DRAUPADI - XLV

   

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XLV

The air was warmed by euphoric men

doing King's biddings for kingdom's

honour not as slaves but stake holders

enjoying rowing boatloads of provisions

driving cartloads of food and fodder

carrying songfully bags, baskets,boxes

of imported goodies on their heads.

Raising towers of pride building sheds

guests houses worthy of invited royalty

paving roads planting saplings, fixing

tents for thousand kitchens storing

Yajna materials decorating painting

washing polishing mending felling tying

as though creating an exhibition

of human prowess to the sun moon stars

rivalling Nature's vast display

of order symmetry grace and beauty.

 

At midday Draupadi came out

her elegance dazzling in the sun

she called out all men and women

come one come all my dear citizens

wash yourselves and eat what I

have cooked with love and care and rest

a while and then charm your lives

with pearly sweat drops gliding

from forehead to toe drawing lines

on the glistening bodies reluctant

to fall on the dust and canker.

Draupadi fed them as her own

her variety of tasteful dishes

savoured the senses of honesty

the only virtue of loyal innocence:

Draupadi stood watching till they ate

her face glowed in satisfaction.

 

Meantime invites were received

in almost all corners of the country

messengers were sent earlier by Krishna

with missives of the King to Lanka

Bibhisan, Hanuman and other greats.

The famed heroes of yesteryears

consented to attend honouring Krishna

their presence was requested by Yudhistir

to glorify the Yagna with their blessings.

The other kings of all faraway kingdoms

started their preparation  to meet

sages, kings and people of this hallowed

land of heroes legends of cultural pride

each king with chariots, soldiers, elephants

cartloads of gifts, behoving the occasion

befitting his own dignity was on the road.

Indraprastha decorated as a bride

awaited their arrival with arches arcades

floral reception and cultural showpieces

the Arcadian belles well rehearsed

to perform wanted with great hopes

for gifts of gold and money from kings

of Arayabarta whose sweep and variety

they could never fathom nor visualise.

 

Arjun was seen everywhere

guest houses shelters sheds pandals

checking enquiring ordering for change

if required and also was at rehearsals

of plays concerts dances bowing  to gurus

encouraging the amateurs to work in joy.

 

Bhim moved from the  river banks

to stores and sprawling kitchens.

Humouring the workers helping

boatmen cart drivers in unloading

tons of vegetables fruits cereals

fresh and clean from far off places

at nightfall the youngest Pandavs

Nakul Sahadev made rounds of the city

the surrounding areas, armed to the teeth

on horses of the highest breed .

The King checked and rechecked

the invites issued in order of propriety,

met the sages for advice and constantly

requested Vasudev to solve problems

of money material etiquette protocol

and Vasuedv wearing an enigmatic smile

calmed his nerves and solved complex

issues in his inimitable style.