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Sundara Kanda - Hanuman's Odyssey

Sundara Kanda: Hanuman's Odyssey
By BS Murthy

If Mahabharata's Bhagvad-Gita [read the author's versification of Bhagvad Gita - Treatise of Self Help sans interpolations in contemporary idiom] is taken as a philosophical guide, Ramayana's Sundara Kanda is sought for spiritual solace. What is more, many believe that reading Sundara Kanda or hearing it recited would remove all hurdles and usher in good tidings! Well miracles apart, it's in the nature of Sundara Kanda to inculcate fortitude and generate hope in one and all. After all, isn't it a depiction of how Hanuman goes about his errand against all odds! Again, won't it portray how Seetha, on the verge of self-immolation, overcomes despair to see life in a new light? Besides, how Hanuman's Odyssey paves the way for Rama to rescue his kidnapped wife! One is bound to be charmed by the rhythm of the verse and the flow of the narrative in this sloka to sloka transcreation of Valmiki's adi kavya - the foremost poetical composition in the world. After all, it was the saga of Rama that inspired Valmiki the barbarian to spiritualize the same as Ramayana in classical Sanskrit!

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. 1
With his head then held so high
Gained he size for task on hand. 2
On that Mahendra mountain then
Colossus like he sauntered there. 3
Uprooted were trees all those
Brushed as with his chest that strong. 4
Varied hues of elements there
Made that mountain resplendent. 5

Grace angels those hill ranges
For their honeymoon so near moon. 6
At length he reached that hilltop
Lay where elephants in their scores. 7
Besides Brahma 'n Surya
Prayed he Indra and Vayu. 8
Facing east he sought blessings
Of Vayu then his Wind God dad
And grew more by turning south. 9
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. 10

As though to test that mountain
Whether it's right for his take-off
Tapped it Hanuman with his feet. 11
Shook that mountain his impinge
Shed trees flowers of hues varied. 12
Flowers all fell then covered it full
Spread they fragrance far and wide. 13
Welled out water in thick springs
Such was pressure of Hanuman's feel. 14
From the cracks it developed thus
Creaked out molten metals varied. 15

While huge boulders slid in scores
Out came smoke in thick columns. 16
With that squeeze it came under
Cried all creatures in their caves. 17
Frightened was no less wildlife
Heard were their howls world over. 18
In their state of confusion
Serpents with all fiery fangs
Marks of swastik on their hoods
Spewed then venom in profusion. 19
Venom they spit was fireball like
Turned to tiny stones there rocks. 20

Herbs of anti-venom were there
Turned though antidote none of them. 21
Felt all yogis spirit at play
Took to their heels demigods then. 22
Not to speak of vessels of gold
In their fright gods left all goods. 23
In panic they left mid-meal
Thought they none of gold armour. 24
In their sodden demeanours then
Reached they all their heavenly homes. 25

Amorous angels in their scores
Built their love-nests in those skies. 26
Ascetics of earth ascended
For bird's eye view of Hanuman's feat. 27
Heard all averments of siddhas
As well seers all stationed there. 28
Hill like Hanuman is all set
Agile as ether to cross seas. 29
It was vanar Lord Sugreev
That sent him on Ram's errand. 30

Angels there who heard those words
Looked at Hanuman then wide-eyed. 31
Raring to go then Hanuman
Slapped his thighs and roared like clouds. 32
Stretched he full then his long tail
Jerked it like would eagle its prey. 33
Circled Hanuman his tail then
Looked that eagle-clawed serpent. 34
Set to take off on that flight
Stance he took for task that tough. 35

In that as he shrugged himself
Seemed he eager and vigorous. 36
Stared he long at his flight route
Deep breathed he for take-off then. 37
All set to go Hanuman then
Thought it fit to them address
Folks his who were so anxious. 38
Spoke he thus to assure them:
Won't I dart like Ram's arrow
To Ravan's land there lay yonder? 39
No sooner than I set foot
Find I Rama's spouse Seetha. 40

