Rama Setu -2

[Bodhi]

<span style='color:red'>Rama Setu by the National Poet Sri Maithili Sharan Gupt </span>

Mahakavi Sri Maithili Sharan Gupt is rightly known as the Rashtra Kavi (national poet). His remarkable poetry reflects the deepest national ethos of Bharat and his simple yet impactful words never fail to awaken the patriotic energy of its readers.

'Bharat-Bharati' is one of his most towering marvels, which always inspired the freedom fighters and nationalists. It contains the poet's reflections on the past his thoughts on the future of Bharat and Bharati - India and Indic.

In this large volume, at one place he says:

भूगर्भ से जब तब निकलती वस्तुयें ऐसी यहाँ -
जो पूछ उठती हैं कि ऐसी थी हुई उन्नति कहाँ?
वह सिन्धु सेतु बचा अभी तक, दक्षिणी मन्दिर बचे,
कब और किसने, विश्व मे, यों शिल्प-चित्र कहाँ रचे?

{Every now and then such artifacts are unearthed by excavations,
which provoke us and ask, 'where else was such evolution achieved?'
Sindhu Setu is intact so far, and so are our wondrous temples in the South
Where else have such architectural marvels been etched, by whom and when!}

Sri Maithili Sharan Gupt also wrote 'Saket'. It is a unique narrative of Ramayana by Urmila, Lakshmana's wife who stayed back in Ayodhya, separated from her husband during his forteen-years exile with Rama. In Saket, Urmila is made to describe the turn of events during those years with focus on happenings in Ayodhya. Saket is still considered a classic today.

In Saket, Sri Gupt has described Setu Bandhan as follows:

तब लंका पर हुई चढाई, सजी रिक्ष-वानर सेना,
मिल मानो दो सलिल-राशियाँ उमडी फैलाकर फेना!!
भंगभित्तियाँ उठा उठा कर सिन्धु रोकने चला प्रवाह
बान्धा गया किंतु उलटा वह, सेतु रूप ही है उत्साह!!
नीलनभोमण्डल-सा जलनिधि, पुल था छायापथ-सा ठीक,
खींच दी गई एक अमिट-सी, पानी पर भी प्रभु की लीक!!

{Then began marching to Lanka the decorated armies of riksha-s and vaanara-s,
Together, both appeared as if two separate seas simultaneously on tide!
Ocean came forward to halt them by raising huge wall-like waves,
However, ocean was itself bound. Setu - but an icon of courage!
Setu - shining just like a starry-way, on the blue-sky-like ocean,
An un-erasable signature of the Lord etched even on the water}