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.