DRAUPADI - XXX

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXX

Who are these sages

wise men and royal advisors

deciding my fate as if I am

a room to accommodate visitors

without ever owning the house!

If I was Nalayani in my last Birth

before fire disgorged me on earth

in this life I have no memory, I know

only this life this fire and air

this earth and water

this void of sound

this sky stars sun and moon

men women crowns turbans

bare heads home to lice

why should Vyasa weave a myth

to justify my predicament

and how could my Sakha

believe in some prophecy

ignoring my dreams and desires?

If I am a plaything of destiny

why do I breathe my frustrations

in unmitigated  impositions

overpowering my being's identity

Or I am none just a breathing doll

to be handled by other slaves

of prehistoric mythic powers

which know only how to curse

prolonging the agony of humans

by repeating birth growth and decay?

 

I have to walk on the lines drawn

fall in the ditches gorges and climb

mountains of prickly pear to fall

again on some bloody bones

before foaming my breath on ice:

Then why do I get dreams of love

wishes desires for my tomorrow!

I have heard of kings and their

harems, polygamous men visiting

their wives whenever it rains.

 

Their adventures are lulled by

untimely snow storms in forest,

but I never heard of a woman

in five beds on five chests.

Squeaking love like the eternal

virgins of some Indra palace

somewhere above the burning stars!

O cursed fate wipe off

the written scripts and let me

speak my dialogue without inhibitions

or promptings, let me be myself.

 

Life is like a bud at dawn

the petals open up in  rhythm

the bloom spreads aromatic truth

of her own existence and at sunset

the petals blacken the flower droops

and falls soundless sometime

in the dark hours without disturbing

other flowers to play out their charm,

I always imagine my life

to bloom to my own melody

which naturally comes to me,

I thought the person I would marry

a noble prince or a man of valour

would be mine alone and I his.

 

What is this quirk of fate

amI a toy to be fondled by five

all different in heart and mind

how can I match them playing roles,

How can my  emotions and Imagination

make adjustments with five tempers

all different in tone and intensity?

And this body of mine so delicate

rise to meet passions mild and wild

so soft and sulky raw and rough?

O Fire my Maker am I sireless

left to my own devices to live

a polyandrous life only in body

dividing it nightly between tempers

like the five elements in strife?

 

Face It

Uncertainty is the challenge: face it

if you cringe in fear

shrink in despair

certainty will not greet you

like an old friend with a shining face,

Do not run away with uncertainty

of distance time and situation

which may pose other challenges

diverting the mind impairing

the will to more restlessness.

 

Facing odds with firm will

finds escape roots for survival

life is a messy course, finally

leading to the end of the tunnel -

call it Mokshya, Salvation

or simply the end.

 

If you fight with mind and body

you may win or lose

but why lose before a fight

you are born to fight only

for every step of your being.

Face it fight it

and if die you must

die with honour.

Sabita Sahu

Sleepless For Sleep

Winter nights make my thoughts

longer without solutions to my pain

dreams have opted out abandoning

my world infested body and mind

I lay numb on the bed of my facts

my children tell me grandma tales

try to make me sleep a few hours

but they sleep around me making it

hard for me to take them to bed.

 

He knows where is the shore

or the shoreless seas of his dreams

I wait like Penelope, my spinning

has stopped, my fingers are frozen

I don't know whether the suitors are

still waiting to glimpse my pristine beauty.

 

What will make me sleep, poison

potions or his return with gifts

of exotic pearls for my hair

an advertisement for new elixirs

my youthful head in memory swings

dethrones me momentarily 

If I was she, who am I  now

still waiting for sleep  wearing

his gifts in his arms!

Sabita  Sahu

Victory

What pleases me

I asked myself?

Sipping my morning tea,

watching the dewy grass,

crimson sun tearing the clouds

or the morning onulom vilom,

I don't know.

 

When I sit down to

take my breakfast,

my mind flies to my

school days ;ringing of the

prayer bell, classroom noise

suddenly gets disturbed

 by the cooker whistles.

