Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's
DRAUPADI - XXXVI
Rajasuya
Kingdom is not the Royal Palace
the people are the gods to serve
the palace is for the real servitors
king Yudhistir knew the truth
of service to his people, worked
day and night with his brothers
to expand trade and commerce
bowing to nature's earthly gifts;
Draupadi in all these royal efforts
joined with gyana, karma,
the bhakti of the men
and women
in Indraprastha's virgin expanse.
The Khandav forest was burnt,
no animal, serpent,
bird or beast
escaped the fire supervised by Arjun,
only Taksak the snake king managed
to save itself vowing revenge,
a large forest tract destroyed by fire
became arable, men and women
made it the golden bowl of harvest
from what was a snake kingdom for long.
One day came Narada the yogi
the universal traveller who
always loved intrigue often with
soft lies to engage mortals
in immortal affairs, Narada
told Yudhistir in feigned sorrow
while the Court was in session
he saw the king's father Pandu
at a dusty level near Yama's foot:
Yudhistir and the Pandavs sobbed
the courtiers in formal shock
awaited the sage's further account.
Narada in apologetic tone said
I hesitated to tell you this but
I thought you must
expiate for
your father's Brahminicide to
appease gods and sages and earn
enough merit to elevate Pandu
to a deserving seat in heaven.
Yudhistir stood up hands folded
bowing before Narada's feet
said in tearful voice, O' sage
kindly tell me what to do to free,
father of the curse and ignominy
of sitting at a sinner's place.
Narada in a sober voice consoled
Yudhistir, Draupadi and the brothers
the Expiation is - Perform Rajasuya Yajna
which is your Royal duty and that will
appease the gods and cleanse Pandu
to gain his rightful place in heaven.
Draupadi bowed as did
the Pandavs
and went out alone to her chamber
refusing the maids in a sombre mood.
Half reclining on the bed she thought
is it true what the sages said,
Is there anything beyond nature
the elements comprising our earth
are these the components of heaven
does man go to heaven or hell
as per his deeds in life here
if everything is automatic why
must man make efforts to achieve
why should desires petrify living?
She closed her eyes for a while
the room grew dark despite
Maya's masterly work, snakes
dogs and crocodiles filled the space,
Draupadi opened her eyes with a start
she paced the room her
head
full of snakes and misgivings,
Rajasuya Yajna is a royal duty
for expansion of power and glory
it has Vedic sanctions enriched
by the tradition in monarchies:
But Draupadi was not convinced
if the king is the protector, saviour
moral arbiter of the subjects
he is a servitor not a master.
Her eldest husband is morally good
perfect in humility, he should know
his limits and limitations, why should he
follow this tradition of increasing
power prestige influence to become
the emperor when full prosperity
is far off in his own Indraprasth?
But here he is doing this for atonement
of his father's sins not for personal
ambition to become the Raj Chakrabarti.
Should a king sacrifice peoples well being
prompted by family salvation
whose nature is unclear territory!
What sin what redemption
can the son atone for the father?
Draupadi slowly came out
the maids were dancing singing
victory be to our king - The angels
will shower blessing on our land
we will serve the Emperor of Bharat
they surrounded Draupadi when
their eyes lighted on her - Empress!
But Draupadi's mind was elsewhere
although she too laughed and danced
the would be Empress was cold
O' what fate, how many roles to play!
Well what's wrong to be in the moment
cavorting away time's untimely strings.
