DRAUPADI - 54

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 54 

Evil's First Step

Vidura entered the Kuru court

straight from his dusty chariot

King Dhritarastra, Yuvraj Duryodhana

Karna and the curious seniors

Bhisma, Drona were all eyes and ears

when Vidura said great king - What?

Why do you pause speak up,

Duryodhana expressed his impatience. -

Great king I was welcomed by Pandavas

with sincere cordiality, the Emperor

Yudhistira and his brothers read the missive -

O' cut the crap what was their answer

Duryodhana shouted: Be civil Prince

if you want only the answer well

Emperor  Yudhistira has accepted our

invitation to play dice in our palace:

Shakuni, Duryodhana and karna

said gleefully - Bravo! The best piece

of news in Hastinapur after long years!

Dhritarastra asked Vidura, Will he

come with my other sons! O' I am so

happy, come Vidura take your seat.

Vidura sat his face betraying misery

Bhisma too was thoughtful and glum.

This news doesn't portend well, Son,

the dice has ruined people. Dice is a

thin layer over deceptive pits, you

gain nothing win nothing save your ego:

Duryodhana stood up your duty was to

get the news not to wax eloquent on

hypothetical consequences and fear mongering.

Vidura said, your tongue has never

tasted the sweetness of truth, you excel

in  chest thumping arrogance - Quiet!

Shouted Dhritarastra, Yudhistira has

accepted our invitation, I thank him

I  am eager to meet with the Pandavas

the game will  be played here in our

presence and it must be all in good humour -

Your majesty, Vidura said, fun is fine

but when stakes are high all humours

dry up, fun possesses the mind to drive

funny indiscretions into all moral sanity.

What will history record? The royal court

was a gambling den, two kings - Stop!

Vidura it's a royal practice,  a ritual

the barbarism you insinuate is false;

I do not insinuate your Majesty, I urge

if it is your will I have nothing to say.

Vidura sat down in total despair, the king

Dhritarastra pronounced the final word

the game will be played to cement our

relationship with the Pandavas,

Duryodhana and Yudhistira are my sons,

I want them to prosper together.