DRAUPADI. XXVI

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXVI

 

 

Draupadi stood up excited

not because the fish eye was

pierced and the test was won

the garland in her hand

has to fall on the victor's neck,

but who is this man, forest dweller

or mendicant renouncer of life

what will he do with me when

he has given up the ways of the world?

 

The Kuru group shouted  'Arjun'

in bewildered fearful voice

when the brahmin walked like

a tiger with sure majestic steps

but she had heard from the king

the Pandavs had an unfortunate end

in the lac house made by

Shakuni's aides to kill the Pandavs:

 

Did they escape and is the  victor

real Arjun, Drupad's dream choice

for a son in law to avenge his shame!

But why did Krishna my dear Sakha

wink at me  swelling with joyous pride

and till this moment he  shouts

at the Kaurabs in hillarious mood?

 

The defeated kings left the hall

the Kaurabs swore to fight and kill

the Pandavs who now in their true

identities were greeted by  Krishna.

Drupad was the happiest and he

declared the contest closed and asked

daughter Draupadi to garland Arjun.

 

Draupadi held the garland of choice

her mind unsteady, heart throbbing

who is this man, how could he be Arjun

and if he is why is he in disguise

but her hands were still, her smile

did not betray the inner forest fire

she put the garland on Arjun's neck

she felt a wave of uncanny thrill

coursing through her entire body

while the celebratory band rang out

to the joy of Panchal king and people

in the large hall in mirthful cadence.

 

Krishna came his face beaming

his smile was inscrutable to Draupadi

when he said be happy my Sakhi

don't filter the joy with doubts

he is Arjun the Archer incomparable

an artist and his love is pure and noble,

now you are ready to fulfil the purpose

for which you came, spread your charm

to conquer and vanquish the dross

with your nobility and feminine magic.

Draupadi looked at him in silence.

The storm inside calmed when he put his

arms on her shoulder and whispered

life is meaningless without challenge

meet it all the way with your truth.

Arjun came held her hand and said:

Princess , come, I will give you life

the living may be hazardous now

but we shall change our fate together.

 

Conches blew vibrating the farewells

the maids, servants especially Alpana

shed copious tears as though they lost

the heart jewel of their existence to

unknown brahmins heroic yet poor

living on alms , how can they take care

of this delicate pearl rare and priceless

when they don't seem to have any address.

 

Chariots were refused by them

nothing but the prize they would take

and walk back from where they came:

Drupad was angry in tears but

Krishna held Drupad's hand and said

let them go, great King, greet your luck 

with open armed ecstasy

I'll tell you how it is all foreordained

let the party leave we must attend to

other hot issues the other Princes may raise

 in their blood thirsty envy.

Death Is The Balm

 

Death comes in diverse ways

some wishful some accidental

but death is inevitable.

I may not like the idea

but do I have a choice?

 

I  too will die one day

but let me not fall from

the Himalayas while

touching the Everest,

the snow will numb my senses

my body will be untraced for days.

 

If fire engulfs me

my charred body cannot be

recognized by even my loved ones

my grace and beauty will be blackened

the pain would be horrendous.

 

I am no Sita the gaping earth

will not listen to my requests-

let go-

If I choose to die - 

Ganga is the best

it will purge all sins and 

take me to heaven to feast on

time space and immortality.

But why should I die

in airless earth

suffocated and crushed.

 

Let me die in the arms of

my love with eyes open

my beauty garnished

or while kissing my grandchildren

for laughing at my wrinkles.

Death must come as a balm of life

after I burnish the edges of 

life with devotional energy.   

Sabita Sahu  

 

 

 

 

 

My Inner Urges

 

I feel my tryings are

not hard enough.

When I concentrate my

mind wanders into trivial things,

heart beats for silly matters,

when my search for the

morning  dew on the drooping leaves

they flow away without waiting for me.

 

I doubt , whether I can't see

or I do not want to see

else I see through a hazy screen.

I know  my sight and mind are not caged

then why can't I join them both

for my inner vision to glow.

 

How now! You tell me

I am in despair

take me to your world or

else kiss my eyes to show

me the way to stab darkness

and illumine my mind and

soul to sing the lyrics of

love and truth in my poetry.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI XXV

    

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXV

 

Draupadi calmly surveyed the gallery

her eyes located Krishna who was saying

something humorous to his brother Balram,

She waited to have Krishna's attention when

a small group of white clad bearded Brahmins

entered distracting the silent order,

the guards seated them but some Princes

the Hastinapur group and others looked at them

as if scrutinizing them for identity.

Suddenly Krishna turned at them, a smile

spread over his handsome face and he winked

at Draupadi raising a finger to the sky

Draupadi could not decipher but understood

the heavens will be kind and merciful.

 

Meanwhile the Princes made fools of themselves

if one could not lift the bow, another

fell while stringing the bow, all great heroes

kings and the great Kaurabs bit the dust

at last Karna walked up and lifted

the bow like a  child picking  a toy but

while Draupadi was fascinated  looking at

Karna's majestic stance, krishna gave

a negative signal with a nod of his head

Draupadi understood and stood up grand.

