Draupadi- VII

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's

DRAUPADI - VII

Draupadi In The Village

 

Despite warning displeasure cajolement

Drupad's daughter convinced all

collected a thousand gold coins

cartloads of rice and clothes

and set forth early morning with Alpana

fifty guards of the palace escorted her,

her denials were ignored for protocol.

All her entreaties to go alone

not as Princess Draupadi but

as woman, Draupadi  fell flat

on Drupad and the other royals:

dignity and security concerns

prevailed over her normal desires.

 

She rode in a chariot dressed in plain clothes

her bright sunrise face radiating charm

Draupadi was eager to see the new world

beyond the palace of protected pride.

Alpana alerted her what to expect

but the Princess visualized her own scenario.

 

Anuradhapur was a narrow two  rows

of poor dwellings dirty and shabby

this was her first encounter with poverty.

She saw smiths at work dropping tools,

fear smeared faces of women came out

old men and children tried to guess

who the visitor with royal entourage was.

 

Draupadi alighted at mid street

greeted everyone men, women and all,

meantime the clamour  of salutations

'Victory be to the Princess' grew around

people rushed forward to touch her feet,

embarrassed Draupadi with folded hands

prayed for calm and sat down

on the veranda of a weaver family.

 

Don't be afraid my countrymen

you are my family, friend and relations

I came to see you, talk to you

and I wish to eat with you

if you feed me as your daughter.

Their lips widened in happy smiles 

they took her to the Hanuman temple

and she enquired passionately

their living, life, livelihood.

She was endeared to every family

She met the women while they all admired

her glowing beauty and simple ways.

 

Before she returned after eating

in a farmer's house she gave

the village elders the gold and the provisions

tasking them to start a school for children

she asked the women to read and write

'Be Yourself' she said 'Don't compromise

your dignity, work hard at home

and in fields to change your fate'.

Most villagers saw her off walking,

running almost to the palace gate

shouts of 'Long Live Princess'

'Victory be to Draupadi' delighted the king

and everyone received her all smiles.