his who were so anxious.
Spoke he thus to assure them:
Won't I dart like Ram's arrow
To Ravan's land there lay yonder?
No sooner than I set foot
Find I Rama's spouse Seetha.
Were I to happen to fail there
Won't I rush to heaven itself?
Were I to land in blind alley
Won't I go back to Lanka?
Prevail I over Ravan then
And fetch Seetha unfettered
With him in tow but in chains.
As he took-off he declared
Comes it ever if to the brink
Uproot he would all Lanka
And bring it as gift to Lord Ram.
By the thrust of his take-off
Sucked in were trees into flight.
As he flew at jet speed then
Tailed him trees with birds on them
And buds that flowered in between.
In truck with him all of them
Seemed they relatives at send off.
Sal trees then too followed suit
Seemed he spearhead of large force.
With the flowers and birds in tow
Made then Hanuman wondrous sight.
In time weakened as the pull
Dropped all trees in those waters.
Covered as he by flowers and all
Hanuman flew then glowworm like.
As he shrugged off in mid-air
Fell some flowers on salt waters.
Turned as flower-bed sea that vast
Seemed it then like star filled sky.
Flowers of varied hues on him
Rainbow on move made him seem.
Sonic boom of Hanuman's flight
Scattered flowers on those waters
Seemed then that sea sky at dawn.
Arms his outstretched in his flight
Looked like serpents with five hoods.
Filled his shadow shore to shore
Though he picked up Mach two speed.
Sparkled his eyes as in flight
Seemed some lava there in flow.
Wide open were his bright eyes
Seemed they sun 'n moon in skies.
With his rosy nose-tip then
Looked he like the setting sun.
In flight his tail that was long
Banner then of Indra seemed.
With the sparkling teeth of his
And the tail thus well coiled
Sun like aura Hanuman had.
Blood red as those Hanuman's hinds
Seemed they red hills well sundered.
Wind as passed through his armpits
Roared it then like lightning clouds.
Mistook him then sky watchers
For some meteor that was rare.
In flight he looked like elephant
With its tail spread round its waist.
Shadow that he cast on seas
Seemed to all a speeding boat.
Concord like he moved in skies
Caused he whirlpools in the seas.
With his broad chest Hanuman did
Ward off sea tides that reached him.
As he speeded in his flight
Formed a cyclone in the skies
Caused that storm then in the seas.
Mean sea level as rose to skies
Made he light of all those tides.
As he sped he seemed to count
Mountain tides that so neared him.
Splash from tides as foamed the skies
Gave that silver coat to space.
Torn as thus the water sheet
Felt all fish as turned naked.
Water snakes as sighted skies
Feared they eagle was on prowl.
Thick and wide was his shadow
Seemed so symmetric to one's eyes.
Sped as he past in high skies
Seemed his shadow like a cloud.
Looked then Hanuman in motion
Like a mountain with huge wings.
Split as that sea in columns
Cruisers they seemed in his chase.
Coursed as he thus Garuda like
In those skies that filled with birds
Wind like then he scattered clouds.
Clouds as all then went askance
Shone they well in colours varied.
In and out of clouds Hanuman
Seemed he like the moon on course.
In awe celestial beings then
Myriad flowers they showered on him.
Filtered Surya his heat then
While made easy breeze Vayu.
Sang his praises seers all there
Awestruck angels his prowess.
Wondered at his endurance
Angels all who watched him then.
Felt thus Sagar, Lord of Seas
For whom Rama's cause came first.
Were I to fail to help Hanuman
Make I myself blameworthy.
Won't I owe my reign and all
To Ram's forebear, my namesake?
For he exerts for Ram's cause
Bound am I to help Hanuman.
Spoke then Sagar to Mainak
Prince of hills with golden peaks
Made who ocean bed his home.
Confined were thou by Indra
On my bed for ever so long
Barrier though as to netherworld.
Demons all for that lay therein
Block thou approach to this world.
Prowess such is unique thine
Expand thou the way thy wish.
Behold Hanuman as he flies
Head over mine for Ram's sake.
Owe that I his ancestor
Seek I now thy helping hand
To let our Hanuma serve Rama.
Fail if we to help him out
Enrage we might angels all.
Shoot up forthwith in his path
To let him rest on peak thy high.
