Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman’s Odyssey

By Murthy, BS

Book Id: WPLBN0100002874
Format Type: MP3 eBook:
File Size: 12.00 MB
Reproduction Date: 07/10/2013

Title:	Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman’s Odyssey
Author:	Murthy, BS
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Hinduism, Ramayana
Collections:	Audio Books Collection, Poetry
Historic Publication Date:	2019
Publisher:	Self-published

Member Page:	BS Murthy
Citation APA MLA Chicago Murthy, B. B. (2019). Sundara Kãnda. Retrieved from http://www.self.gutenberg.org/

Description
While Mahabharata's Bhagvad-Gita is taken as a philosophical guide, Ramayana's Sundara Kãnda is sought for spiritual solace. What is more, many believe that reading Sundara Kãnda or hearing it recited would remove all hurdles and usher in good tidings! Well miracles apart, it's in the nature of Sundara Kãnda 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!

Summary
While Mahabharata's Bhagvad-Gita is taken as a philosophical guide, Ramayana's Sundara Kãnda is sought for spiritual solace. What is more, many believe that reading Sundara Kãnda or hearing it recited would remove all hurdles and usher in good tidings! Well miracles apart, it's in the nature of Sundara Kãnda 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!

Excerpt
Canto 20 - Womanizer at Work To fair Seetha he confined Spoke then Ravan in disdain. With thy pair of lovely hands Why block sight of thy bosom Hope it’s not the fear of me Prompts thee squat in like fashion. Is a beauty like thine ever And a lover than me better! What to fear in this Lanka Lost whose Lord his heart to thee. Fair it’s not for thee to blame Granted when it’s to our ilk Force we might all women we fond Never mind ever their state of mind. Crave as I for thine embrace Wait I though for thy consent. Fill thy heart with love for me Let not fear ever grip thy mind. Having known my love for thee Don’t thou know that it’s not fair That thee should fail thy upkeep And thus make me sad for thee. From heaven I fetch garments such To make thee best dressed dame on earth. For thy wear I get jewels Not even by angels worn. Thou being the crown jewel Of the feminine world at large How come then thou shun jewels! Knowing as well youth is like River that courses to the seas Why not grant me thy favour And thus make the best of life. Since there none to rival thee Having set the hallmark thus Looks like Brahma ceased His work. Perchance He now espies thee Finding thou so well endowed What with such rare sex appeal Would He ever quit ogling thee? Such is beauty of thy frame Wherever I look I get stuck. Dearth there none for mates for me Brought them in scores from all lands Yet I’ve taken to thy charms Make I thee my Queen of Hearts. Gods from I got such ransom Made me that the richest man, Not to speak of self as well Won’t I place all at thy feet. Worlds I conquered all the three Wealth of nations I plundered Consent if thou to take me Gift all that to thy father. None is there in heaven ’n earth Dares who ever to cross my path. Dust I made to bite enemies Burnt their standards in their sight. Since no one can rescue thee Better thee tie thy life with me. Know I value thee no end Turn thy mind to life at hand. Spend thy days in royal ways Make we love in nights for long. Having enslaved my heart now Might well treat me as thy slave. Weigh if thee that Ram and me In the scale of thy interest Won’t thou know the way it tilts? Lost he crown when all too young Could have died though not so old. What if he still lives on earth Gets he how a clue of thee? Were he to get wind of thee How doth he dare to face me? O dear lady thou have won The heart of mine the ladies man. O femme fatale as I burn For the possession of thy frame Fail I women all who crave me. See all these are queens no less Make them willing maids to thee. Served as thus by all of them Won’t thou look a goddess then? In the Pushpak that I won Come to live like favoured one. If ever thy man regains crown Would he make a patch on me? So that I add honey as well Know thy buttered side of bread. Lovebirds like we all our life Live ever making love no end.

Table of Contents
This audio rendition of the encounter between Ravan and Seetha, whom he kidnapped to Lanka. as depicted in Cantos 20 thru 22 of Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman’s Odyssey.