In the vast landscape of contemporary Indian poetry, Saswat Mishra’s “Fourteen Flames From The Ramayana” emerges as a remarkable achievement that bridges the timeless narratives of Valmiki’s epic with the sensibilities of modern readers. This collection stands as testament to the enduring relevance of the Ramayana, demonstrating how ancient wisdom can be distilled into crystalline verses that speak directly to contemporary hearts and minds.
Mishra’s approach to retelling the Ramayana is refreshingly unconventional. Rather than attempting a comprehensive retelling, he has chosen fourteen pivotal moments and characters from the epic, each serving as a “flame” that illuminates deeper truths about duty, sacrifice, and the human condition. This selective focus allows for intense poetic concentration, where each poem becomes a meditation on the complexities of dharma and the paradoxes inherent in righteous living.
Poetic Architecture and Stylistic Mastery
The structure of “Fourteen Flames From The Ramayana” reveals careful consideration of both narrative flow and thematic resonance. Beginning with “A Promise,” which captures the pivotal moment of Rama’s exile, Mishra establishes the tone of sacrificial duty that permeates the entire work. The opening image of Kaikeyi’s “weary saree” and “unbraided hair” immediately grounds the cosmic drama in human vulnerability, setting the stage for poems that consistently find the personal within the epic.
Mishra’s poetic voice is characterized by remarkable economy and precision. His verses are spare yet rich, avoiding the ornamental excess that often accompanies retellings of classical literature. Consider his treatment of Sita in the poem bearing her name, where her entire tragic arc is compressed into a series of stark, powerful images: “Born of earth. Raised in a sage’s house. Played with Shiva’s bow.” This minimalist approach allows readers to fill the spaces between words with their own understanding and emotion.
The poet’s use of contemporary metaphors and situations creates unexpected bridges between ancient and modern experience. In “Lakshman,” the description of the devoted brother as “once a bed—the endless serpent, cradling Vishnu’s rest” transforms mythological symbolism into something immediately relatable, while maintaining the sacred dimension of the original story.
Character Portraits: Illuminating the Human Divine
One of the greatest strengths of “Fourteen Flames From The Ramayana” lies in Mishra’s ability to reveal the humanity within mythological figures without diminishing their divine aspects. His portrayal of Bharat in the fifth poem serves as a particularly poignant example, where the ideal brother becomes a mirror for contemporary moral failures: “But now, in these hollow days, men stab their brothers for a patch of land.” Such observations feel neither forced nor preachy but emerge naturally from the juxtaposition of epic ideals with modern realities.
The poem “On Jatayu” demonstrates Mishra’s skill in connecting personal experience with mythological narrative. By beginning with a deeply personal anecdote about his father’s murder, the poet creates a framework for understanding Jatayu’s sacrifice that resonates on multiple levels. This technique of anchoring epic moments in contemporary experience appears throughout the collection, making ancient stories feel urgently relevant.
Perhaps most impressive is Mishra’s treatment of complex moral figures like Ravana in “Lakshman’s Question.” Rather than presenting the demon king as merely evil, the poet captures the tragic dimension of a learned being undone by his own choices. Ravana’s final words of wisdom become a profound meditation on the consequences of delayed righteousness and the pursuit of evil thoughts.
Philosophical Depth and Moral Complexity
The collection’s title, “Fourteen Flames From The Ramayana,” proves particularly apt when considering how each poem illuminates different aspects of dharmic living. Mishra doesn’t shy away from the moral ambiguities that make the Ramayana such an enduring text. In “The Paradox,” he directly addresses the situational nature of dharma, noting how “Dharma runs fast. Sometimes this is dharma, sometimes that.”
This willingness to engage with complexity rather than offer simple moral lessons elevates the collection beyond mere devotional poetry. The poem “Fairness” tackles one of the Ramayana’s most controversial episodes—Rama’s killing of Vali—with nuanced understanding of the ethical dilemmas faced by even divine incarnations. Such treatment demonstrates Mishra’s sophisticated understanding of both the source material and the philosophical questions it raises.
The recurring theme of duty versus desire appears throughout the collection, most notably in “Name or Duty,” where the poet questions whether divine accomplishments stem from devotion or obligation. This questioning spirit never undermines faith but rather deepens it by acknowledging the complex motivations that drive even the most righteous actions.
Language and Imagery: Contemporary Accessibility
Mishra’s language choices deserve particular praise for their accessibility without sacrificing depth. He avoids archaic diction or overly Sanskritized vocabulary, instead opting for clear, direct expression that allows the power of the stories themselves to shine through. This approach makes the collection equally suitable for readers deeply familiar with the Ramayana and those encountering these stories for the first time.
The imagery throughout the collection strikes a careful balance between the mythological and the mundane. In “Soham,” the intimate description of divine connection—”His name on my lips tastes like berries”—transforms spiritual devotion into something tangible and immediate. Such moments reveal Mishra’s ability to make the transcendent feel personal and achievable.
Cultural Relevance and Universal Themes
While firmly rooted in Hindu mythology and Indian cultural contexts, the poems in this collection speak to universal human experiences of loyalty, sacrifice, moral confusion, and spiritual seeking. The questions raised about duty, family obligation, and righteous action transcend cultural boundaries, making this a work that could resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds.
The collection’s contemporary relevance becomes particularly apparent in poems like “Two Brothers,” which explores different responses to moral crisis through the contrasting fates of Vibhishana and Kumbhakarna. In an era marked by political and moral polarization, such explorations of conscience and consequence feel especially pertinent.
Similar Works and Literary Context
Readers who appreciate “Fourteen Flames From The Ramayana” might find similar satisfaction in other contemporary treatments of classical Indian literature. Ramesh Menon’s prose retellings of the epics offer comprehensive narrative approaches, while poets like A.K. Ramanujan and Wendy Doniger have provided scholarly yet accessible interpretations of ancient texts. For those interested in mythological poetry specifically, works by Kamala Das and Dilip Chitre offer comparable attempts to bridge classical and contemporary sensibilities.
Final Reflections
“Fourteen Flames From The Ramayana” succeeds brilliantly in its ambitious goal of making ancient wisdom speak to contemporary concerns. Saswat Mishra has crafted a collection that honors its source material while creating something genuinely new and personally meaningful. Each poem serves as both an individual meditation and part of a larger tapestry exploring the complexities of righteous living.
The collection’s greatest achievement lies not in its poetic technique, impressive though that is, but in its ability to make readers reconsider familiar stories and find fresh wisdom within them. In our current age of moral uncertainty and spiritual seeking, Mishra’s flames provide both illumination and warmth, reminding us that the questions raised by ancient texts remain vibrantly alive and urgently relevant.
This slim volume proves that contemporary poetry can engage seriously with traditional sources without sacrificing either artistic integrity or modern relevance. It stands as an exemplar of how classical literature can be reimagined for new generations without losing its essential power and meaning.