Hanuman is so long in flight
Feel I time he rests a while.
Lighten if thou his burden
Brings it end to Rama's plight
Agony as well of his spouse.
Shoot up now O golden hill
Graced by varied vegetation.
Came out then as Mainaka
Depths of sea from that so deep
Scene it made like mid-day sun
Came out as it from thick clouds.
In the midst of sea that vast
Shone then Mainak like Surya.
Lovers all there as lay languid
Skimmed its peaks the rim of skies.
With his golden peak Mainak
Shone he then like rising sun.
In time as he showed up full
Dazzled he like suns in scores.
Mistook Hanuman for hurdle
Mainak who rose to the skies.
Not the one to get daunted
Hanuman toppled Mainaka
With his bare chest that was strong.
Turned as he all turtle then
Mainaka was so dumbfounded.
So as a way to woo Hanuman
Assumed Mainak human form.
It's my request O Hanuman
That thee rest on my shoulder.
It was Rama's ancestor
Helped who seas all to expand
That's why grateful Lord of Seas
Sent me to help thee take rest.
Well it's adage that so old
Help we must all those us help
Sees thus Sagar as favour
Rest if thou on my shoulder.
Wants me Sagar make thou feel
At home on my peak utmost.
Pray thee break now on my back
Non-stop flight leagues eight hundred.
Might as well thou savour now
Smell-well fruits of rarest taste.
Have as we such ties us bind
Consent thou to strengthen them.
Cross as thou sea Concord like
Proud are all of us of thee.
Make as thee our V.I.P
Guests all we give due respect.
Amongst demigods rank thee high
Speed thine no less than thy dad.
Let if am I to serve thee
Feel I served thy dad as well
Hold I whom in special esteem.
Had all mountains wings in yore
Hovered thus they all three worlds.
Scared all angels and sages
Mischance could well cause us crash.
It's thus Indra clipped our wings
With the diamond sword of his.
Came in time as my own turn
Unsheathed Indra diamond sword,
Spiriting me off with gale wind
It's thy dad that saved my wings.
Owing to thy parent's grace
Wings mine escaped Indra's wrath.
See in this I golden chance
Debt to repay benefactor.
Pray thee give a chance to us
Redeem that we age old debt.
Now thou consent O great soul
Rest have thee as our dear guest.
Hanuman at that told Mainak:
Words though thine me move no end
Precedence takes now Rama's cause.
Stop if I now in mid-flight
How am I to meet deadline?
Token then as of his love
Caressed Hanuman Mainak's head.
Moved were Sagar 'n Mainak
At the way thus Hanuman placed
Lord's his interest above all else.
Bidding adieu to them both
Picked up Hanuman height in flight.
While on course in skies Hanuman
Looked at them both in reverence.
Well in awe at what they saw
Praised all angels Hanuman then.
Standing ovation gave Indra
With other gods to Mainaka.
Heartened then by his gesture
Addressed Indra Mainak thus:
Pleased as gods all Mainaka
Feel at ease as I leave thee free.
In spite of the threat I posed
Came out thou to aid Hanuman.
In thy bid to help Hanuman
Tried thee to aid Rama's cause.
Indra as thus assured him
Breathed then easy that mountain.
Cherished as Mainak his freedom
Sped past Hanuman by him then.
Thought it fit then gods to put
Hanuman to test in his quest
Spoke they thus to mother of snakes:
Well O Surasa see Hanuman
Flies he how to find Seetha
Sea this across to Lanka!
Pray posit thyself in his way
Obstruct him with ogress frame.
Test we must the mettle in him
Moves on or he beats retreat.
Egged on thus by gods themselves
Surasa came to confront him.
With its ogress look Surasa
Addressed Hanuman in mid-air.
Gods all destined thy large frame
Serves as sumptuous meal for me.
Without a twitch of his eyelids
Addressed Hanuman that ogress.
Let me tell thee what happened
To Ram 'n Seetha as they stayed
With Lakshman in tow in Dandak.
Sent evil Ravan Maareecha
Decoy as to lure Rama
And snared his spouse to Lanka.
Set as I on Seetha's trial
And live as thou by Rama's grace
Pray thee not put stop to that.
Eye me if thou as thy prey
As soon as I finish my task
Return I would to oblige thee.