Were I to happen to fail there
Won't I rush to heaven itself? 41
Were I to land in blind alley
Won't I go back to Lanka? 42
Prevail I over Ravan then
And fetch Seetha unfettered
With him in tow but in chains. 43
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. 44
By the thrust of his take-off
Sucked in were trees into flight. 45
As he flew at jet speed then
Tailed him trees with birds on them
And buds that flowered in between. 46
In truck with him all of them
Seemed they relatives at send off. 47
Sal trees then too followed suit
Seemed he spearhead of large force. 48
With the flowers and birds in tow
Made then Hanuman wondrous sight. 49
In time weakened as the pull
Dropped all trees in those waters. 50
Covered as he by flowers and all
Hanuman flew then glowworm like. 51
As he shrugged off in mid-air
Fell some flowers on salt waters. 52
Turned as flower-bed sea that vast
Seemed it then like star filled sky. 53
Flowers of varied hues on him
Rainbow on move made him seem. 54
Sonic boom of Hanuman's flight
Scattered flowers on those waters
Seemed then that sea sky at dawn. 55

Arms his outstretched in his flight
Looked like serpents with five hoods. 56
Filled his shadow shore to shore
Though he picked up Mach two speed. 57
Sparkled his eyes as in flight
Seemed some lava there in flow. 58
Wide open were his bright eyes
Seemed they sun 'n moon in skies. 59
With his rosy nose-tip then
Looked he like the setting sun. 60

In flight his tail that was long
Banner then of Indra seemed. 61
With the sparkling teeth of his
And the tail thus well coiled
Sun like aura Hanuman had. 62
Blood red as those Hanuman's hinds
Seemed they red hills well sundered. 63
Wind as passed through his armpits
Roared it then like lightning clouds. 64
Mistook him then sky watchers
For some meteor that was rare. 65

In flight he looked like elephant
With its tail spread round its waist. 66
Shadow that he cast on seas
Seemed to all a speeding boat. 67
Concord like he moved in skies
Caused he whirlpools in the seas. 68
With his broad chest Hanuman did
Ward off sea tides that reached him. 69
As he speeded in his flight
Formed a cyclone in the skies
Caused that storm then in the seas. 70

Mean sea level as rose to skies
Made he light of all those tides. 71
As he sped he seemed to count
Mountain tides that so neared him. 72
Splash from tides as foamed the skies
Gave that silver coat to space. 73
Torn as thus the water sheet
Felt all fish as turned naked. 74
Water snakes as sighted skies
Feared they eagle was on prowl. 75

Thick and wide was his shadow
Seemed so symmetric to one's eyes. 76
Sped as he past in high skies
Seemed his shadow like a cloud. 77
Looked then Hanuman in motion
Like a mountain with huge wings. 78
Split as that sea in columns
Cruisers they seemed in his chase. 79
Coursed as he thus Garuda like
In those skies that filled with birds
Wind like then he scattered clouds. 80

Clouds as all then went askance
Shone they well in colours varied. 81
In and out of clouds Hanuman
Seemed he like the moon on course. 82
In awe celestial beings then
Myriad flowers they showered on him. 83
Filtered Surya his heat then
While made easy breeze Vayu. 84
Sang his praises seers all there
Awestruck angels his prowess. 85

Wondered at his endurance
Angels all who watched him then. 86
Felt thus Sagar, Lord of Seas
For whom Rama's cause came first. 87
Were I to fail to help Hanuman
Make I myself blameworthy. 88
Won't I owe my reign and all
To Ram's ancestor, my namesake? 89
For he exerts for Ram's cause
Bound am I to help Hanuman. 90

Spoke then Sagar to Mainak
Prince of hills with golden peaks
Made who ocean bed his home. 91
Confined were thou by Indra
On my bed for ever so long
Barrier though as to netherworld. 92
Demons all for that lay therein
Block thou approach to this world. 93
Prowess such is unique thine
Expand thou the way thy wish. 94
Behold Hanuman as he flies
Head over mine for Ram's sake. 95

Owe that I his ancestor
Seek I now thy helping hand
To let our Hanuma serve Rama. 96
Fail if we to help him out
Enrage we might angels all. 97
Shoot up forthwith in his path
To let him rest on peak thy high. 98
Hanuman is so long in flight
Feel I time he rests a while. 99
Lighten if thou his burden
Brings it end to Rama's plight
Agony as well of his spouse. 100

