Another Dawn

When the dawn raises

the curtain of night

the scarlet sun shines

for another day's world

to reveal new dimensions of life.

 

The world moves with its motion

some questions remain unsolved

some are buried and some move on.

Yet memories of yesterday's

crane their necks and meet

their fate like the previous night.

 

I wish I had a chance to

relate my dreams, desires and ideas

of my soul and mind where each

dawn would usher a new life

erasing the dumbness.

But here I see the hearts are burning

minds are in fumes

protectors turn destroyers

days and nights are unconnected

where freedom is surrendered

love becomes a business deal

how can my free soul accept this?

I reject to own such a new day

a new world a new life.

Sabita Sahu

 

DRAUPADI - 52

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 52 

The dull afternoon sun was hazy

lifeless cloudlets in slow motion

made the skyface an ugly brown

Draupadi after supervising  a food camp

in the forest of Ranikhet

rode the chariot to return to the palace.

The guards in full bellied drowsiness

followed eager to reach home by sunset.

Suddenly a wind   arose hissing and swishing

like a gale as though the forest spirits

laughed challenging the empress to take

her chariot above the gushing winds:

stop said Draupadi her long hair

flowing like a wet jet black stream,

her voice almost blown away by the wind

stop, this fury of the wind is mocking us

testing our patience, poor thing doesn't know

it will dissipate in sheer exhaustion

of its own fury running its course.

Enjoy the wind's wrath blessing it

a longer life of purpose benign and

short lived to give more to inflame

our passion to create small joys

out of our infinite miseries.

The wind subsided Draupadi tied her hair

the chariots moved the sun was low

but golden in his farewell stance.

 

The Moya palace rose into the evening sky

as a resplendent tower of  beauty

The lamp design of a flying eagle

with wings of light flapping grace

was seen around kingdoms and villages

as a venerable shrine of majesty

order, justice, discipline and peace

where the high priest was Yudhistira

performing rites of human glory.

 

Draupadi lit the lamps

in her prayer room and sat

in silent contemplation to control

her thoughts to ratify her feelings

for men women in palaces and homes.

Krishna her Sakha appeared before

her shut eyes, she raised automatic

hands in bowed surrender to him

Man, God, Friend for shaping her destiny:

she arose in languid grace

when she heard joyous greetings

in voices of true delight.

 

She came out in a hurry

when Nakul the handsome

met halfway and said Vidura,

our venerable well wisher has come.

You must go and greet him -

Mahatma Vidura has come! O' this

twilight visit portents what

I do not know but the star symmetry

is definitely broken - Well let's see!

She almost ran to Vidura's presence

and bowed to him reverentially

much to the delight of the wise Minister.

Bless you my child may you bring

peace and joy to this intemperate land.

 

Yudhistira asked him about the  king

his father Dhritarastra, Kunti

enquired about Gandhari and Hastinapur

Vidura sighed, I wish I could tell you

heaven's blessings smile on Hastinapur.

The king, the Prince Duryodhana, Gandhari,

all take good care of the people and kingdom

but things are not what they should be:

Now Sir you please refresh yourself.

I will show you your room sir

the other guests, soldiers have

already been taken care of by Nakula

please come, speak to us at dinner.

 

Draupadi served him carefully

prepared items to the Mahamantri

Uncle Vidura, with love and respect.

Her husbands and mother Kunti too

showed their humble respect to please

the sage Vidura whose wisdom and

administrative acumen were famous

his judgment though was always correct

and he never minced words, called

a spade a spade to honour Truth.

 

The Karauvas naturally never liked

his moral uprightness and straight talk,

Vidura was pleased and full, he

almost requested the host to stop:

"Daughter Draupadi", don't overcharge

my age and ability, let there be

some space for water - everyone

laughed and they arose to wash

their hands and retired for the night.

 

Next morning when the Emperor's

court was in session Vidura entered

and was received by Yudhistira gracefully

Vidura sought the Emperor's permission

stood up to narrate the purpose of his visit:

Emperor Yudhistira, Empress Draupadi

the great Pandavas Bhima, Arjuna,

Nakula and Sahadeva, Ministers courtiers

and Kulgurus, Saints and others present here

I am here with the missive of king Dhritarastra

to invite the Emperor for a game of Dice

to further cement our familial friendship,

natural bond and bonhomie to strengthen

our relationship in brotherly bonds, trade

politics and military neutrality for peace.

The king wishes the Emperor, his family

the people of Indraprastha  prosperity

happiness and perpetuity of bloodline.

If Yudhistira accepts our invitation

and comes for a week with family and friends

Dhritarastra, Duryodhana and mother Gandhari

will be gratified playing host to Arayabarta's

greatest emperor and his heroic brothers:

Yudhistira stood up bowed to sage Vidura

and said, I most humbly thank you

and the king our father for this invitation.

What greater pleasure can there be then

visiting our home again for a pleasure trip

also to play dice which is symbolic of

amity strategic friendship and formal joy.

Tell the king our father I accept - May I

Bhima stood up, asked who will play against

Emperor Yudhistira since Dhritarastra has

no sight or vision and where will it be played

for form demands a public game -

Yuvraj Duryodhana will play, said Vidura.