 

When I sit at my study

going through Arjun's  vishad jog

I think of my dead father's struggle

my ailing neighbour's suffering

I turn aside the Gita

and turn the pages of

'Alice in the wonderland'.

 

Watching the crescent

moon's struggle to outclass the

clouds in colour and sweep.

The word victory flashes in mind

and my pen flows  to write

VICTORY BE TO LIFE.

 

Victory pleases me

victory in love, life ,career

but in the noises of life

victory's canons fall silent

sights of glory recede

doesn't matter where.

I am here again searching

the undefined resources,

I shall find

the needle in the haystack.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI - XXIX

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXIX

Drupad pacified by the wise

convinced and consoled by all

he held in esteem,  celebrated

Draupadi's marriage with the Five

Princes who turned their status

from recluse to iconic Princes

heir to Hastinapur's affluence.

 

Messengers were sent to Dhritrastra

to give them their due recognition,

festivities continued in Kampilya

till appetites sagged to refrain

from delight to practical basics

Drupad was happy to flaunt Pandavs

his pride and glory now has no ebb.

 

Draupadi didn't  know whether

to wax like the moon or wane

like the lily at dewy sunrise;

she covered her dark innards

with silky smiles and bejewelled glow

but she decided to ask Arjun the victor

not as wife but as  woman

why she should be fifth of herself

when she is whole and handsome!

 

In the winter noon while the court

met informally to discuss further

strategies to meet the Kuru king

and claim Pandav rights

Draupadi searched for a lone moment

to ask Arjun, her true winner

why was he quiet when Yudhistir

rationalised Mother Kunti's casual

routine blessing as the unshakable law?

Did Arjun win me for his brothers?

For Pandavs, for his family name?

Draupadi lowered her head in doubts,

all answers were questions for her

all flowers in Kampilya garden

looked black, colourless and faded

she shook her head in self doubt

all thoughts which seemed to be solutions

became fresh riddles, Draupadi saw

everything as nothing

Arjun appeared in parts 

one fifth of his Gandiv

his body and soul solemn

in the middle of the brothers.

 

Draupadi closed her eyes and walked

at random among the vanishing plants

she stumbled and sat down again

to stumble into her lonely bed.

DRAUPADI XXVIII

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXVIII

Krishna emerged from the sides

great King rash judgement leads

to harsh consequences, its patience

you all need to tide over this moment,

there are things beyond as we are

uncertain of what the future would reveal

the Maker's designs are inscrutable

his history making is beyond human logic

maybe this moment is pregnant with hopes

which we cannot guage as our vision is limited,

hostage to nature's light, there are other lights

that control sun and moon.

 

The lingering shadows disappear when

light is withdrawn, now this is off, unseen

please wait the on moment is not far

let the spirit of the universe decide the course

our wishes may be accommodated

sooner or later now do what you

need to do: But how can my child

be a polyandrous bride, wife to all

five Pandavs, how can I accept that?

When there is  no choice settle for

what the moment yields and respond

with your royal dignity to glorify

what you feel is ignominious.

 

Should I then return broken hearted

kicking my crown to roll in dust:

No King, take them all to your palace

have celebrations for days together,

declare to Aryabarta the Pandavs

are here, the Princes of Hastinapur

have emerged harmless defying

all turns of the dice and they are

now your Sons-in law making you

the richest  Father-in-law on earth.

 

Krishna took Draupadi's hand

Sakhi suck back your sorrow and

make the tremulous drops of your

sparkling eyes the costliest gems

and charge the price on the wicked

the vile elements in fake splendour:

And Sakhi you deserve these five

great souls are for you are vast various

you cannot be confined to the kitchen.

The world is your play field

you will feed the hungry, punish

the vile and give history a turn

for posterity to remember  you

as the woman who dusted false peaks

 -- no don't speak don't cry your fate

you are fated for brighter light

and great heat for you are fire

you will purify the earth sacrificing

your mortal desires; you are a Princess

be a Princess of life to reign:

Go my Sakhi I am with you in your

moments of pride and ignominy.

