DRAUPADI _ XXXIV

   

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXXIV

If end is the close

of all reckoning pain fraught

dream ridden haughty recondite

desires of climbing heights

only to fall in the grave or

in a ditch attended by none

save maggots and vultures

why dream of a world of your own!

Others seen and unseen interfere

guide to perdition or pamper you

to folly: These too are other directed.

Is it all pre ordained or magic

unreal and ephemeral, to end

your dialogue half delivered!

The curtain falls when you are

ready to close your best soliloquy.

 

Draupadi clamped her  head

to drive away the dark cobwebs.

She knew she was a mere player

she must play a true thespian

in all roles of her vast life.

She is the Queen and may be

Empress, if the Rajasuya Yajna

comes of well as they now plan -

Oh! again mortal ambitions bind me

to hopes and dreams of no avail.

 

Tonight she will be with Arjun

for whom her heart beats.

Exiled love returns to illuminate

the murk of her world - with him

she cannot play just a role

she wants to be herself, the young

bride waiting to embrace life

with a passionate kiss of the soul.

Her lovesprings flow wild

jumping the course beyond the seas;

but she is not what she was

when Arjun walked triumphant

to look in her eyes which dazzled

with her heart in them all aglow!

 

Draupadi had decided to meet

each husband as a different wife.

The eldest is virtuous, truthful

yet addicted to the dice board

often he played alone to find

amity, victory - military and political.

Yudhistira quested for

the balance of mind and the world

in the royal square of the dice board:

Draupadi remembered how they played

their honeymoon was an intercourse

of ideas, empires, administration, power

and the dice game was at the centre...

 

A wry smile flashed and died

in her face, the eldest never saw

her beauty, her luscious figure

he could see her mind's expanse

and dived into the depth of her wisdom.

Valiant Bhimsen was ready and eager

she responded with erotic passion

which Bhima enjoyed and lavished

all his sweetness on her body and mind

with insatiable libido and reassuring words.

 

But Arjun is different I know

he is in Krishna's mould a scholar

unbeatable archer, chivalrous hero

soulfully I love him and wish to

have him as my lover to romance

with him under the full moon

away from the palace in some arbour

of cuckoo songs, night queens and grass

thrilled by the murmurs of a stream!

I'm Home

 

No more star gazing

no more shore sitting

under the moon counting

waves that die on the sand:

I am home, watching

street hawkers for my needs.

 

My son works in the next room

glued to his computer - WFH,

I prepare snacks for my hubby.

 

The lingering afternoon wanes

sunset glow fades on my forehead:

I light a lamp in the Puja room

pray, that is recite a few lines

mother taught me  when I was

in school which I utter eyes closed.

 

Now what to do ?

The same rituals

dreamless eyes missing

wandering over inanities?

If this is home I Am homeless.

 

I take an auto to the market

crowded shops overwhelmed

by revenge shoppers make me

wait, I lose my shopping list

walk out to find a lonely shop:

But where! Mankind is out

all homes are empty

hotels are overfull

jammed roads crack in despair.

 

I return, bag halffull

more tired and sweaty:

What home is this?

 

I walk away to the nearby field

small groups with country liquor

shout - only seven medals

and see what they get!

Some one looks at me - wah!

Mal Hai - another voice sings

an old Hindi song with lewd gesture.

 

I rush back home

after the night rituals

I lie on my bed, the roof

suddenly turns the starlit sky

I hear the waves breaking

on my home ears.

Sabita Sahu

 

DRAUPADI - XXXIII

  

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXXIII

 

Draupadi joined her husbands

in generating life sustaining

properties in the sterile void

the boulders canker growth

gave way to a green mantle

or mother earth's agonized soul.

She fruited flowers grained

under the loving care of Pandavs

their labour and sweat mixed with

Draupadi's love made Indraprastha

a new Elysium of plenty, Paddy

grew in abundant measures to feed

the poor, rich and the uncared for

birds, animals, guests and visitors

yet there was ample stock

for trade all over Aryabarta

and beyond, pulses,  fruits, gems

brought immense wealth and power.

Draupadi had a generous measure

of stomachs minds and emotions

needs aspirations of all who moved

in Moya's palace a unique piece

of architecture interwoven with

magic fountains of splendorous joy

the transparent quartz floors

obelisks of gem studded marbles

domes of ivory creepered with

gold enamel of emerald leaves

murmuring love birds singing erotica.

Halls of shape and size shaming

Indra's Sudharma circular baths

of crystal beauty dining halls

accommodating thousands and such like

facilities of deathless luxury:

Draupadi was the pivotal life buzz

in this universe of power and glory.

Candle Life

Another candle was lit

to blow away,

a segment of time

with memories overlapping

dreams in wakeful measures

searching for the hours

that could not raise their neck.

 

I stood staring at the

golden flame though flickering

yet shines its brightness

standing firm against the wind.

 

Some candles are lit in the Church

some become the placard

of a peace march, some

kill darkness, some take

the pride of being lit on a

lovers dinner table and especially

dazzles on the birthday cake

of an eternal virgin.

 

 

I  too shed pearly drops,  burn

melt, changing my shape

don't know for whom,

but the flames speak of

my love and sacrifice.

The fire in me purifies

my inner urges, keep me

strong and brave to burn again

to glow consuming darkness.

 

Sabita Sahu

 

 

 

 

DRAUPADI - XXXII

 

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXXII

 

How could a kingdom be divided?

When the Kuru Court could not resolve

the claims of the Pandav Princes

challenged by stubborn Duryodhan

the learned celibate grandfather

advised division of Hastinapur!

