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.

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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

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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."

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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

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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.