DRAUPADI - XLII 42

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XLII

THE RAJASUYA HORSE RETURNS

Time moves in its own pace

endlessly unmaking all orbits

as the sun moon and planets

bound to the central Brahmanic Energy

cannot deviate their course

Time too cannot pause for breath.

Human deeds never stain

the bodyless motions of time.

it has no summer no winter

it is untouched by air water

and all elements which cause

life's magnificent theatre

for all those who come and go:

Draupadi after a fire bath

sat in the garden listening to

the horse hooves in all directions

saw the sacrificial horse

raising dust of triumphal march

the sweaty faces of her husbands

shining bright in the climbing sun

meeting kings and collecting crowns:

she bowed to the sun never to set

on her Indraprastha's honour.

 

Indraprastha was unpeopled

as elated eyes waited to receive

the triumphant return of the Yajna Horse

trotting garlanded, soldiers

in self congratulatory ardour beamed

into the city to claps and chants:

victory be to King Yudhistira!!

The king stood in majesty savouring

the scene, the clamour the crowd

eyes surveying the seen

mind purveying the unseen.

 

As was customary I stood by his side

holding the aarati plate yet my eyes

searched for my four husbands

especially Arjun whose romantic

and military exploits foreran

with windy messengers to fill her ears.

Finally they appeared relaxed, happy

at the rear of the noisy procession.

I performed the rituals

greeting the success of all

and when my husbands stood for aarati

after  bowing to King Yudhistir

I put sandal paste, vermillion

on their foreheads,

waved the lamp and incense

towards their proud faces and asked:

What have you brought for me

the Queen your dearest wife?

They looked at each other in silence

Bhim said, we have brought glory

to adorn your crown Yajnaseni

Indraprastha will anoint you -

O that I know , what have you brought

for your wife the woman who waited

prayed and fasted in flesh and blood?

 

Again Bhim said,  say what you need

I'll get it in a trice, Arjun smiled

Is there  anything the queen lacks?

The Aswin's pointed at the Yajna horse

we brought it for you - Draupadi  sighed

come in then, you all must  be tired

have your bath I'll feed you

what I have cooked for you

something you will run miles to eat:

What's that Bhim asked

and other's chimed in

I have Yamuna lotus in Ganga mud

Saraswati sand topped by Gandhar snow

all on fig leaves and for dessert I have

muslin to wipe your hands of shame

for having returned empty handed

after a dark and blank year

to be greeted by the wife of five!

She turned her face and moved back

as the Pandav heroes hung their heads.