The game shall be played in the Royal Hall

in the presence of Grandfather Bhisma

and all the dignitaries of Hastinapur,

nearby kingdoms, presided over by Dhritarastra.

 

Draupadi fidgeted in her throne

she knew Yudhistira will never say no

to a game of dice but is it prudent -

Arjuna asked, respected sir, Dice

is always played between equals

How can a Prince play with an Emperor?

Duryodhana will play for the king:

Yudhistira assured Uncle Vidura, he and

his family will be at Hastinapur

before the moon wanes next week.

 

 

 

 

Unplanned Journey

We have no choice to make

we come at someone's will

go at someone's will 

no matter what we do 

or choose not to.

 

Those who submit themselves

surrender to the commands

seemingly heard at nightfall

sing dance and play cymbals

in a high on - Marijuana or

something which is pure white

like god's conscience, they betray

their own will and conscience

console themselves - well this is faith.

 

But those like me who ride waves

fly kites at windy skies and

whisper love to video beams

sipping fruit juice never know

what the other peace or joy is

nor do they know the road they take

leads to New York or Beijing:

why should they be conscious of actions

which the mind wills at moments

matching them out of turbulent times?

 

I live, I just am, I think

I do and turn away: Is it not enough

in this journey from the womb to the grave?

Sabita Sahu.

 

DRAUPADI - 51

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 51 

Hastinapuur

Meantime in Hastinapur

Yuvraj Duryodhan in mad fury

made the palace impassioned, hot.

Rising from singeing embers

of insult which Draupadi's taunts

at his blind fall into illusive waters

in the Moya Palace of the Pandavs

had pierced his heart to make him sink

into self loathing.

Since his return from the Rajasuya

he was a stranger to himself

and his friends advisors confidants

the infamous trio Shakuni:

the Gandhar king whose one and only

aim in life was to avenge his sister's

marriage to blind Dhritarashtra,

not by choice but by Bhisma's power push

Gandhar had to submit in fear.

But Shakuni suppressing his ire

by devious smiles banked on his

crooked dice nursed vengeance with patience.

Karna by a quirk of fate grew up

with foster parents, father being

a charioteer the son wanted to become

a chariot warrior for which he hid

his class identity before Parshuram

to gain his discipleship to learn

from the most powerful war expert.

When during the convocation display

of the royal disciples of Guru Drona

Karna entered to challenge Arjun

Drona's prodigious disciple in archery

he was denied participation for his

caste; Duryodhan had balmed his shame

by declaring him the king of Anga

thereby buying his loyalty forever.

Karna true to his words never

wavered in his allegiance to the Kuru Prince.

Moreover Karna smarted by

Draupadi's insult at her Swayambar

and silently wearing it in his heart

was a part of Duryodhan's coterie.

 

Shakuni found an opportunity

to advance his machinations

after  his Jatugriha and other failures.

He crackled his dice and laughed:

Nephew dear I know how it pains

to see your enemy ride roughshod

over your snobbish virtues nourished

with royal care  and clenched vengefulness.

It was that woman's laugh at your fall

which ignited the suppressed jealousy

which the Pandav pomp and ostentation

had already given us heart burns:

but son shedding lonely  tears and

deflating your nerves is not the way.

You sink further in your agony

and lose all energy to gloomy stupor:

 

There is no other way Uncle save

resignation or suicide to escape

this hell fire in my ribcage.

O my great nephew you wear

a heart of flint fireproof and dark

never shall despondency touch you

when your Mama's dice still sings

the Pandav dirge in variegated rhythms.

Now listen to me pay attention to Mama

this dice in my hand has a mystic charm

obeys my command as the charmed cobra

all soft gold beautiful gives a lush bite

when the master plays the signal tune.

No hiss no fuss just follows the signature:

If I call six or Kali it surfaces.

Like a dolly with elegant purity -

but what has dice to do with me

my doleful soul is sinking and you -

Aha, wait my son, this dice will give

the balm to our wounds and disaster

to Pandavs, their pomp will roll

on helpless dust for you to trample on:

Go my nephew ask your father the King

to invite the Emperor the great Yudhistir

for a game of dice which they avoided

after the Rajasuya deviating from

tradition form and royal practice:

bring Yudhistir to Hastinapur and leave

the rest to mama's skillful hands.

 

But the king the wise Dhitarastra

may not agree for chausar in the court.

The erudite moralist Vidura

may artfully convince the king against it -

Said Karna looking doubtful and sceptical.

Moreover Mama chausar is evil, it may -

No Angaraj, chausar is the battlefield

where Yudhistir will fall face down

with penury and slavery mocking him

and his brothers, Shakuni gloated kissing the dice.

Then rush my nephew make your father

agree to invite Yudhistir and I will

give you everything with these bones

you ever desired and win back

your lost pride by sweet revenge.

I will change the fate of Arayabarta

with my vengeful bones and you and I

shall reign over earth water and sky.

 

 

 

Benign Light

O' light of my soul

burn your brightness

in beauty and honour

to illumine what in me

is dark and banal.

I am a foolish child

without you Mother!

I will die if you

turn away to your world.

