Chereads / Sundara Kānda: Hanuman's Odyssey / Chapter 13 - Errand in the Bend

Chapter 13 - Errand in the Bend

On the rebound then Hanuman

Like a lightning reached Pushpak.

Staring at the place he searched

Thought he errand of his failed.

How come Seetha was not found

Left I though no room to search?

In all entire land of this

Had I left a stone unturned?

If I go by Jataayu's words

And fetch Rama here forthwith,

Failing to see her he would

Take his wrath on all of us.

Would have Seetha in despair

Succumbed to Ravan in secret!

Sped as Ravan her in arms

Out of range of Ram's arrow,

Preferring death to his amour

Did she into ocean drop?

Flew as Ravan her in skies

Having seen never ending seas

Lost she might have been her nerve

And thus died in mid-air then.

Chaste as Seetha to her man

The thought of rape by Ravan then

Would have led her heart to seize.

Committed that she to her Lord

Tried as she to wriggle herself

Would have slipped from Ravan's grip.

With none around to rescue her

Drowned she might have Ram in mind.

For that matter Ravan's wives

Would have killed her by envy.

Or else forlorn Seetha might

Have died in her great despair.

For Lakshman to help her out

Seetha would have surely cried.

Maybe in some secret vault

Ravan could have confined her.

Seems it absurd even then

Seetha would to Ravan turn.

With no news of Seetha now

Makes it no sense to go back.

Reported dead or found missing,

What a breaking news it makes?

What an end to such beginning

Should that ever end in deadlock?

Were I to go now without a clue

What's the worth of my errand?

Not for Sugreev sent me here

Have I count of Ravan's wives.

What would Rama have to say

Were I to face him blank faced?

Were I to state that found her not

Wouldn't he die of broken heart?

Hears if he of mission failure

What for he would like to live?

Seeing Rama slip in coma

Lakshman too would come to grief.

Back home Bharat 'n Satrughna

Break down hearing breaking news.

Won't on hearsay go to grave

Mothers three of brothers those four?

Having failed to keep his word

Won't our Sugreev die of shame?

Unable to bear her man's death

Wouldn't then Ruma forego life?

Mourns as Tara, Vali's death

Won't her new Lord's death kill her?

Wont' then follow suit Angad

Tara's son to Vali born.

If ever enemies eye our land

What would come of our empire?

Made all prosper Sugreev's reign

Won't they feel all orphaned now?

In the wake of Sugreev's death

Sport 'n pastime suffer no end?

Won't feel vanars fatherless

And get scattered world over?

In that depressed state of theirs

Many might as well end their lives.

Were I to go without her sight

It's like taking death sentence.

Serves no purpose going there

Without the news of her welfare.

Were I to stay put here itself

Might they as well live in hope.

Better I remain in her search

Feed I would on fruits 'n roots.

As and when I reach dead end

Can't I immolate without a trace?

Or unto death I would fast

Upon my frame let beasts all feast.

Why not I let myself drown

In the selfsame sea I crossed?

It was such a good beginning

Why should it ever end different?

Fail in case to find Seetha

What if I turn ascetic here?

Live if I in Lanka thus

Won't I let live my folk there?

Downs as curtain death on life

Takes none further part on stage.

At not finding Rama's spouse

That's how Hanuman's mind wavered.

Brave that he was rose in time

And thought of seeing Ravan's end.

Or else I could lift Ravan

And fly across the sea I crossed.

Confined somewhere in these parts

How that would serve Seetha's cause?

As he thought the better of it

And thought none of Ravan more

Came to sing the same old tune.

Were I to go by Jataayu's words

And fetch Rama here forthwith,

Finding her not he would sulk

And his wrath would harm us all.

Stay if I back in Lanka

Harm I none in Kishkindha.

Oh, isn't yonder garden there?

Well, how I failed to notice that!

Seems like gods are guiding me

In my search of Rama's spouse.

What if that grove yields that fruit

Brings which joy to Rama's heart?

Buoyed by that thought he set

Sights his all then on that grove.

So to bring him good tidings

Prayed he Ram 'n Seetha then

As well Lakshman and Rudra,

Besides Indra and Vayu

Yama 'n Surya not to speak

Angels all there in the skies

Prayed them all he in reverence.

Hoping to find her in grove

Sought he as well Sugreev's grace.

Striding there in long strides

Worked out moves his in advance.

Find I would there guards for sure

With swords drawn to stop trespass.

For the comfort of someone

Breezes past that he that grove

Seems that Vayu is concerned.

Assume I might tiny form

And turn needle in haystack.

Hope gods all of heavens there are

Help me in my mission on earth.

If I were to go blindfold

Moonlight hope would lead me to

Rama's spouse in Ravan's land.

Sure to bless is Lord Vishnu

That I would see Seetha now.

How I wish to see Seetha

With such beauty that is rare.

Pining for so long for Ram

May not she look at her best.