As if lone in the wilderness,… the thorns of loneliness sometimes get sharper and inflict pain on the mind. Pain means unbearable and piercing agony. Draupadi had got into her bed chamber very early, expecting Parthan’s arrival. Twelve years seemed ages to her. She had no enthusiasm for anything during this period of separation. The four Pandavas said, Draupadi was now just like a block of ice. Yes, Draupadi was forever Arjuna’s own. Only if Arjuna was there, Draupadi would exist. Only then she had happiness. Only then she had bliss. The other four were uninvited, unwanted guests. Intruders rather. She was not mentally prepared for them. When their turn came, like a dancer she put on costumes for them also and she danced to the pinnacle forgetting her self and everything else. But after each year all the Pandavas became her own. There was no distinction among them. Taking her lot of
Fate into her heart she lived sincerely with them.
But still, Dharmaputra brother tried to change the lot by hook or crook to separate Arjuna from her. It was unbearable to her. Her mind was grievously pained in that sorrow. Now at last in the final hours of waiting, like an avalanche a woman had come in between us. Krishna’s sister. First it was Krishna. From Karna’s palm, he took Draupadi away for Arjuna. Now, from within Draupadi’s hands he had stolen away Arjuna for his sister.
Who is this Krishna, actually? More than being the relative of the Pandavas, a Yadav who showed innumerable magic feats. Why should he throw pieces of stone to the quiet water surface of my life? Panchala country, the Great King there, his subjects, or Draupadi—nobody had done any harm to either Krishna or his clan. Then what was the reason? Was it because of his loyalty towards his aunt? If so, even though he was a great heroic person or was respected by everybody, and in spite of his divinity, he would definitely get punishment for his crooked deeds.
I have no faith in anybody, nowadays. Who has got goodness? There is a tendency for evil in everybody’s mind. Evil is more appealing to people. It has more fragrance. Nobody sees the poisonous snakes creeping in the mind of those who fit a luring smile on their face. Here, Panchali is left alone by the one whom she loved dearly. He had gone away to exchange his love with another woman. She did not have the heart to see it and so remained indoors. The bed chamber she used during Arjuna’s forest life has once again given her refuge.
Should Draupadi curse Arjuna for crushing her life and giving shelter to another woman? That curse would definitely have its effect on him, because it was Draupadi who had performed penance for Arjuna. Her exhaling breath itself was a flame of fire. Or, she should mercilessly curse all the Pandavas who supported him. They should melt in that curse. They should know the pain of a woman’s curse. There is no remedy for that curse. Anyhow, the conjuror Krishna is sure to get some woman’s curse. Krishna had innumerable lady loves in Brindavan. He lured everybody and instilled a desire in them for his companionship and exploited their feminine nature and incited indescribable feelings in them—the brave hero!
As nobody does it and nobody would do, the handsome young man puts the peacock feather on his crown and tempts the virgins to his side. The Cupid who lured the young, tender virgins and indulged in the amorous play in the moonlight in Brindavan…Finally, the noble man rejected the young girl who kept her love blooming for him like a holy flower in her mind, and sought the comforts of Madura . Among them there was one Radha who flaunted her love for Krishna. There was no news of her after that. That poor girl might have given up her life. She might have waited for Krishna for a long time. Some pedestrians or merchants must have told her the story of Krishna stealing Rukmini away and marrying her.
Isn’t the pathetic situation of the eternal waiting of Radha and Panchali the same? The very same situation! Krishna and Arjuna are the same.
There Radha waited. Here Draupadi. Both of them lost their men. Krishna encouraged Arjuna to do the same that he did to Radha. Isn’t that the truth? What did Krishna gain out of it?
“The Master of Dwaraka has come to see you, Great Queen!” When the maid announced, she darted an angry glance at her. “You could have told him that today nobody is permitted to
see me. I don’t want to see anybody.”
