Canto 41 - Rampage in the Park
Bid as adieu Hanuman soon
Exuded warmth Seetha then.
As he left her felt Hanuman -
Were I to fail to probe Lanka
Won’t my trip be incomplete?
How to test the guys all these
Than ride roughshod over them?
Were I to slay a few Generals
Won’t that weaken Ravan’s force?
Found as I now Rama’s wife
What if I dent Ravan’s pride?
Why not eyes ’n ears I keep
Wide open for task on hand?
Why fail assess relative strength
Of Ravan’s men and us vanars?
Better I invite Ravan’s wrath
That he lets loose kinkar force.
Battle as I palace guards
Chance it gives to test their strength.
Oh, this garden of gardens
Could be dear to evil Ravan.
Were I to arson this garden
Spits fire enraged Ravan then.
Won’t he send his elite force
Alive or dead to take me soon?
Won’t I take on all of them
On my own in their own land?
All those high and mighty trees
Hurricane like then Hanuman mowed.
Bulldozed as he his way through
Birds there perched all lost their nests.
Set he as the place on fire
Seemed that like huge funeral pyre.
Birds there flew to save their lives
Sounds they made then reached the skies.
Fire as raged there thick and fast
Cried wildlife there then thus trapped.
Soon the scene turned inferno
Came dwellings all crumbling down.
Turned in no time burning coal
Garden meant for queens to cool.
Hanuman in all eagerness
Waited to take Ravan’s men
Expected to confront him.