DRAUPADI - 63

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 63

 

The wintry sun was dull and dim

perhaps tired after relentless duty

for long days in youthful energy

he was like a ball of misty glow

heralding the night before time darkening

the forest in the cold afternoon, the trees

almost in stupor merely nodded welcome

to the twilight, the silence was a crowd

of the irretrievable past invading the

dull present whose future is still born.

Draupadi and all her husbands sat inside

each floating in the dark sea of their

own worlds seeing without meeting eyes.

Their worlds were disjoint decentred

yet real, painfully real - Suddenly

Arjuna stood up - I hear horses -

Yudhistira too heard, all Pandavas went out:

Draupadi calmly listened and could know

the friendly sounds of an advancing group -

 Who could this be ? Sakha!

No, his presence in the forest

would have been a spring breeze

lotus scented enthralling the dead nerves

to dream of an amiable future

but whoever is out there is a friend

maybe this dull evening would lift

the unnerved minds to some hope.

 

The hooves fell silent, a smiling Vidura

alighted from the chariot  his affable

followers guards holding gifts, provisions

moved with joyous steps asserted by

the happy Pandavas, Yudhistira asked Vidura

about mother Kunti and Dhritarastra.

Vidura answered in filial tone,

Kunti is morose but mobile,

the king uncertain of his unsteady steps

has almost dwarfed himself

before Duryodhana and his mentor.

 

Vidura paused at the doorstep

surveying the Pandava abode when

Draupadi came out to touch his feet,

I have no soothing words to bless you my child,

said Vidura, may the Gods protect you all

from seen and unseen dangers -

Draupadi washed his feet

dried them with her anchal

despite Vidura's protestations.

Draupadi ushered him in, saying -

Not a place this where your age and authority

could get your rightful comforts but -  

don't speak. This hut is a palace for the braves

who defy defeat to defend honour.

The breeze here is fragrant with love

the wooden seats are more welcoming

than the throne cushions, your welcome

is heart warming, you have made

the place majestic with your humble grace.

Sit down sons - No, uncle, you first relax

get back your journey lost energy.

I will look after the others said Yudhistira

Draupadi took him inside for a wash.

 

Draupadi cooked with zeal and love

hosting uncle in their forest shelter

with humility and simplicity,

earned his appreciation, the Pandavas

poured all their respect which for Vidura was

a delicious dessert sweet and fulfilling.

After dinner they sat around him:

I came just to see you my children

to know how life's freakish designs have

treated you and how you are coping

with the nets and knives in your combats

I have come as your uncle, not as Minister.

 

Didn't mother wish to come with you?

Asked Bhima, Yes she did my prudence

forbade me not to raise speculations.

But I assure you she is well, yet morose

for the health of the kingdom is

on the decline, we are all restless but

we suffer in cowardly withdrawal waiting

for reviving energy to rejuvenate

and rekindle our hope in political sanity.

 

Uncle! Said Yudhistira you are the wisest sanest

Primeminister of Hastinapur, erudite

and articulate, your scholastic achievements

are unparalleled, why do you cower under

irrational temper and submit to monocracy?

 

Vidura paused looked at the Pandavas

what could the minister do when

the King is allergic to sane advice?

King is not a person

King is a symbol an icon

of public faith, the Crown

on the head of the king represents

responsibility for the people

It's heavy and it cannot be

stolen from the storehouse

of some divine dispenser of power

nor can it be given to one's son

who always uses the crown

as footrest: But Dhritarastra

thinks the crown is an ornament.

He is my elder brother

but I am a mere employee

at his mercy - Only when

he is in conflict, he calls me brother:

he hears me but does not listen.

For if  he listened he would

be conscious of his own illegitimacy,

He wore the crown by default

legitimised it after Pandu,

your father's untimely death.

But law, justice, tradition

do not ratify his Kingship.

An eyeless man has no right

to the throne of a kingdom.

 

A king is not a husband

a king is not a father

he is the husband of the kingdom

father of the entire population.

He keeps them safe healthy

educates them and engages them

for the prosperity of his kingdom:

But Dhritarastra has no eyes,

no vision for Hastinapur

he has only one ambition -

to make his son the king.

This Son love will cost him

and his kingdom a catastrophy,

inevitable and irreraperable.

 

We have warned him but he is

impervious to all sanity

Pitamaha has withdrawn from reality,

I am waiting for I don't know what.

In my love for Hastinapur

I too have lost my sight and serve

the king trying to wake him up.

I know the future is war

so be it, let time run its course,

but my dear children don't make

history hold you guilty for the Death of Man:

And one more thing, leave this place

move to the borders of Kamyak

or a place on the east of Dwaita:

No don't ask, I have information

but I cannot reveal just obey me and go.

Move tonight if you can my men will

place you right at a safer place.

And keep this Vidura gave some coins

and arose to pierce the ghostly night.

The Pandavas and Draupadi broke the hut

the horses and carts were loaded

with what Vidura had brought and they left

not in fear like spineless cowards

but honouring sane advice

to tempt fate for another round.