Canto 49
Ravan’s Darbar
Stared as Ravan in dismay
Looked at him in awe Hanuman.
Studded as it with rare diamonds
Had king Ravan crown of crowns.
Garments Ravan wore were silk
Ornaments on him all were gold.
Frills to its his dress scented
Smeared with ash was his forehead.
Eyes of his so wide and sharp
Turned they red by his rage then.
Heads he sported ten in all
Seemed they all but as if one.
Wore as myriad chains of gems
Dangled which on his bare chest,
Made they rays of mid-day sun
Peeping out of thick dark clouds.
Epaulets he wore seemed to crown
Hands his both so strong and long.
Sat thus Ravan on his throne
Had that for seat smooth carpet.
Posited as he on high throne
Fanned him damsels for comfort.
With their advice to render
On call were his secretaries.
In the midst of those gathered
Seemed he island in high seas.
Ravan in his darbar seem
As though Indra held his court.
Stood then Hanuman gaping at
Ravan at his splendorous best.
Though the pain of confinement
Made him feel thus out of sorts
Sight of Ravan made Hanuman
Stare at him in wonderment.
Bowled over by Ravan’s charm
Thought over then Hanuman thus:
Can there be a king on earth
Better who can the Ravan Great?
Were he not to foul dharma
Is he not the one to rule
In his right the heaven as well.
But that he is perverted
World all made to pay the price.
Were Ravan to set his mind
To destroy earth and heaven itself
Power he seems to have for that.
Canto 50
Cause of Loss
Seeing Hanuman unshaken
Smitten was Ravan by doubts then.
Wondered Ravan if bull god
Cursed him when he shook Kailash
Came in disguise to harm thus.
Or could he be that Banasur
Came in form of this vanar?
Clueless as was Ravan then
Prahastha he then addressed thus:
Wish I Prahastha thee find out
Wherefore came this simian fiend,
What was at his back of mind
Spoiled when he our garden?
Trespass why did he Lanka
Made him what to give us fight?
Assured Prahastha then vanar
Harm him none would in Lanka.
Promised he then safe passage
To trespasser there thus lay trapped.
Have thou come to spy on us
Sent by gods from heaven itself?
Clear it’s all from thy valour
That thou art no mean vanar.
Mince no words ’n bare the truth
That we could thee free forthwith.
If thou try to sidetrack us
Know that will be at thy risk.
Hanuman in turn told Ravan
That his trip had none to do
With the gods that Lankans scorned.
Am I from the vanar ranks
Came to see thee king Ravan.
Spoiled I know thy garden
That thy guards would usher me
To thy court O Lankan king.
Came as thy guards to kill me
Slain them just to save my life.
Stunned as Indrajit me then
With the aid of Brahmastra
Blessed as I was by Brahma
Came I soon out of its spell.
On my own I came to thee
None as ever would contain me.
Know me as the one sent by
Rama to make truce with thee.
