DRAUPADI - 71

   

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 71

Virat's Palace

 

King Virat was weak willed and sickly

his authority in administration was usurped

by Kichaka, Sudeshna's brother, strong and wild.

Virat wore the crown Kichaka wielded the sceptre

his word was law, his decree was final, the Palace

ran to his whims, his lust, his orgies were

tolerated rather provided for by the King and Queen.

Without Kichaka  Virat was a cipher, his kingdom

was Kichaka's gift, hence the king was quiet,

took to the dice board as kingdom substitute.

And now happy to have Kanka as advisor

in his dice wars with the world to overcome

his inner conflicts over debased selfhood.

 

Draupadi in the simulated comfort of the palace

missed her five sons, they must have grown

handsome boys in the care of Sakha Krishna

must be learning all arts and skills fit for Princes

but poor me, I couldn't see their growth,

couldn't teach them mother's alphabet

and the thousand nuances of princely

temper admonished by my stern care to

blossom in integrated civility. 

They couldn't feel  their father's affection

never knew what parental home was

which people need in the human world.

And my Abhimanyu, Arjuna and Subhadra's son

how lucky he is to get mother's love

he too missed his father's heroic affection.

Draupadi's motherly heart sank in sorrow

tears flew in silent sobs, her legs failed,

she sat down and wept long -

Sairindri! called Madhulekha, Princess

Uttara and  Queen Sudeshna have sent

for you, go to the queen's chamber fast.

Draupadi wiped her face, rose smile painted:

life doesn't stop in tear floods.

 

When you are so comely, your mistress

the Empress of Aryabarta must be angelic

in beauty, majestic in bearing, confident

in authority and lavish in royal charity.

Tell me Sairindri, said eager Sudeshna

how was she as your mistress what did she

serve her five husbands and how could she

keep five heroes together without discord -

Madam, I was a mere maid, I have no mind

to penetrate the inner chambers of the Queen.

All I know is what I saw

she was a blue lotus in the morning

a lily at nightfall,  purple and pulsating at night.

Yet she was free in spirit like the air

carrying the flowers and trees and musk

to awaken sunken souls to lively bloom,

she spoke music she walked like a Royal Swan,

she gave unasked without discrimination -

Ah! You speak poetry Sairindri, you -

No Madam, I speak her language after

so many years of closeness you turn

phrases like my mistress who befriended

and poured herself out to me in all

seasons of her mind's drought and flood.

 

Draupadi's routine was to pluck flowers

at sunrise, string garlands for deities

attend puja rituals with the Queen

and other errands of the royals whenever

commanded, she moved like lightning

brightening all faces, her make up for

Sudeshna and Uttara were eyefilling

yet tasteful new, not new fangled.

Draupadi kept everyone happy, cheerful

at her efficient promptitude, the busy bee

humming tunes to make the inner chambers

resonate with novelty and charm

as though life's balance is calm redolent.

 

One day the Queen asked, Sairindri  you have

long hair reaching beyond your thighs

why don't you never oil them, why not

tie them with flowers - Madam

I'll do that when the Pandavas get back

their legitimate dues and I become myself

that is when I rejoin Queen Draupadi

as her other self in shadeless glamour.

Madam when the mind is humourless

the body is a lingering shadow, the glow

glamour of the world evade laden eyes.

Draupadi ran away to her chamber

Sudeshna looked pitifully in silence.