DRAUPADI - XXI

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXI

Alpana entered, a big smile

brightening her face, her beaming voice

almost crooned, now our Princess

will be her winner hero's queen!

But in some other kingdom, who knows

near or far, on the banks of a river

or in some lion infested jungle?

 

You silly woman, don't you have work,

Draupadi frowned in mock anger,

what work Princess, is there anything

more important, more glamorous and pleasant

than your marriage for me or anyone else

come and see Kampilya is decorated

a bride, a paragon of grace and majesty

to be ravished by a hero's exploits

see the arches of welcome, the domes

of pride and glory, obelisks of royalty

piercing the star studded canopy of the sky,

pillars of filigree fine delight the eyes

Pitchers of gold and ivory sit on them

like decorated breasts of aerial sylphs.

 

Stop I say, I know Father has poured

all gems of the palace  emptying the treasure

to show off, to showcase his splendour

but none thinks of me, poor me must

wait and see and obey  in deep silence

some unknown King or Prince, the lucky

winner of the wager, will be  a hero

and I have to garland him to become

just another prize for his Harem -

No Princess, why do you speak like this

you deserve  Indra from heaven

and we are confident  you will get the

young handsome, heroic, brave and rich

our Draupadi will hold the reins

the entire Aryabarta will obey

what our Princess commands in whispers.