Sundara Kãnda - Hanuman’s Odyssey - Page 95/126

Tail as mine as thus burning

None I feel the pain for that!

For the soothing feel I have

Lay the reason somewhere else.

For the sake of Rama’s cause

Didn’t Mainaka offer seat

For me to rest on his peak?

Likewise Agni should’ve thought

Fits it Rama’s cause like glove

Were he to leave me unscathed.

Might I as well owe all this

To the kindness of Lord Rama

And his faithful spouse Seetha.

Or else Agni being friend

Of my father Vayu wind

Would have spared me this ordeal.

Knowing am on Ram’s errand

Gave as affront folks all these

So to keep up his prestige

And to make them well realize

That they played all but with fire

Won’t I pay them in same coin?

Houdini made as he then

Went he roaring up in skies.

With his burning tail and all

Landed then on Lankan gates.

Assumed simian form Hanuman

Slipped he through the chains on him.

Grew he then back into giant

Looked he all the while for mace.

Picked he latch of that huge gate

Slew he all the guards he faced.

Having none to restrain him

With his burning tail Hanuman

Shone he like the mid-day sun.

Canto 54 - Arson to Hurt