 

I always make demands

to get back for a moment only

for my lost days in perdition,

take me to your garden O god

plant me as a tree for shade

I have nothing to gift you

except the unrequited love

and time to nurse you.

 

All  my life I prayed  to hold you

however short the moment may be.

Today I give you all love

maybe joyless, dark

but whatever is left for you

shine on it with your benign light.

Sabita Sahu.

 

 

DRAUPADI - 50

   

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 50

Life Turns a Leaf

 

Empress Draupadi stayed away

from the durbar much to the displeasure

of emperor Yudhistir, when questioned

she said, I am not a decorative piece

to sit sealing my mouth, when I

have work to do in your vast empire

organizing people for purposeful activities.

A frowning Yudhistir said, look here

you are  now the Empress your empty

throne  in the durbar raises eyebrows

unsavoury murmurs reach my ears

I fail to satisfy the courts curiosity.

If the prestige of the court so demands

I'll attend all important sittings but

kindly permit me to visit places,

meet people, that too is important Emperor

for we are here to serve people

not to receive  their service only.

Draupadi bowed and left slowly

leaving Yudhistir to his indignation.

 

Draupadi's chariot was followed by

three other chariots full of guards

she was to meet a group of villagers

from ten villages at an appointed place

she had sent an advance party with

food clothes and other provisions.

She was making people aware of life

and the challenges which the poor villagers

faced in their routine encounters

with the multifarious demands of Reality.

 

You are at no one's mercy

you are free souls to ignite

the energy inbred to

illumine your lives in your work field,

home and society.

There is no such thing as

Prarabdha^*, and if there is one

you do your utmost  in this life

to transcend it by work

whatever pleases you and

whatever engages your spirit.

Live your life baggage free.

 

If you are a farmer produce more

If you are a carpenter

create new designs.

If you are in business

move to other kingdoms with your wares.

Produce sell and buy in honest trade

and remember to do anything in life

you need to learn things hence

education is primal in life,

each village must have a school

contribute to raise a good building

for the education of your children

improve your speech - and all these

can be achieved if you are fearless:

A farmer asked how can we

be fearless when hunger burns

want dissipates our strength

mind always fears calamities?

 

Draupadi smiled a rasping breath

paused and said yes life is fearful

uncertainties and wants stalk humans.

Therefore we must keep fear away

by knowledge hard work alertness.

Fear is ignorance dark and eerie

drive it away by the light of knowledge

and always love fellow humans

in family village and society

love will give you strength infinite

to struggle strive to soar heights

not to surrender to hunger and fright.

Treat your women as equal partners

work study and dream for honours.

 

And you women you are not meant

for the kitchen and house keeping

make your home vibrant but your soul

must emit light to brighten others.

The Royal council will give you

all help for schools, skill centres

also to promote your  products

but you should work without wasting

an hour - for that reduces your longevity

in ruinous gossip and small talks.

Above all  keep yourself clean

keep the environment clean

and help your children grow healthy.

 

 

 

 

My Destringed Lyre

  

If I were Orpheus

I would have destringed my lyre

silencing it forever.

When I sang of love

my lyre danced

rhythms of the world

apart from the old familiar

feelings, trees, vegetation

even birds and animals closed

the world on their ears

listening to the strings of my heart.

 

But when my love died

and  the underworld

call it heaven or hell

denied me entry

my voice in tremulous cadence

created starless nights

dewless leaves in cracked notes,

people ran away from me

I was stoned.

 

Should you only enjoy

the lustre of life

and not the grim pallor

of dark silence?

What is my lyre for

only tickling sensations

erotic heat.

Is life only the body 

only for gains and orgies

why then dark clouds

and the rising smoke

from the burning bodies

distract us into stasis?

 

Day and night ebb and tide

love and separation complete life.

If my lyre cannot raise

the dome of glory

the sepulcher of death

I will have none of it.

 

But my destringed lyre

will move you to completeness

of your being.

 

 

 

DRAUPADI - XLIX - 49

  

 Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XLIX

Kauravs being in the family

lingered their departure

hiding their jealousy in dubious words

of praise for the grandeur

of the event, the lavish feasts

affable service to guests.

The sombre yajna completed with

spiritual purity of Vedic norms:

Yudhistir thanked them for their

cooperation and noble presence.

 

Duryodhan met Draupadi when

she was supervising the gifts

with  a smile painted face he said

what are you giving me Empress?

A bowl of honey with star bubbles-

what will I do with that give me

something to remember you in bed -

then take my naked bones for memory

so saying she flashed a toothy smile.

Take this for your bed time fantasy

the Empress bestows this grace.

 

Miffed Duryodhan rushed out

in a huff through the glassy halls

The sparkling marble floors of

aquamarine work illusory sea blue

made him blink and stagger

but he mistook a real pool for

crystal illusion and fell into it

with a splash making Draupadi laugh

in gay abandon derision unhidden,

What Yuvraj Duryodhan how could

you fail to discover illusion from

reality, come up dry yourself

this will be a grand bed time memory:

Duryodhan was mad in anger

wild with fury his self image drowned

he vowed revenge grinding

his teeth, his own naked bones.