Surasa made him then privy
Boon which Brahma gave to her
That none can ever pass her by
Until and unless she lets go.
Having ignored Surasa's threat
Kept as Hanuman his own course
To test him thus she engaged him.
None there is an escape route
Settled it all that Brahma's boon,
As and when I come in way
Pass all through but mine own mouth.
Enraged Hanuman dared Surasa
See if she could swallow him.
Neared as she with hill like mouth
Outgrew Hanuman mountain like.
Stretched she jaws then undaunted
Tides that took and clouds in stride.
Stalling Surasa's great swallow
Assumed Himalayan size Hanuman.
Stretched she into troposphere
Touched he then the stratosphere.
None less was the mother serpent
Mouth she widened enough for him.
Hanuman to thwart her for all
Raised himself to heaven itself.
Snarled then she her mouth awful
Enough to engulf heaven and earth.
With his presence of mind Hanuman
Turned then simian with thin tail.
Before she could drop her jaws
Traversed Hanuman through her mouth.
Gaped as Surasa spoke Hanuman:
Came out as I from thy mouth
Boon of Brahma thus fulfilled
Feel I am a free bird now.
Seemed he then to Surasa's eyes
Like the moon that's past eclipse.
Spoke thus Surasa to Hanuman:
Go on with no hindrance now
And bring Seetha back to Ram.
Looked all worlds in wonderment
Hanuman's feat that third in row.
Having tricked that Surasa thus
Then in high skies flew Hanuman.
Celestial singers there he saw
Stable of Airavat as well.
With features of earth's wildlife
Saw he flying beasts in skies.
With their aura of angels
Lived all righteous people there.
Went he near to sun 'n moon
Saw he Agni conduits who
Oblations to gods all there.
It's the region that ruled by
Visvavas the king that fair
Live where angels 'n such like
Besides good souls after death.
Entered he then that region
Serves as canopy of three worlds,
Path there sun 'n moon doth share
With Indra's stable of white elephants.
Saw them he all in their turn
Martyrs all of great battles.
Clouds of myriad colours in skies
Scattered were by Hanuman's thrust.
Clouds with playing hide and seek
In skies then he shone like moon.
Flying non-stop in high skies
Looked he like a winged mountain.
Seeing Hanuman thus speeding
Fiendish Simhik turned greedy.
Was there ever a prey like this?
What a sumptuous meal it makes!
Gripped she then him by shadow
Cast which Hanuman coast to coast.
Ship in sail as up the wind
Slowed down Hanuman in his course.
At last as he looked for clue
Found his shadow in fiend's grip.
Recalled he in dismay then
What Sugreev said at outset
That one fiend had aptitude
To grip its prey by mere shadow.
Stuck as he got in spite of
Effort his great to speed up well
Realized that he was its prey.
Grew he then to fill the skies
Cast his shadow on all earth.
At that Simhik came jumping
At him with her cave-like mouth.
Sensed as he then her intent
Hanuman thought then better of it.
As with Surasa so with her
Turned he simian in no time
And thus entered her wide mouth.
Seen in awe by all angels
It was as if moon eclipsed.
Into Simhik as he went
Vitals her tore with his nails.
Moaned as she then in great pain
Opened she wide mouth her large,
Came out as he from her then
Stopped she moaning as she died.
Torso as her sank in seas
Flight he resumed in those skies.
Saw all demigods his great deed
Showered they praises then on him.
Blessed him angels nonetheless
Wished him well on his errand.
Felt all Hanuman's great passion
Search for Seetha, Rama's spouse
Worth it was for Hall of Fame.
Flew as he leagues eight-hundred
Saw he yonder some island.
On that horizon came to sight
Found he tree-lines touching skies.
Landed he soon on high peak
Of the Malaya mountain range.
Like a mountain on the move
Sauntered Hanuman on that high.
Felt he then that his giant size
Won't make spying his easy.
It's thus Hanuman thought it fit
Better he assumed simian shape.
It was akin to Vishnu
Becoming pygmean to push down
Bali into depths of earth.
Before he turned a small fry then
Looked he at his huge frame though.
Climbed he Lamba Mountain then
Had which countless coconut crowns.
For the close up of the town
Jumped onto ground then Hanuman.
Sea across that miles and miles
In the end then thus Hanuman
Made his way to Ravan's land.