When Krishna came in with the mellifluous voice of the flute, Panchali stood overwhelmed by emotions. Her body and mind remained transfixed in Krishna. Her anger instantly flew away. The notes flowed from the flute. After sometime the notes of the flute stopped. Panchali was immersed in that sound of music. Just like the dust particles she had merged with the atmospheric air. How luring is this music of flute! How heart- rending it is! No wonder, the Gopikas fell madly in love with him. How could they sleep in the moonlit nights? This sweet sound not only sanctifies the soul ,but also gets melted in to the bamboo stick. Which song is he playing on the flute? Divine music? Mixing the rhythm of love in that divine music enough to transcend the mind of the lovers. No wonder the whole universe is immersed in this divine melody.
Krishna said with a cunning, captivating smile.
“Panchali must have realized that I’m not at fault. When a man plays flute why should the women get crazy about it? “ There was no reply to his question. Even otherwise she had missed many a word. Her lips stuck together without making any single utterance. Her pulse ceased throbbing for a few
moments. Krishna went on.
“See ,what my sister has done. Severe mistake! She has been desiring for Arjuna for long. When she saw him, she was overwhelmed. She was even ready to give up her life for him. I have only one sister. So I didn’t oppose her. But if Panchali, Arjuna’s first wife and the Great Queen, does not like it, see this moment, this moment itself I’m ready to take Subhadra back. Nobody wants anything ignoring Panchali. Who doesn’t know that Panchali is Indraprastha’s blessing and sign of prosperity?”
Wiping away all the spite she had felt towards Krishna, the strain of melody went off. Draupadi said.
“ Take away Subhadra? She is my younger sister. I won’t give her to anybody else. She will live with me in this palace. I don’t hesitate to live as a co-spouse.”
Subhadra who had been behind the curtain came running, weeping and she embraced Panchali, with over flooded eyes. Draupadi spoke in between many sobs…
“Younger sister…A noble wife considers her husband’s likes and dislikes as of utmost importance. If he has desired for you, it is the wife’s duty to get it done, isn’t it?”
Hearing this Subhadra cried loud. She said.
“Elder sister, he says, if only you come and bless us we would live together.”
Krishna on hearing this made a rhythmic laugh. Again he played on the flute. Stopping again, he said.
“ So the heroic woman of the Pandava clan , the Great Queen Draupadi, please come out of this ashram.”
Draupadi obeyed him. Not that Krishna asked. Panchali will obey whoever loves her and makes a request. She remembered.
As days ran apart, in memory of the allotted nights Panchali became pregnant. Even after each delivery, she became more and more beautiful and looked like the fully blossomed Asoka tree giving happiness and wonder to whoever perceived her. Prathivindyan, Suthasoman, Sruthakarmav,Sathaniyan,
Sruthasenan.
All the sons alike! The difference is only in age. How did it happen? She sat by the pond of lotus measuring out the depth of the amazement she experienced.
She frowned and pondered. She looked into her reflection in the pond and asked herself. How does this happen?
She had become the mother of five sons. But she remained ever charming and attractive, with unspoiled beauty.
Krishna himself gave the reply. Secretly.
“ Panchali, When the armour and the ear-rings oscillate in your mind this kind of a miracle and things beyond this will happen. All sons have Arjuna’s countenance or…”
Panchali stared at Krishna with ill will.
No, Govinda, your sarcasm goes beyond the limit. Have you forgotten that I’m Panchali?
Like the cunning crow, he slanted himself and laughed mischievously and said.
“ True. The waves will rise in the ocean according to the tides. It’s quite natural. The magic of Time. I’m Arjuna’s friend. That’s why I said so.”
Panchali wondered what Krishna meant.
A woman will not have comfort, happiness and joy for long. As if the Creator has some spite towards women…He has given her beauty lavishly, but, peace is kept far away from her. To make her cry seems to be fun for him.
Isn’t that the reason, why the Pandavas responded to the invitation of Duryodhana and others and with family visited Hastinapuri, and the fatal ‘disrobing festival’ took place. In the midst of the Pandava-Kaurava enmity, Panchali alone was being constantly defeated.
(Cont’d)
