DRAUPADI - 66

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 66 

After feeding everyone birds, beasts

and men she sat to eat thinking

how satisfied people are when a

bellyfull meal induces peaceful sleep:

Is man only a belly a body of senses

is there nothing beyond the carnal world?

 

The mind has its own hunger, imagination

its own peaks and precipices different   

from the body's thrills frills and drills.

I eat to charm hunger but what can I do

to charm my rising agony that distracts

makes me sink into the depths of despair!

She washed the pots and pans when

she heard commotion and chants of Shiva!

She paused craning her ears, the chants

grew louder which made the Pandavas alert.

The brothers went outside and saw

the great saint Durbasa followed by

a large group of disciples advancing

towards their hut, Yudhistira and brothers

stood with folded hands to greet and

receive rishi Durbasa whose anger was

legendary for he cursed at the slightest

neglect or disrespect of his stature.

His moods were mercurial, temper

tempestuous judgements  impulsive

and he was always in a hurry 

as his patience was proverbially thin:

Yudhistira took a few steps and fell

at his feet, the brothers all bowed and

washed his feet, Draupadi wiped his feet

with her saree edge in due respect.

Durbasa blessed them profusely, praised    

their honour, valour humility and grace,

after the group was seated, Durbasa said:

we are tired and hungry, cook good food

we'll have our wash in the river

and  return soon to eat and rest.

Durbasa arose with disciples and

left for his bath and prayers       

leaving the Pandavas and Draupadi dazed.

Draupadi ran to the kitchen, searched

for rice; there was nothing; looked for

fruits, there were none, the kitchen was

dry and empty, the pots were like  

voided bowls of the inverted sky

when the stars fall in disgust

to earth's bowels protesting the sun's

domination all over the three worlds.

Draupadi struck her forehead, what fate!

O Sakha how many deaths shall I die

in this daily horror of my existence!!

 

Yudhistira was worried stiff

Bhima went out to get some fruits

Sahadeva said, Brother, this is

Duryodhana's plot, the scheming Shakuni

and the enemies cajoled the Rishi

to ask food for three hundred disciples.

If we cannot feed him he will curse,

The Pandavas may not survive his curse:

I know son said Yudhistira but

we have nothing not a grain,

not a banana - stop worrying

whatever happens accept - suddenly

a racing chariot appeared like

 a cloudmist during a sandstorm.

Yudhistira's eyes brightened when Krishna

alighted and greeted the brothers:

Hey brother! You are here, I searched

for you in the old place, where's Draupadi,

he went inside in a tearing hurry.

Yudhistira wondered at his odd demeanour

His ways are strange but how

has he come alone, no guards

no weapons; Is he on a mission -

Well he knows what he does; Nakula

it's time for the rishis to return

what shall we do? What can we feed them,

we will lay prostrate at their feet

and apologize for our inability

to quench their hunger and thirst;

after that if he curses in anger

we'll accept it as our bad luck.

 

Sakhi, Sakhi, Sakhi  I'm famished

feed me your best Drupadnandini!

Draupadi sprang to her feet from her

worry worn posture in a jerk: You

How --- when you came Sakha without

any indication  - O Sakhi, stop these

questions and feed me, I am hungry!

Draupadi's eyes leaked in profuse shame

I have nothing to give you, nothing at all

Durbasa and his train are on us

to ruin our future - O Sakhi  I am hungry

give me something: He lifted the pot

It's empty Sakha I have washed it - No

here is a grain Sakhi, let me eat it;

Krishna ate and running his hand

on his belly said O I am full,

you have saved me Sakhi - Now tell me

why did you call me? I came flying

leaving everything to time's mercy.

Draupadi wiped her eyes in wonder

you know Sakha tell me how to feed

the rishis who may come any moment!

Come Sakhi let's talk to elder brother. -

 

While taking his dip Durbasa felt

a tremor in his body and mind -

What am I doing, I have fallen

into deceit, I am now an instrument of evil

working for Duryodhana's agency -

Why should I torture the innocent Pandavas?

How can they feed hundreds of us

when they are deceived into penury

losing their royal bearing, are now

languishing in the forest bare bodied

how can I mortgage my wisdom to evil?

 If I am an enlightened sage I cannot

stoop to villainy to flatter Duryodhana.

Durbasa took another dip when he got up

he was at peace, his belly was full

his world and mind had an illumination:

He said, dear disciples let's now -

No Gurudev we are not hungry for we feel

satiated, we get the scent of the divine.

Well then, said the Rishi, let's bless them

and go our way to heal

the bruised victims of blind egotism.

 

Krishna questioned Yudhistira's apathy

to life's malignant barbs saying,

brother don't think this world rewards

the good if the good looks up the sky

in idle expectation, good must prove

itself time and again by deeds and

when evil tramples your good must

fight back and snatch from the jaws

of evil its own place in earth's bosom.

 

The rotten mangoes fall, the ripe

tasty fruits must be plucked

by desire and Karma, only the

crippled wait for things to happen.

The strong and good make things happen

brother Yudhistira now prepare at least

to show you are capable, you are strong

otherwise Duryodhana will rob your life

and throw it in the dump yard of time.

Yudhistira and the brothers bowed,

Yudhistira said, if you are with us Vasudeva

 these years of painful life will fortify

our resolve, we shall now prepare

for the final encounter with evil.

 

The Pandavas crouched in fear

what can we feed them

destitutes as we are,

they lay prostrate at Durbasa's feet

in true reverence: Rise up Yudhistira,

we are not hungry,

your truthful ways have filled us

with extra worldly energy and

we are fortunate in having a darsan

of Krishna Vasudev, we are all blessed.

Vasudev knelt down and bowed

Draupadi touched Durbasa's feet

all the rishis sprinkled water

on the bowed heads and the sage

blessed them all - your days of

horror will end soon, may you all

see brighter days and get back

what is yours, remember

bad times purge your soul to enjoy

the bliss of good to do good to others.

 

They left chanting slokas of peace

Krishna smiled at Draupadi - See

a sage's thoughts are not in the belly

go now pave the way for your

future to walk on benign soil.