Ramayan Part 42 - Hanuman Meets Sita Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

The songs of Hanuman on Ram,
Kept Sita’s mind slightly calm.
She saw a monkey on the branch
That was on her keeping a watch.

Nothing else she could see,
Above or around the tree.
Sita hesitated to trust it,
But its look was radiant.

Was this another Ravan’s trick?
He came once as an ascetic.
Again in monkey’s role,
For this he would go to hell.

To prove their mutual trust,
What they knew of the past,
Exchanged with each other
Before proceeding further.

Ram’s ring he gave her,
That brought her tear,
And she shed her fear,
As Ram was almost near.

For the mistaken identity,
She made her apology,
Saying, it was an error,
To suspect him an impostor.

“I don’t know to rejoice
Or grieve at your news.
Only two months remain
To be killed by Ravan.”

“Ravan’s younger brother,
Vibheshan is my supporter,
Who persuaded Ravan
To give up his evil plan.”

“His words went in vain,
Into the ears of Ravan,
My Lord will destroy him
And Lanka city with him.”

These words, Hanuman heard,
And his back he offered,
Saying he would carry her,
And at Ram’s side, place her.

“I’m not for taking risk,
As it is a dangerous task.
I may drown on the way,
If they fight you midway, ”

“I don’t like to engage,
Affecting Ram’s prestige,
As a king he should fight,
And take me in the broad day light.”

“As a proof, having seen me,
This headwear jewel with me,
You take and hand over to him,
And two instances report to him.”

“Once on my lap,
He was fast asleep.
A crow pecked me,
And it troubled me.”

“He got up and threw,
A dart that behind flew,
And chased the crow
To kill it at one blow.”

“It was a crow-demon,
Begged for Ram’s pardon,
And he released it,
As it fell at his feet.”

“On another occasion,
Due to over perspiration,
The tilak on my forehead,
Got in the sweat washed.”

“A powder, he picked,
Down from the red mud,
Between eye brows of mine,
Applied, it was so fine.”

Hanuman took leave of her,
Promising fast relief to her.
He told her to await Ram,
To take her back in time.