Canto 55 - What of Seetha?
Died as embers in Lanka
So to quench his burning tail
Went upto beach then Hanuman.
Cooled as he tail by seashore
Felt then Hanuman thus in qualms.
Have I gone wrong by burning
Lanka to the last dwelling?
Was it all wrong on my part
Lost I bearing in my wrath?
Of all what that afflicts man
Anger takes the pride of place.
Drives to extremes man anger
Thought in his ’n deed as well.
Whoever can nip his anger
In the bud is man seasoned.
Reckoned as I not her welfare
On whom Rama stakes his life
Raison d’être of Odyssey mine
Doubt there none it’s foolhardy.
Now that Lanka is on fire
Wouldn’t have Seetha lost her life?
What for came I to Lanka
Is it to kill Rama’s wife?
While the going was so good
How come lost I my bearing!
Spared as fury of Fire God
Not a square inch of Lanka
Where was space for her to hide?
Were Seetha to perish in fire
How am I to show my face
To her Lord who trusted me.
Why not I now end my life
Why to go to Ram with guilt.
How am I go back to them
How to look all them in face?
How I subscribed to world-view
That vanars wouldn’t get focused!
To let him in spite all go wrong.
Makes man passion imperfect
Hear if they that Seetha died
Ram ’n Lakshman won’t live more.
At the death of their siblings
Bharat ’n Satrughn follow suit.
Reign if ends of Ikshvaakus
Orphaned would be world at large.
For the foolish act of mine
Won’t I turn the accursed soul?
As sunk Hanuman in sorrow
Omens he sighted all too good.
Felt he raging flames of fire
Won’t match power of Rama’s wife.
Won’t her aura keep at bay
Flames of raging fire from her.
Won’t the Fire God himself know
Touch he cannot Rama’s spouse?
How can ever be Rama’s wife
Destined to burn like some sack?
As well Agni spared my tail
Would he ever touch Seetha then?
Mainak as did offer help
To sustain cause of Lord Rama
Wouldn’t then Agni follow suit?
Won’t her love for Rama make
Lakshman rekha for Fire God?
Wavered as thus Hanuman then
Heard he angels speak in awe.
Gods too never dared to dream
Ever would Ravan get subdued,
With Lanka thus now on fire
Lankans have no place to hide.
What did Hanuman to Ravan
Was like taming lion on heat
In its own den with bare arms.
Turned though Lanka to ashes
Wonder what made tongues of fire
Leave out Rama’s spouse unscathed!