DRAUPADI -53

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 53 

The moment Vidura left

apparently worried which

Draupadi saw in his forced smile:

Draupadi asked, how could you agree

for a dice game in Hastinapur?

I admit it is a ritual in Rajasuya

but in your own palace as a formality

to establish noble vibes and moral power.

The Vedic belief has perpetuated this

in the Rajasuya but have you forgotten

what Krishna said when the proposal

came from the Kuru princes and

how he evaded it and dissuaded you

quoting what the crest jewel of sages

the wise Vyasa had predicted about you:

that you, Yes my husband, you Yudhistira

shall be the cause of the extinction

of the Khsatryas after thirteen years.

 

Bhima interjected, is there any

guarantee you will win, if you lose

you can imagine the consequences.

Arjuna said the fickle dice has never

faced up prosperity or peace

it leads to war and ruin: Enough

Yudhistira almost shouted, leave me

I cannot dishonour father Dhritarastra.

He has invited us with filial love

moreover I am a king I cannot

reject the invitation of a king

who is our father, a figure we grew up with

now go and prepare for the visit.

 

The brothers went severally, Yudhistira

fastwalked his conflict to his room

Draupadi stood hesitant for a while

then walked heavy footed to her chamber.

 

Draupadi was restless in the bed.

How could he agree, Vidura

himself was not pleased when

Yudhistira said yes he accepted

the invitation for the dice game.

Vidura's eyes paled in disappointment,

his smile was not organic,

his words, towards the end lacked vigour

he was pained inside, Draupadi

certainly saw the hurt in his eyes.

Draupadi changed sides, but

she must do something -  what

what can she do to convince

Yudhistira of the hell hole ahead?

Dice means Kali, the zero

the lowest in the scheme of things

Krita, Treta Dwapar and Kali

the dice board has traps

squared for  Kali's mischief.

Yudhistira is so wise and so foolish

to walk into the trap -

What invitation is this? For gambling?

That too in the court the royal

audience clapping the victor and

laughing away the loser? No

she must stop him even if

she incured his wrath. She got up

changed her dress and in  slow

but firm steps moved towards

Yudhistira's chamber wearing a smile.

 

I know why you are here, said Yudhistira.

I know you know why I am here

I am here to remind you of Jatugriha

Have you forgotten that, have you

forgotten the humiliation in the forests?

The dice invitation too is a trap

you are the Emperor of Aryabarta

your glory shines everywhere,

people adore you, pray for your long life: Why?

Because they have faith in your nobility

your sense of justice your equanimity

your love of truth and tireless service.

What will people think when they see you

gambling in another kingdom leaving

Indraprastha to indifferent officials?

 

Come nearer Draupadi sit by my side

think again, you know dice is always

played by the royals, it is form and ritual,

how could I not go when my elder father

invites me through his wise Minister,

my grandfather, how could I insult

them by rejecting such an invitation?

 

I agree the formal logic holds

but should Yudhistira the Dharmaraja

not rise above such ritualistic evil

which has ruined families and kingdoms?

You are so wise how do you not see

the intent behind this dice invitation?

Can you ever trust Duryodhana?

And his mentor director  Shakuni?

What my Sakha Krishna Vasudeva did

by killing Kamsa, Jarasandha and

setting you up as the Emperor would be

smashed by one call of dice.

 You now have the support and loyalty

a hundred  thousand kings respect you

Krishna made the kings free of tyranny

exploitation and fear

vesting all hope on your administration

impartial justice and magnanimity.

But this dice will paint you black

anyone can say the great Yudhistira

cannot make things happen by his judgement

meticulous work and confidence,

he depends on chance, the deceitful dice

to change his fortunes - Stop

cried Yudhistira, don't excite my patience

your words are poisoned, a vituperative

stream of skewed logic to divert

my course: I have given word I cannot

be a break promise moron.

I'll go. You too shall come

sealing your lips with prudence. 

 

Draupadi calmly walked out,  her eyes

darkening with gathering clouds.