DRAUPADI - V

PrafullaKumar Mohanty's

DRAUPADI - V

 

DRAUPADI IN THE LIBRARY

 

The Royal library was grand

a diamond shaped  mansion

full of palm leaf scrolls arranged

in careful stacks dusted clean

for the Princess's academic tour.

 

Draupadi in a plain white silk saree

entered barefoot with Alpana in toe.

She moved in slow steps escorted by

the chief librarian Acharya Sumanta

detailed the holdings in soft tone

the erudite Acharaya pointed out the Vedas,

Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, Kamashastra,

Natyashastra, Plays, Lyrics, Astrology

and many volumes of Architecture

Warfare, Archery, Wrestling.

After the first row of stacks Draupadi asked

You have Brahmi, Sanskrit - also Arabic

The Acharaya added pointing at two rows!

We also have books in Vijnana, Magic

and the Householders duties, management of

Palaces, Temples, Vedic rituals and Tribal music.

Draupadi asked whether books in Dance

and Painting were there, the Acharaya nodded.

 

Draupadi went around

stacks of palm leaf manuscripts

took out the Atharva Veda

sat on a high chair and read

for two hours on end

she also read portions of

a book on the Royal Dice

also turned pages of Gandhar Art:

she had no hunger no desire

for mundane needs

she returned when the afternoon sun

in pale boredom

turned westwards to retire

after a long day's service.