Shoot up now O golden hill
Graced by varied vegetation. 101
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. 102
In the midst of sea that vast
Shone then Mainak like Surya. 103
Lovers all there as lay languid
Skimmed its peaks the rim of skies. 104
With his golden peak Mainak
Shone he then like rising sun. 105

In time as he showed up full
Dazzled he like suns in scores. 106
Mistook Hanuman for hurdle
Mainak who rose to the skies. 107
Not the one to get daunted
Hanuman toppled Mainaka
With his bare chest that was strong. 108
Turned as he all turtle then
Mainaka was so dumbfounded. 109
So as a way to woo Hanuman
Assumed Mainak human form. 110

It's my request O Hanuman
That thee rest on my shoulder. 111
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. 112
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. 113
Wants me Sagar make thou feel
At home on my peak utmost. 114
Pray thee break now on my back
Non-stop flight leagues eight hundred. 115

Might as well thou savour now
Smell-well fruits of rarest taste. 116
Have as we such ties us bind
Consent thou to strengthen them. 117
Cross as thou sea Concord like
Proud are all of us of thee. 118
Make as thee our V.I.P
Guests all we give due respect. 119
Amongst demigods rank thee high
Speed thine no less than thy dad. 120

Let if am I to serve thee
Feel I served thy dad as well
Hold I whom in special esteem. 121
Had all mountains wings in yore
Hovered thus they all three worlds. 122
Scared all angels and sages
Mischance could well cause us crash. 123
It's thus Indra clipped our wings
With the diamond sword of his. 124
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. 125

Owing to thy parent's grace
Wings mine escaped Indra's wrath. 126
See in this I golden chance
Debt to repay benefactor. 127
Pray thee give a chance to us
Redeem that we age old debt. 128
Now thou consent O great soul
Rest have thee as our dear guest. 129
Hanuman at that told Mainak:
Words though thine me move no end
Precedence takes now Rama's cause. 130

Stop if I now in mid-flight
How am I to meet deadline? 131
Token then as of his love
Caressed Hanuman Mainak's head. 132
Moved were Sagar 'n Mainak
At the way thus Hanuman placed
Lord's his interest above all else. 133
Bidding adieu to them both
Picked up Hanuman height in flight. 134
While on course in skies Hanuman
Looked at them both in reverence. 135

Well in awe at what they saw
Praised all angels Hanuman then. 136
Standing ovation gave Indra
With other gods to Mainaka. 137
Heartened then by his gesture
Addressed Indra Mainak thus: 138
Pleased as gods all Mainaka
Feel at ease as I leave thee free. 139
In spite of the threat I posed
Came out thou to aid Hanuman. 140

In thy bid to help Hanuman
Tried thee to aid Rama's cause. 141
Indra as thus assured him
Breathed then easy that mountain. 142
Cherished as Mainak his freedom
Sped past Hanuman by him then. 143
Thought it fit then gods to put
Hanuman to test in his quest
Spoke they thus to mother of snakes: 144
Well O Surasa see Hanuman
Flies he how to find Seetha
Sea this across to Lanka! 145

Pray posit thyself in his way
Obstruct him with ogress frame. 146
Test we must the mettle in him
Moves on or he beats retreat. 147
Egged on thus by gods themselves
Surasa came to confront him. 148
With its ogress look Surasa
Addressed Hanuman in mid-air. 149
Gods all destined thy large frame
Serves as sumptuous meal for me. 150

Without a twitch of his eyelids
Addressed Hanuman that ogress. 151
Let me tell thee what happened
To Ram 'n Seetha as they stayed
With Lakshman in tow in Dandak. 152
Sent evil Ravan Maareecha
Decoy as to lure Rama
And snared his spouse to Lanka. 153
Set as I on Seetha's trial
And live as thou by Rama's grace
Pray thee not put stop to that. 154
Eye me if thou as thy prey
As soon as I finish my task
Return I would to oblige thee. 155