 

Stop Angaraj you cannot contest

this is meant for Kshyatriya Princes, not for

charioteer son, Drupad too gave the ruling

Karna cannot compete which raised a row

in the Kuru camp, Duryodhan shouted and

Shakuni cried foul, the King of Kashi

asked: who do you want for your daughter

a true heroic archer or a mere Kshyatriya?

But Drupad brought his foot down and

declared no further discussion on the subject.

 

All aspirants came and went, none could

string the bow, none could shoot, frustration

anger and self loathing made the assembly

noisy and unruly when Krishna suggested

to open the competition for anyone who

accepted the challenge, caste no bar -

let Brahmins be allowed:

arguments followed tempers rose to burning point

finally Drupad consulted his advisers

and agreed with a heavy heart.

 

The Panchal king lamented

Is Aryabarta heroless, bragging idiots

only raving and ranting in arrogance.

No, said someone from the Brahmin group

a white dhoti clad young man stood up

his bearded face radiated fiery charm

he bowed to Krishna and said,

if free willed and legal permission

comes from your royal majesty I shall

venture to pierce the eye of the fish

and prove Arayabarta is not heroless, O king

the great Gurur's have not failed yet-

Draupadi looked in half wonder

half rage at the proceedings while

Krishna smiled and winked at his sakhi

as though the contest has been won.

 

But what is this! The Brahmin walked

his steps rhythmic stance heroic

a whisper grew while the Brahmin picked

the bow as if it was a flower garland

he stringed the bow with utmost ease.

A shout came from the Kaurab bench

He is Arjun, none has that assured walk

Shakuni shouted, stop him your majesty

Bhima stood up, started rushing

towards Shakuni defying Yudhistira's

cautioning words, but stopped in his track

when Vasudev raised his hands .

A hubub in the Kuru section grew

Shakuni shouted why a  Brahmin?

Why not Karna, a true disciple

of the great Parsuram.

 

The Kaurabs and their supporters

raised a melee, the Panchal soldiers

rushed to the spot, disarmed them and

tried to keep peace, Dhristadyumna, Drupad

calmed them down and asked Arjun to proceed

the  noise came down to a hush when

with expert hands Arjun pulled the arrow

took aim and shot through the fish eye

all the time watching the shadow on water

a thunderous applause rose up to the sky.

 

 

 

Draupadi - XXIV

    

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

 Draupadi - XXIV

The global assembly of Royals

dazzled with the smartly dressed

Princes, Kings, officers of court,

guards, soldiers, priests and guests

the lamp mast and wheels of light

aesthetically placed at vantage points

shamed the sun moon stars in the skiey dome,

the royal contestants nervously waited

for the arrival of the great host and

his celestial daughter whose beauty

was famed to be matchless in heaven:

and then came the procession of Drupad

to the riotous applause of the kings.

 

Krishna in his peacock plume crown

appeared behind Drupad and Dhristadyumna

and quickly moved to his allotted seat

but all eyes strained for Draupadi

where's she for whom all Aryabarta

kingdoms are kingless, all heroes are

in this beautiful Rangabhumi

where Jasmine and champak musk the air

birds wingless sing a  soft malhar

a monophonic stream beyond the eyes.

 

Drupad rose to speak holding his sceptre

all eyes turned to him when he said

Princes,  Monarchs, Heroes of Aryabarta

scholars, gurus crest jewels of Vedic lore,

honoured guests, well wishers and friends,

architects, artisans, decorators and

lovers of this great kingdom, Welcome!

I bow my head to all who have graced

this function and greet you with all the love

my heart and my kingdom's splendour holds

the auspicious day is for my daughter

my dearest Draupadi's marriage

to the best archer of divine Aryabarta.

 

At the selfsame moment a gong sounded

Draupadi led by her agefellows entered

a blank moment of stunned veenas

unstringed oboes  and unplaited sitars

as though an orchestra stopped countered

by a murmurous melody that charmed the soul

in soft imagined rhythms of divinity. A hush

died in the vast dome in choked reverie.

 

The Royal guests paused their breath

eyes unfocused by the oceanic blue

of Draupadi's dress, the gold shoots

grew in their eyes which could not

meet the smouldering fire of Panchali's

twin suns opening at the assembly

in benign glow subduing their pride:

Draupadi bowed to the thundering applause

her ornaments paled before her stance

her lips, teeth, shapely arms and figure

lighted up the glamorous tone and temper

a soft calm prevailed when Drupad

resumed his words:

Honoured guests as per our condition

already communicated to you all

we shall now begin the contest -

dramatically a well decorated rounded

platform slowly rose from the  grassy lawn

as though the divine architect's magic

unfolded before everyone present there

the grass, flowers, lawn and the fountain

slowly transformed into the test arena

a wheel carrying a fish on top of a mast

well decorated and stylishly proportioned

was moving anticlockwise and at the base

there was a pool of crystal clear water

a mirrory surface of transparent liquid

at a raised rack made of mahogany

a long shiny heavy bow was kept unstrung

the royal audience was mystified

by the design of the structure, the ingenuity

of the test and the challenge of charm and fear.