How can I receive and give

what nature ordains in love!

Draupadi closed her eyes sitting 

on the bed and thought of praying-

whom to pray, I have only one friend

my Sakha who is all encompassing

I couldn't have him as life mate

but hope his wisdom will guide me

in soft sailing life's rock and slime:

she prayed and received intimations

her mind cleared and a smile

spread from lips to breasts and heart

she got back her lost confidence

arose like the moon foaming the waves.

Transcending Death

We die into life in a new form

to resume playing our flutes

striking new chords with our souls

embracing lovers kicking out

the same loved ones

when affections find alternatives.

 

But from birth to death

what remains constant

never goes by cajolement

or abuse which envelopes

a body and mind like

a vengeful lover, in pain.

 

We cry when we are born

we suffer without tears

in the rest of our ventures

in other moods and emotions

trying to overcome pain

but it lingers and

takes us to our pyres.

 

I don't hate you  Pain.

But to love you,

you must relent

and lend me moments of

respite to celebrate life.

 

Sabita Sahu

 

If I Am Wrong

When pain paralyzes me

my lower back sends shock waves

legs swell ruining the Master's shape

I fold my body into a chess board pawn

and throw it in the Municipal drain

for someone to find it and make it

whole again by magic or by his love.

 

You may think I am  a fake

I complain without waiting for the pain     

to make me feel human and ordinary

what's wrong with me you will ask

No, nothing is wrong

only I am wrong the way I am.

 

Body aches mind cracks and  

soul - I do not know if I have one

life has sickened my senses

but its Apps sucking away my secrets

to blackmail me to submission.

 

If I am wrong make me right

if you cannot make me fight

let my coming days be nights

to learn karate out of sights.                                                            

DRAUPAD - XXVII

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXVII

 

The victor and his trophy

walked hand in hand, followed

by the brothers of the hero:

Draupadi could not understand

is she a wife, someone's daughter-in-law

or a prize to be kept on display

in pride and heroic glamour!

 

Why are they silent, walking

on stone and grass to nowhere

all of them rejected Father's offer

If not dowry, let her take some maids

and dress, food, elephants, horses

loaded with Drupad's blessings:

No, the time is not ripe yet

the Elder had said, Krishna too

kept quiet with an enigmatic smile.

 

Finally they stopped at the door

of a shed whose youth was gone

the sun had already set, no moon,

no stars mocked at her body ache

her bridal dress half soaked in sweat

she heard the Elder say, Mother

open up and see what we have:

share it  between you what you have.

 

The voice came from the closed doors

when it opened Panchali saw

a woman of beauty mellowed by

the ruthless temper of vicissitudes

which threaten in uneven ways.

The brothers touched her feet

and said here is our prize

not alms or gifts, a well won treasure:

What  O! What have I done!

 

Kunti shed bitter tears of regret

I didn't know, I thought you were jesting

I too in the same vein said, Share

between you what wondrous thing

you have brought today. O' God

I cannot take back my words for

that would be a betrayal of my soul.

 

Why not Mother, why not said Bhima

Arjun won Draupadi in Panchal king's

swayambar shaming all Princes and Kings

she is Arjun's bride, not rice or dal

we brothers have no right on her: wait

Yudhistira admonished, never have we

disrespected  Mother's words her word

is our command we cannot disobey.

 

Draupadi walked away from the scene

broken hearted, her legs failed her

she sat down on the ashen grass.

The Princess is now going to be a slut

changing arms every night like a slave

her Queenly dreams crashed on her fate.

 

All faces turned to the sound of chariots

mounted soldiers and the din of royalty

King Drupad, Prince Dhristadyumna and Krishna

alighted from three chariots, Draupadi

saw and stood up head downcast, speechless.

 

Drupad shouted, I know you are all

Pandavs and I am happy my daughter

will marry the Prince I chose for her

whom I thought was dead as reported

But what is this I hear, Panchali

will be wife to all five Pandavs!

No that will never happen, Draupadi

is  Arjun's wife else she goes with me

and you are all imprisoned for good.