Sundara Kãnda - Hanuman’s Odyssey

Canto 51 - Advice to Deliver

Unnerved continued Hanuman

With Ravan who scared all gods.

Wishes Sugreev thou all well

With the message that follows.

Help as it would thee all now

Heed thee advice of my Lord.

Dasarath was a godly king

Fame he earned for rule his fair.

Son his eldest Lord Rama

So to honour his dad’s word

Gave up lawful right on crown.

For the help his wife the third

Rendered him in some battle

Gave word Dasarath to her then

Honour bound he would be to

Fulfill wishes three of hers,

Came when time to crown Rama

Sought as she crown for her son

Went Ram with his spouse Seetha

In tow with his brother Lakshman

To Dandak woods on exile then.

Janaka’s daughter that worthy

Woman that wed first Dasarath’s son

Kidnapped was she from those woods.

With his sibling Lord Rama

Went on searching for Seetha.

Came he soon to Kishkindha

Made he pact with Sugreeva.

Vow as per his Lord Rama

Slew the sibling of Sugreev

Vali who stole wife of his.

Vali’s valour world all knows

Felled him but Ram at one go.

Got as Sugreev Vanar Crown

Besides hand of Vali’s wife

Apart from his stolen one

So to keep the word he gave

To Lord Ram to find Seetha

Sent he vanars in their scores

Covering earth and heaven as well.

Find thou in the vanar ranks

Valorous all in their thousands

Conquer who could on their own

Worlds all three there at one go.

It’s me Hanuman, Vayu’ son

Flew the sea of hundred leagues

To reach Lanka in search of

Seetha kidnapped wife of Ram.

Scanned I Lanka’s width ’n breadth

Found I Seetha in the end.

O well learned king Ravan

Is it fair for thee confine

Wife of another in thy land?

It’s no dharma for the king

Breaks he rules of humankind.

Bodes it ill for all thy folk

That thee annoy Ram and his

Sibling who could destroy all

And sundry as well at their will.

For thine unfairness to Ram

In snaring loving spouse of his

Sure to rue thy citizens all.

Send back Seetha to her man

Pray heed advice of this mine

Given in keeping thy interest.

Fail thou heed my Lord’s advice

Found as I now in thy land

Seetha faithful wife of Ram

Rest of it is left to him

How to book thee for thy foul.

Being such a learned king

Wonder how thou fail to know

Seetha would prove thee costly.

Pays it to know Rama’s wife

Is not the one to get seduced

By the vile of devil itself.

May thou live for ever so long

Boon thou got from God Himself

Fail if thee to mend thy ways