Canto 63
Sugreev’s Reading
Fell as Dadhimukh at his feet
Spoketh vanar Lord perplexed.
What’s thy fault that makes thee fall
At the feet of thy nephew?
Fright thine makes me worried man
Harmed might’ve been my Madhuvan.
Ardour thus by Sugreev showed
Moved then Dadhimukh to speak thus:
Though all knew it out of bounds
Trespassed vanars some Madhuvan.
Ignored they all my warnings
Ate they every fruit and root.
Swarmed as by all bees out there
Yet they squeezed out honey in tons.
Having got drunk to the hilt
Mocked they my guards who cautioned.
Guards as there did try to stop
Beat them to pulp those vanars.
Makes me sad that Prince Angad
Aided as well abetted them.
Lay as wounded men of mine
Flung some vanars them sky high.
In thy reign O Lord Sugreev
That’s how folk thine slew our guards.
Having sensed then some import
Enquired Lakshman then Sugreev
What could have gone awry them.
What’s the matter vanar Lord
Why thy folk all look depressed?
Having by then smelt the rat
Appraised Sugreev Lakshman thus:
Complains Dadhimukh my uncle
That Prince Angad and his flock
Ravaged Madhuvan to its roots
As well slew its guards in scores.
If not for the happy end
To the errand on their hand
Would have Angad ever condoned
Deeds those vandal of vanars?
Strong as Dadhimukh ’n his folks
Failed to stop them all in tracks
Would mean spirits of Angad’s flock
Could have soared to skies all high.
Feel I Angad and party
Having by then found Seetha
Would have indulged in orgies.
It’s but Hanuman who could have
Found out Seetha in spite of
Hurdles all there to reach her.
Fails he never to deliver
Backed by Jambavan ’n Angad
Leads when Hanuman from the front.
Turned as joyous by the news
Brought by Hanuman from Seetha
Lost they could have their bearing.
Had not Hanuman sighted her
Dare how they would ever enter
Madhuvan after mine own heart?
It’s but their joy that gave cause
For their pranks all with those guards.
It’s this grasp of their action
Made that Dadhimukh rush to us.
Feel I certain from all this
Found was Rama’s spouse Seetha.
If not Angad would not have
Let his flock thus play havoc
With the Madhuvan of our clan.
With the way Lord Sugreev spoke
Pleased no end was Lakshman then.
Happy was Ram at the turn
Of the tide in Seetha’s search.
Turned then Sugreev to Dadhimukh
Thanked him for the news he brought.
Dispatched Sugreev his uncle
So he sends back Angad’s flock.
No less eager all of us
To hear where Hanuman found Seetha.
Made the joyous look of Ram
Joyous Lakshman and Sugreev.
Canto 64
Return of the Platoon
At the diktak of his Lord
Took leave Dadhimukh of them all.
Flew he back then to Madhuvan
With his flock to fetch Hanuman.
Speeded as he to his Lord
Rushed he so back to Madhuvan.
In the garden he left them
Found he vanars turn sober.
Went he straight to Angad then
Spoke he thus with folded hands.
Pardon my flock and me too
For we tried to stop thee all
From thy having fun of life.
At thy pleasure O Prince Angad
Let thy folk have some more fun.
Like thy dad in days of yore
Sugreev ’n thou make our Lords.
Told we Sugreev thy uncle
Landed thou all in Madhuvan.
Felt he so glad hearing that
Found I safe ’n sound all thee.
Flared up he not as I told
Spoiled all of thee Madhuvan.
Now he sent me here to fetch
Thee all back to him forthwith.
At this Angad told his flock
Rama could be in the know.
Inclined am to think so
Seeing joyous Dadhimukh’s face.
Now that all of us had fun
Why not go back to our Lord.
Wish I none have to dictate
Like to follow what thee say.
Brought as thou us this glory
Honour me thou as thy Prince
It’s no time that’s opportune
For me to thee dictate terms.
Spake as Angad to his flock
Made that happy one and all.
Spoke they in turn to Angad
All of them in one voice,
Like thou take us as equals
Who else would treat his subjects?
Bow as thou to thy subjects
Take thee that to top of world.
Think as thee of thy uncle
We too wish to see our Lord.
Lead us all to where thee go
None of us would drag his feet.
Gave as Angad green signal
Rose then his flock to the skies.
Angad thus with at the head
Flew they flying saucer like.
Thus in tow with Hanuman then
Pulled his flock all back Angad.
Sighting Angad in the skies
Spoke then Sugreev to Rama.
See our vanars flying back
Portends that well for Seetha.
Espy speed at which they fly
Would they do so had they failed?
To me if he were to fail
Would ever Angad show his face?
Besides fouling my Madhuvan
Were he failed to find Seetha
How dare Angad come to me?
If not that they found Seetha
Would have Angad let his flock
At the pain of death enter
Madhuvan that’s so dear to me?
Feel I certain Hanuman did
Find Seetha in thy waiting.
Espouses as he some cause
Hanuman is ever dedicated.
Whatever he might undertake
Known is Angad for his luck.
Now that Angad advances
Like the one who succeeded
That should make us feel easy.
That our vanars on errand
Wrecked my garden in orgies
Would but portend that Seetha
Was found in the pink of health.
Won’t they roar in joyous mood
What’s that but they got it right.
Saw vanar Lord in descent
Angad’s flock in bid to land.
In salute to that force his strong
Raised then Sugreev tail his straight.
Seeing Sugreev in welcome
Signalled Angad to his flock
Land they might all on the trot.
Enthused as were all by then
Lost no time to land vanars.
Having went to Rama straight
‘Seen I Seetha’ told Hanuman.
Gladdened tidings of the news
Hearts of Ram and his sibling.
Felt glad Sugreev that Hanuman
Caressed was by Lakshman’s eyes.
Melted loving look of Ram
Hanuman to the core of heart.