 

Drupad continued; great Archers!

I welcome you to the contest, the winner

shall be the winner of Draupadi and

shall be honoured as my son- in - law

I now request the Princes to begin-

The Gandhar king Shakuni stood up -

with your kind permission, may I ask

 if the contestants are free to use

their own bows - No! king of Gandhar

that is not permitted, in fact

you will climb this platform without shoes

and perform in silence all the way.

My Time

Morning tea at 7

breakfast at 9

lunch at noon

but what about life

laughter and other nuances

which make living minor

running around  trees

holding a bouquet for the guest

reading Shakespeare

writing to my love at odd hours

and again the same routine

of tea lunch dinner

no...no---no 

where's my time?

I'll break the clock 

burn the calendar

I'll fix my time 

to live and live simply

till my hair goes gre---y ,

for a millennium with my love

to go for my golden honeymoon

near the churchyard of God.

Sabita Sahu

Draupadi - XXIII

   

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXIII

The day came braving

my nightmares fears misgivings

the dawn was a murmuring string

of light, pre sunrise glow and dew

keeping me taut on the bed long.

I heard whispers of animation

fast walking feet and sombre music

raising the Omkar in auspicious chorus

jammed minds of organizers rang up

the solemn welcome of the fateful day.

 

The commanding voice of my father

thundered outside, orders issued

the competition will start at midday

the park, gallery, chairs and thrones

must be ready before the shadow of

 the peepal tree touches the south gate.

 

I sat on the bed hearing hurrying steps

Alpana, Aliva, Sarika  all entered

before I put my feet on ground

lifted me up giggling like school girls

unable to hide their picnic merriment.

 

You are unreasonable, Princess!

You are not a mere woman , you are

Drupad's daughter, Kampilya's Prize

the envy of all high born, all eyes

of Aryabarta are on you and the king

see how the royal tents of visiting kings

have now become a big city, the line

of boats in the Ganga, the carts and mules

never cease day and night carrying

provisions, fruits, vegetables and clothes

from all across this great country,

bards sing everywhere paeans to your beauty

curious villagers and townsmen come fast

from every part of Bharatvarsha -

 

O' I know Prabina, you too have come

from Kashi with your team to make me up

as something exotic, the sight of whom

should make the hands of Princes nerveless

I know but tell me where I'm wrong?

 

The Princes and Kings have come to win me

by their archery skill not to marry me

to live a life of love, amity, friendship:

he who wins can snatch me away and

rightfully so, the victor will claim his prize

and I have to go with him as a trophy

to be displayed with banter to his people

and the prize for an archer, a great hero

must not be a delicate doll, a dumb beauty

loaded with gold and jewellery made radiant

by lotions, pollens and your famed skills

make me the Bride of Fire, no jewellery

no mortal luxuries smeared artfully

make me burn the domed stadium

with the glow I came with straight from fire

the garland should be a ring of lightning

for a true Victor heat should be a balm

not something to recoil from in pain.

 

I know Princess you are no woman born

you are the daughter of Light, a woman

who would change the elemental world,

leave it to me I am sent to create

the true Draupadi with my leafy brushes

I have stardust and sunglow on dew pearl:

Well Prabina show your skills but make me

what I am, the woman not the Princess

or daughter, sister miracle woman

or changer of the fate of Aryabarta.

 

Yes I am the greatest prize for men

let no foolish mortal win me

shooting a winking arrow nonchalantly.

 

The women sang dancing like waves

the sun arose in scarlet splendour

to peep into the Roopshala for a glimpse

of the diadem of grace sublime.

 

The receiving band suddenly played

welcome to Drupad's courtyard,

A piece specially composed for the occasion,

the conches blew, the women sang lyrically

 welcome Vasudev, welcome Krishna

welcome the Prince of Hearts, King of men:

Draupadi's ears craned for more

she too muttered a welcome with a sigh.

Why the Whys

 

If you ask me

I have no answer

to my whys.

All my life I have

waded through swirling why's.

 

Why was Eve chosen by Satan

why did the serpent tempt

her to defy God?

Why Adam and Eve

were punished?

 

Did they defy god

to gain knowledge

and suffer the consequences

of being thrown to earth 

like mortals losing

 their secured immortality?

If god is the father why

didn't he pardon?

 

Why is the sky so high

why clouds float,

why sun rises

why moon shines for

half a month

shall I say all this happens

because of science

or the path of nature

that keeps on changing.

 

Why ignorance is bliss

and why do we seek knowledge

why we nurse ego

why rivalry in the name

of love and oneness

the list may not end

questions change

answers change

but WHY remains unchanged

you may laugh at my

foolish babblings.

There's no logic for your question

and no logic for my answer either.

Sabita Sahu.