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Whoever thought
That a fire born dusky beauty
Would have such grace, dignity, love
Encased in heart
It was natural for her to wield power
But how well she knew
When not to use it
Her pearl teeth, lightning smile,
Blue lotus fragrance
Kindled fire in many a heart
Her father wanted a son
Of sacrificial fire
To avenge his fury
Her father had not asked for her
Yet along with her brother
Draupadi stepped out of the flaming petals
Born in full bloomed youth
Panchali, daughter of the king of Panchal
She became
Her father had locked her
In a strange marriage
With five brothers
By fate, truly, by kismet
Five exiled princes they were
Five valiant youths
Five consorts!
But happiness was at the beck and call
Of her champak petal fingers
She breathed trust and harmony
She was the sky
To her beloveds
To her beloveds
Exiled life with the sun, moon, stars and
forest ended
With the kingdom, returned, layered evils
She reduced her foes to ashes
But not before she paid the price
Of being violated in court
Being disrobed while her consorts sat
Hanging their heads in shame
Having lost the power to speak up
Having seen her all five sons slain
Through the passage of
A bloody war among kith and kin
Though she was the stormy inspiration
To her husbands in the battlefields
She always kept the flame of forbearance,
Self esteem, forgiveness, compassion
Bright in the dark hours
She still lives in the breath of Nirbhaya**
In all corners of the Earth
*Draupadi is described as the Tritagonist in
the epic The Mahabharata. According to the epic she is the fire born daughter
of Drupada the king of Panchal and also became the common wife of the five
Pandavas. Wikipedia
**meaning fearless girl, also referring to
the paramedical student in Delhi who was gang raped and later succumbed to her
injuries in spite of her brave fights.
Posted for Sanaa’s prompt Myth @ A Dash Of Sunny
&
Sharing it with Poetry Pantry #290 @ Poets United
Such a wisely written poem Sumana, I appreciate the layers of multiple references in this magical Epic.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully penned. Thank you so much for participating and for your constant love and support :)
Lots of love,
Sanaa
This is a spellbind tale. I was absorbed from the very firstvword to the last. Never read about Draupadi before
ReplyDeleteHappy too byou dropped by to read mine
Much love...
Oh wow! This makes me want to explore Indian mythology more thoroughly. So much strength in this, and the way you tied things to the modern era was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this mythical journey, Sumana. Now I'm extremely curious about "The Mahabharata"... I'm also quite taken by the way you've weaved myth into reality, in the last two lines.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ode!
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful way of weaving this tale poetically, Sumana! Forbearance, self esteem, compassion, and forgiveness are so very important in the world today.
ReplyDelete"But how well she knew when not to use it"....what a fearsome tale, Sumana. She lived an amazing life. I love that she kept those virtues "bright in the dark hours."
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like a wonderful woman. I liked it that you told her story from top to bottom. I could relate to this deity of yours. Loved it.
ReplyDelete"She was the sky" -- OH. So much, this. This made me exhale, big. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI truly love how you tied the myths to the braveness and tragedy of the girl gang-raped to death... we live in a world as cruel and beautiful as that of the myths.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. These are my favorite sections:
ReplyDelete"Whoever thought
That a fire born dusky"
"Blue lotus fragrance"
"Her father wanted a son
Of sacrificial fire"
"Draupadi stepped out of the flaming petals"
"Her father had locked her
In a strange marriage
With five brothers" ... Fascinating.
"She breathed trust and harmony
She was the sky"
"layered evils"
"she was the stormy inspiration
To her husbands in the battlefields"
"Bright in the dark hours"
What a moving story - you hope that we would learn from history/myth and not repeat it but sadly it seems part of the world and some bad souls seem intent on repeating it
ReplyDeleteSumana I wonder if you've read Yajnaseni by Prathiba Ray...her vision of Draupadi is quite unique and beautiful..
ReplyDeleteSo many ancient civilizations had such stories as this probably as a warning to live purer lives. Sadly such tales have not made us any better over the centuries. We seem to have an inherent fault! This really was a fascinating tale.
ReplyDeleteHow hard the myths are on women throughout the world! There is beauty in her sacrifice and warning and example for girls/women, but OH that Dad and those powerless princes and the sad child deaths! Must this be a fated way of the world? Do those of us who wissh for peace and nonviolence want something too foreign to humans--despite Gandhi etc? Which is not to say you didn't write this most beautifully, making me see its blessings and curses more powerfully than ever before.
ReplyDeletePhenomenal writing!
ReplyDeleteDraupadi was a heroic princess of Mahabharata. One who was firm, proud, angry and a woman with an unbending will and remained an enigmatic woman of substance. Great read!
That was a powerful poem.Respect for the nirbhaya reference.
ReplyDeleteOh my what an amazing story of such a amazing woman and how you remind us of this strength and character of a woman who also lived this tale in real life....I can't help but feel sad though as we women still have to fight these brave fights.
ReplyDeleteDonna@LivingFromHappiness
I really admire this type of poetry... to tell myth in a poem. This is very ambitious.
ReplyDeleteHistory will keep repeating itself, unless we take heed. Nice writing. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is quite a story. I enjoyed your telling. I am sad to read about the paramedic student. How sad some stories are.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteZQ
Thank you for this legend, it's amazing!
ReplyDeleteWas glad to see you connect the myth with that young medical student of today. Myths have a profound purpose but we must listen and learn from them before they can do so.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
A very different take on Draupadi! Quite positive spirit in these lines1
ReplyDeleteamazing narration of a wonderful tale.
ReplyDeleteBright in the dark hours
ReplyDeleteShe still lives in the breath of Nirbhaya*
Even in adverse situations she is still remembered brightly lit up! Great lines Sumana!
Hank
Would that we could all be "fire born daughters."
ReplyDeletePlease pardon me, as I wipe away the tears, with your powerful and beautiful written poem. I wish, more poetry like this, was exposed me, as a child, which would encouraged me, to read more poetry, growing up, instead of dreading it. Thank you, Sumaa, for continuing my education.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully drawn ... I, especially thought that the virtues you highlighted and then, referenced in a current content (in the last 2 lines) was, a wonderful expression of the value inherent in this mythic epic.
ReplyDeleteOh my! I loved it! I can visualise and feel Draupadi's beauty, dignity and power. And the way you weaved it towards Nirbhaya...Excellent!
ReplyDeleteDroupadi, the synonym of beauty, bravery and brilliance has been portrayed here with full justice given to her unparalleled personality.
ReplyDeleteSumana,
ReplyDeleteIt requires great strength and bravery these days, to try and challenge the dreadful happenings which are taking place in India and many other places, regarding violation of females. Disregarded in many instances.. Lives ruined forever.
I'm sure that Draupadi can offer a spiritual energy and comfort to those who seek her spiritual power, when in need and at other times..
Eileen