Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's
DRAUPADI - XLV
The air was warmed by euphoric men
doing King's biddings for kingdom's
honour not as slaves but stake holders
enjoying rowing boatloads of provisions
driving cartloads of food and fodder
carrying songfully bags, baskets,boxes
of imported goodies on their heads.
Raising towers of pride building sheds
guests houses worthy of invited royalty
paving roads planting saplings, fixing
tents for thousand kitchens storing
Yajna materials decorating painting
washing polishing mending felling tying
as though creating an exhibition
of human prowess to the sun moon stars
rivalling Nature's vast display
of order symmetry grace and beauty.
At midday Draupadi came out
her elegance dazzling in the sun
she called out all men and women
come one come all my dear citizens
wash yourselves and eat what I
have cooked with love and care and rest
a while and then charm your lives
with pearly sweat drops gliding
from forehead to toe drawing lines
on the glistening bodies reluctant
to fall on the dust and canker.
Draupadi fed them as her own
her variety of tasteful dishes
savoured the senses of honesty
the only virtue of loyal innocence:
Draupadi stood watching till they ate
her face glowed in satisfaction.
Meantime invites were received
in almost all corners of the country
messengers were sent earlier by Krishna
with missives of the King to Lanka
Bibhisan, Hanuman and other greats.
The famed heroes of yesteryears
consented to attend honouring Krishna
their presence was requested by Yudhistir
to glorify the Yagna with their blessings.
The other kings of all faraway kingdoms
started their preparation
to meet
sages, kings and people of this hallowed
land of heroes legends of cultural pride
each king with chariots, soldiers, elephants
cartloads of gifts, behoving the occasion
befitting his own dignity was on the road.
Indraprastha decorated as a bride
awaited their arrival with arches arcades
floral reception and cultural showpieces
the Arcadian belles well rehearsed
to perform wanted with great hopes
for gifts of gold and money from kings
of Arayabarta whose sweep and variety
they could never fathom nor visualise.
Arjun was seen everywhere
guest houses shelters sheds pandals
checking enquiring ordering for change
if required and also was at rehearsals
of plays concerts dances bowing to gurus
encouraging the amateurs to work in joy.
Bhim moved from the
river banks
to stores and sprawling kitchens.
Humouring the workers helping
boatmen cart drivers in unloading
tons of vegetables fruits cereals
fresh and clean from far off places
at nightfall the youngest Pandavs
Nakul Sahadev made rounds of the city
the surrounding areas, armed to the teeth
on horses of the highest breed .
The King checked and
rechecked
the invites issued in order of propriety,
met the sages for advice and constantly
requested Vasudev to solve problems
of money material etiquette protocol
and Vasuedv wearing an enigmatic smile
calmed his nerves and solved complex
issues in his inimitable style.
