DRAUPADI - 74

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - 74

 

Those who waited for the dawn were confused,

the birds shrieked on the trees

the temple bells did not ring, priests looked up

the sky for the sun to appear but the sky

the vast spread of void

in dark befuddled agony

hung on men and women as a murky shroud

causing fear of doom.

Sudeshna, Virat and the palace ran around

in fear and shock, who could kill Kichaka?

Soldiers in that infernal darkness searched

all possible places for the enemy lurking

in shadows, may be for another attack:

Sudeshna calmed them all - Arrange for

funeral, it's the work of the Divine

let humans do their duty to honour the dead.

 

The Pandavas were alert, Draupadi

confined herself to her room after

a public show of sympathy and concern

over Kichaka's violent death.

Kanka advised king Virat not to panic

lest the enemies attacked Kichakaless

Matsya exploiting a weakened kingdom:

But the king received shattering news

messengers reported a massive army

is at the borders led by Bhisma, Drona.

Duryodhana has stolen all the Matsya cows,

another messenger hurried to Virat's

presence giving another bitter shock

Trigarta has attacked the kingdom Sire!

 

Sickly Virat in nervous excitement

looked appealingly at Kanka and called

his ministers and military officers;

Kanka held Virat's hand and said, O' King

when you have Vallav in your palace,

you should go to war with Trigarta.

Who! Vallav, the cook?

 Are you out of your mind?

War is not a kitchen art -

I know trust me

one Vallav will destroy the Trigarta pride.

You will know who he is, now

time is at a premium, go king

and laurels will meet you half way:

Virat moved with his generals

the palace drowned in gloom

prayed for respite dumb and numb.

 

Who will save us from the Kuru Army?

The wailing grew as the sun winked

a ray of light, the young Uttar kumar

dressed in battle gear bravely said:

no more panic, I'll fight the Kurus

get my horse ready and be quiet.

Sudeshna clasped her full panoplied

brave son and cried bitterly - No

my eyes and ears, you are only a boy

how can you stand before Bhisma's

shafts, Duryodhana's mace, Karna's arrows!

No my son let Matsya sink to hell

I'll not leave you for the maws of death.

Don't make a coward of Prince Uttar,

I beseech you My queen let the Prince

go to the front but with Brihannala -

Draupadi stood before Sudeshna

her flowing hair and blistering eyes -

If Brihannala is with him Indra's thunder

will fall like broken arrows at the

feet of Prince Uttar, let the Prince go

to earn heroic glory to crown

his tender head - But Brihannala!

Are you so witless Sairindri to send

a woman to protect my boy from Kuru fury?

Yes madam, Brihannala was with

Arjuna as charioteer for some time,

he knows the art of war, believe  me

let the Prince go, I assure you he will

come back with honours to swell your heart.