Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman's Odyssey

Canto 5 - Life in Lanka

Moon in time came overhead
Raged he bull like in cow-pen.

Kept he darkness all at bay
Seemed to dispel sins of men.

Rays his splendid in columns
Sparkled lotus-like in prime.

In those high skies full of clouds
Seemed he like one swan encaged.

Spot his that was well visible
Appeared like a well-horned bull.

Light the king of stars as shed
Fell that on his cousin blooming
Brought that latter's spots luster.

Like the king on diamond throne
Shone as well the moon that night.

Ambience moonlight enticed all
Mates estranged to warm embrace.

Went as wanton to walk streets
Women married were ever eager
To mate their men they loved to core.

Men there were no less in scores
Gulped who by then pint or more.

Some of them as tried to boast
Rest in fistcuffs took to brawls.

Tried to shake their stupor as some
Others took amorous routes to mates.

Full of smiles were women fulfilled
Heaved though heavy then unfulfilled.

Roared as skies then like trumpets
Swore soldiers like hissing snakes.

Saw he many there sober souls
Took place debates informed then.

Found he many an ugly folk
Were they none the less decent.

Women wondrous had virtuous mates
Matched they stars of cloudless skies.

Birds as hidden by flowering buds
Women charming lay in male arms.

Went to their men women in want
Fondlers they turned to rouse them.

Women lovelorn who rivalled moon
Lacked as they mates turned all pale.

Men all who had women to mate
Love they made to them all night.

Eye lashes of dove-eyed dames
Hid their eyes in thick black veils,
Jewels that those wore in scores
Cast a charming light on them.

None of them though made him feel
Seetha could be one of them.

Forlorn Seetha he knew well
Would be lost in Rama's thought.

Saw he none of that anguish
In them Seetha would have felt.

In her agonized mood Seetha
Won't she look like that crescent
Screened by thick dark clouds in skies?

Failed as he to find Seetha
Nonplussed was then Vayu's son.