An Unsung Song Poem by Namita Rani Panda

Urmila is a character in the Hindu epic Ramayana. She was daughter of King Janaka and also a younger sister of Sita. She was wife of Lakshmana, younger brother of Rama.Lakshman went to exile along with Ram and Sita, Urmila was ready to accompany him but he hesitated and asked her to stay back in Ayodhya to take care of his aging parents. Urmila is notable for her unparalleled sacrifice called Urmila Nidra.[2]She bears the burden of Lakshmana's share of sleep for fourteen years. Laxman was exempted from sleep for fourteen years to enable him to serve Rama and Sita with full devotion. Later he could assassinate Meghnad for this penance.


AN UNSUNG SONG
I'm an unsung song
Lost in the history unknown!
I too dreamed to fly with colourful wings
I too wished to flow with gleeful gurgling
I too desired to have a loving partner
And enjoy conjugal bliss in life for ever.

But alas! You heartless Laxman!
You shattered my dreams
Myheart bled endless anguish
My tears washed away all my wishes.

O' my sweetheart!
What was my fault can you say?
Why didyou exile me in this way?
For fourteen long years
not Rama and Sita but I wasbanished.
I was a pearl cast before a swine.
You threw me into darkness
as with Sita you got me free
and you won me with no test to give.
Though in the palace I was forlorn,
relegated to darkness for time unknown.

You heartless one!
You forgot your nuptial promise
And turned my conjugal bliss to a perpetual curse
And turned my life from worse to worst.

O'devoted son and faithful brother!
As a husband you are a complete failure
To serve your brother you left me alone
And burdened me with your parents' burden.
With out you I spent sleepless nights
You wished me to sleep your share of sleep
and turned my days into darkest deep.
Like my sisters I too dreamed to be your ornament
But you turned me to an insignificant servant.
Who gave you the power to make me a puppet?
Have you ever asked me what I wished?
For fourteen years only darkness you gifted
Neithershower of lovenorsunshine
Neitherjoynor pleasure,
A parched dreary desertin want of rain.

You earned indelible name and fame
as you played a vital role in power game.
In the battle you killed the mighty Meghnad
As fourteen years you had never slept
Butdid you say a word of gratitude
For the sacrifice I made for you?
Did the world appreciate me ever?
I embraced darknessfor you dear
soyou could serve better your brother.

Am I not a woman of blood and flesh?
Isn't it my right to wish conjugal bliss?
Is it my crime to wish to be cuddled and kissed?
Why did you bless me with forced celibacy?
As a husband have you done your duty?
Why did you fill my life with infinite darkness?
You promised me to be my lifelong companion
andto provide me supreme protection
But you broke your significant promise
and left me alone in this vast world
You snatched away the right of a wife
and filled my life with only infinite strife.

So my darling!
Let me tell you my final wish
I wish never to have such a partner in any life.
And O' Lord! I Urmila Plead,
never give such a lifeto any other girl please!