Poem: Surpanakha's Love Proposition

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(Translated from Urdu to Hindi by Ajit Pradhan)

As an age passed in the deep jungle,
the hermits’ fame permeated the world
all voices spoke of Ram’s beauty and youth,
and no parallels were found all over the land
his looks were complete in their perfection
and brought seekers of a glimpse
from distant kingdoms

As the tales of his allure reached Lanka,
they fell upon the ears of a sister of Ravana’s
in the prime of her youth, she was called Surpanakha
the accounts of the hermits left her spellbound
and she devoted her heart to Raghuvar
even without having a look,
she turned into a suitor

Her heart had but one wish
to set her eyes on Ram
and all distance from him
pierced her heart, like a blade
as life away from Raghuvar
now seemed a waste
with an urgent union the only recourse
she left her home for this one desire
on a pilgrimage to meet the divine sire

When she arrived with this love
burning up her heart
at the forest in spring-bloom
Raghuvar’s abode!
lo and behold! the radiance
of her comely beloved,
The heartache grew sharper
upon seeing the ethereal charm
of her sweetheart
and all that remained
was restlessness, my friends!

The tender age of fourteen,
a beauty
with manners those of fairies,
and appearance mirroring flowers
like a figurine of gold, gorgeous,
inimitable in her powers
even the sunlight dared not compete
with her radiant face
a mirror, upon seeing her,
would seek a kiss, an embrace
the moon, with just a glance,
would fall on her feet in romance

A body pure and fragrant, as a garden
a countenance as gentle as flowers
she sat down next to the hut
breathless
oblivious to etiquette
and had nobody but one, to impress
her gaze did not wander
from the figure of the beloved
as Ram grew closer,
She could not, but plead
for a union
all her beauty, charms
begged for
becoming one

Upon hearing her request
Raghuveer spoke thus
O fortunate one!
your heart is naive, fanciful
for I belong to another
you should take your proposal
to a solitary youth
as I do not seek a lover,
and yet I offer no hindrance
if Laxman takes up your offer

A thousand pleas
fell on deaf ears
so she went to Laxman
with her desire, and tears
but even here, her hopes met despair
and the proposition brought upon
Laxman’s ire
her nose was slashed
by the young man
as all her charms, spells
were to go in vain

(Translated to English by Iqbal Abhimanyu)