Surasa made him then privy
Boon which Brahma gave to her
That none can ever pass her by
Until and unless she lets go. 156
Having ignored Surasa's threat
Kept as Hanuman his own course
To test him thus she engaged him. 157
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. 158
Enraged Hanuman dared Surasa
See if she could swallow him. 159
Neared as she with hill like mouth
Outgrew Hanuman mountain like. 160

Stretched she jaws then undaunted
Tides that took and clouds in stride. 161
Stalling Surasa's great swallow
Assumed Himalayan size Hanuman. 162
Stretched she into troposphere
Touched he then the stratosphere. 163
None less was the mother serpent
Mouth she widened enough for him. 164
Hanuman to thwart her for all
Raised himself to heaven itself. 165

Snarled then she her mouth awful
Enough to engulf heaven and earth. 166
With his presence of mind Hanuman
Turned then simian with thin tail. 167
Before she could drop her jaws
Traversed Hanuman through her mouth. 168
Gaped as Surasa spoke Hanuman:
Came out as I from thy mouth
Boon of Brahma thus fulfilled
Feel I am a free bird now. 169
Seemed he then to Surasa's eyes
Like the moon that's past eclipse. 170

Spoke thus Surasa to Hanuman:
Go on with no hindrance now
And bring Seetha back to Ram. 171
Looked all worlds in wonderment
Hanuman's feat that third in row. 172
Having tricked that Surasa thus
Then in high skies flew Hanuman. 173
Celestial singers there he saw
Stable of Airavat as well. 174
With features of earth's wildlife
Saw he flying beasts in skies. 175

With their aura of angels
Lived all righteous people there. 176
Went he near to sun 'n moon
Saw he Agni conduits who
Oblations to gods all there. 177
It's the region that ruled by
Visvavas the king that fair
Live where angels 'n such like
Besides good souls after death. 178
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. 179
Saw them he all in their turn
Martyrs all of great battles. 180

Clouds of myriad colours in skies
Scattered were by Hanuman's thrust. 181
Clouds with playing hide and seek
In skies then he shone like moon. 182
Flying non-stop in high skies
Looked he like a winged mountain. 183
Seeing Hanuman thus speeding
Fiendish Simhik turned greedy. 184
Was there ever a prey like this?
What a sumptuous meal it makes! 185

Gripped she then him by shadow
Cast which Hanuman coast to coast. 186
Ship in sail as up the wind
Slowed down Hanuman in his course. 187
At last as he looked for clue
Found his shadow in fiend's grip. 188
Recalled he in dismay then
What Sugreev said at outset
That one fiend had aptitude
To grip its prey by mere shadow. 189
Stuck as he got in spite of
Effort his great to speed up well
Realized that he was its prey. 190

Grew he then to fill the skies
Cast his shadow on all earth. 191
At that Simhik came jumping
At him with her cave-like mouth. 192
Sensed as he then her intent
Hanuman thought then better of it. 193
As with Surasa so with her
Turned he simian in no time
And thus entered her wide mouth. 194
Seen in awe by all angels
It was as if moon eclipsed. 195

Into Simhik as he went
Vitals her tore with his nails. 196
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. 197
Torso as her sank in seas
Flight he resumed in those skies. 198
Saw all demigods his great deed
Showered they praises then on him. 199
Blessed him angels nonetheless
Wished him well on his errand. 200

Felt all Hanuman's great passion
Search for Seetha, Rama's spouse
Worth it was for Hall of Fame. 201
Flew as he leagues eight-hundred
Saw he yonder some island. 202
On that horizon came to sight
Found he tree-lines touching skies. 203
Landed he soon on high peak
Of the Malaya mountain range. 204
Like a mountain on the move
Sauntered Hanuman on that high. 205

Felt he then that his giant size
Won't make spying his easy. 206
It's thus Hanuman thought it fit
Better he assumed simian shape. 207
It was akin to Vishnu
Becoming pygmean to push down
Bali into depths of earth. 208
Before he turned a small fry then
Looked he at his huge frame though. 209
Climbed he Lamba Mountain then
Had which countless coconut crowns. 210

For the close up of the town
Jumped onto ground then Hanuman. 211
Sea across that miles and miles
In the end then thus Hanuman
Made his way to Ravan's land. 212

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