Toru Dutt Lakshman | A Critical Analysis
Toru Dutt Lakshman
Toru Dutt Lakshman | A Critical Analysis
‘Lakshman’ by Toru Dutt is a poem on a Hindu mythological theme. The subject matter of the poem is taken from the ‘Ramayana’, a Sanskrit epic by Valmiki. Lakshman was a younger brother of Sri Ramchandra. Once Ramchandra with his beloved wife, Sita, had to go to exile after his father’s will. With Ram and Sita, Lakshman also went to exile. Sita was chaste, pious and very beautiful. Ravana, the king of Lanka, had heard of Sita’s qualities and hence he desired to carry her off. While Ram, Sita and Lakshman were in exile, Ravana took the avail of it and by his magic power, he created a golden deer. To please Sita, her husband Ram pursued the deer leaving Sita and Lakshman in the bower. Then at distance, Sita heard a voice as same as that of Ram seeking help. Really the voice was not of Ram but of Ravana. Ravana made a plan to drive Lakshman away of the bower so that he can carry Sita off. Sita, hearing the calling of Ravana to be Ram’s, asked Lakshman to go to help Ram. First Lakshman did not want to leave the bower leaving Sita alone. But Sita persistently persuaded Lakshman to leave the bower in order to rescue Ram. The poet Toru Dutt has given a very poetic as well as a dramatic description of Sita’s persuasion to Lakshman. The poem bears the stamp of how much devotion and love Sita had for her husband.
Hearing the voice like that of Ram, Sita says to Lakshman and calls him to go to succour Ram without making any delay. She thinks that perhaps her husband is surrounded by foes, so Lakshman should go there quickly with his sword and bow. But Lakshman seemed not to heed Sita’s order. Then Sita, being angry, wanted to go alone. Seeing Sita’s agitation and anxiety, Lakshman says to Sita that there is no cause to fear because Ram is strong and brave enough to fight an enemy. He then gives a poetic account of Ram’s prowess and says that the lion and bear shrink back in fear when they see his royal look. The anger of Ram none can endure, Even sun-staring eagles drop-down at Ram’s look. Pythons and cobras, at Ram’s tread, glide to their secret holes. The serpent bows down to his feet. The poet says:
”The lion and the grisly bear
Cower when they see his royal look,
Sun-staring eagles of the air
His glance of anger can not brook,
Python and cobras at his tread
To their most secret coverts glide,
Bowed to the dust each serpent head
Erect before in hooded pride.”
Lakshman anticipated the wailing cry for help is not of Ram but of an enemy uttered to delude them. So Sita should not beseech Lakshman to go out in search of Ram leaving Sita alone. Instead, he made Sita remind her that he had been commanded by Ram to remain with Sita as a guard as there might have some giant foes in the forest to harm her. But Lakhman’s persuasion could not calm Sita of her anxiety. Instead, she argued and says:
”Search well and sea! One brother takes
His kingdom— one would take his wife
A fair partitional— but it makes
Me shudder and abhor my life.”
At last, being ashamed of Sita’s argument, Lakshman came out of the bower and tracing a magic circle in front of the door, and ordering her not to cross the circle, goes to help Ram. While he left Sita alone, Lakshman heard the scream of a vulture which was a symbol of an ill omen. After his departure, Ravana came to the bower and carried off Sita to Lanka.
The poem shows Sita’s devotion and love to her husband; but Sita herself is responsible for being carried away by Ravana, the king of Lanka. Besides this Lakshamn’s wisdom and rationality are also expressed in the poem.
The poem is written in a rhythmic tone. The imagery of Ram’s valour narrated by Lakshman is highly poetic. The language of the poem is easy and simple. 0 0 0
Toru Dutt Lakshman
Read More:Â The Poetry of Toru Dutt-Chief Features
N. B. This article entitled ‘Toru Dutt Lakshman | A Critical Analysis’ originally belongs to the book ‘Indian English Poetry Criticism‘ by Menonim Menonimus. Toru Dutt Lakshman
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