The eyeless king acquiesced in

despite the fierce protests of his son

who for him was more than the kingdom,

his blind love for the supercilious

Duryodhan's ambitions was hurt;

yet he had to accept the verdict

to avoid war with the Pandavs.

Indraprastha was given to the Pandavs,

a barren tract of snake infested

forests and underdeveloped land

superficially showing largeheartedness.

 

Draupadi knew it was humiliating

to be a woman of splintered affections

torn asunder by contrasts, conflicts

every evening to feel guilty

but she controlled herself :

She will not be  a willing victim

of despair, she must expand her

feminine self to accommodate all

what can be expected  in this world

where a kingdom is divided, nay

the earth is divided as though

 man is the master of creation

the elements must obey his frenzied

wishes, he can kill, rape

snatch throw and tear apart

what he has never made:

This must change and I shall be

the change bringer, the change maker

in this world gone wild with too much

wishes, desires and disregard of values

reducing the institution of life

to a drunken orgy of  riotous desires

as if Man is the author to create

chaos at will anarchy by choice

divide destroy kill by impudent logic.

Mumbai Monsoon

When it rains in Mumbai

the clouds pour oceans

the sea rises to meet the clouds

half way in competitive profusion.

The roads disappear, cars buses

line up half topped, all traffic

in paralysed stupor waits and waits:

Mumbaikars know the rains have arrived

umbrellas, duckbacks are seen

in Bollywood cameras romancing

on waterways in waist deep slush

Mumbai moves cursing the BMC

in taxpayers lingua for this

annual fracas in wet misery.

 

But lovers in helpless rage

blurt out expletives failing to reach

the rendezvous at the coconut

vendor on Marine Drive in restless

looks at the wrist and the sky.

Those less unfortunate in undrowned

Gateway of India move slowly

for dinner and dance at Taj Palace.

 

Networks fail, landlines ring

I am stuck - the line goes off

In Jahuri Market the pot bellied

Seths wait smoking bidis for customers

and watch serials on TV,

far away on one way streets

you hear the auspicious conch

muted laughter of wedding guests.

Officers run in usual disinterest

commuters muddy platforms

the stranded await new signals.

 

Film cameras shoot the scenes

for future use, the CST crowd

prays the rain god for a break

the tea sellers put on stuffs

in lonely corners: But

brave pedestrians wade through,

eyes through apartment windows

watch distant lanes of stuck up cars.

 

Newlyweds in five R flats

watch Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding

in a mused smile of anticipation

Mumbai moves on thunderous

pace changing peaks for fancy.

Sabita Sahu

DRAUPADI - XXXI

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty's 

DRAUPADI - XXXI

 

Hastinapur Court

Dhritarashtra wore a worried look

the silence was grim following

Vidur's exhortations, his advice,

his sane proposal was politically

correct, morally infallible, socially

acceptable: Rejoice O King the Pandavs

your children are alive and now

famous and powerful as sons in law

of the Great Panchal King Drupad,

welcome them with open arms,

they are yours, they belong here,

the Yuvaraj was presumed dead

but Yudhistir is alive, Pandu's wife,

your brother's wife Kunti is alive

all her children are safe, bring them here

make Yudhistir the Yuvaraj

The Crown Prince of Hastinapur

abusing their messenger is not in order.

The message now is loud and clear

they are alive and they should get

their legitimate share of the kingdom.

 

      Duryodhan stood up

shouted down his Uncle the Minister

the sage like Vidur - If the Pandavs

are not dead they will die soon,

they have no place in the Palace

no place anywhere in Hastinapur -

Dhritarashtra looked around, his

blind eyes moved from darkness

to darkness, no light anywhere.

Whatever Drona said or Vidur advised

was snubbed and sneered by 

Karna, Shakuni, and Duryodhan, 

was lost in his inner darkness.

 

Finally Dhritarashtra asked Bhisma

Grandfather! What shall we do now

I am happy that my sons are alive,

I am prepared to bring them home

but how can I make Yudhistir

Yuvaraj again since Duryodhan

is now the Yuvaraj by universal

consent! And Grandfather can we

now ask Duryodhan to relinquish

his position -  No never, shouted

Duryodhan and the hubbub was deafening.

Dhritarashtra asked his son to keep quiet

you listen my son to Pitamah

he will take the final decision,

We cannot afford to ignore Pandavs

they are our own, they too have rights.

 

Bhisma stood up his face gloomy:

I am ashamed that this has become

a subject for debate in the court!

If my children are alive let Vidur

go and bring them here to their home -

Duryodhan and Dussasan flared up -

Bhisma raised his hand in disgust

if the Kuru King Dhritarashtra

cannot stop his interfering son

what justice can he give the Pandavs.

The court suddenly fell silent

Dhritarashtra lowered his head -

Bhisma resumed, the news that

should have cheered Hastinapur

has brought internal conflict

we reject our own blood, we refuse

to give Pandavs what is theirs,

O King if you have any royal sense

still inspiring you to sit

on this great throne of Hastinapur,

own them up and give them justice -

There was uproar as Duryodhan

his supporters raised Hullabaloo,

Bhisma waited, his piercing eyes

looked at the Throne and the Court

as though they would burn everything

he shouted - Now listen, my heart

cracks even to think of it but

it seems there is no choice left:

Divide the Kingdom and give Pandavs

their share let them rule over

Indraprastha with rightful authority -

So saying Bhisma rushed out

leaving a stunned court in stupor.