Xerophilous Shikhandi (Mythological Monologues #24)

Neither a man nor a woman

I- Shikhandi, the daughter of King Drupad

Born as an incomplete, painful story

A half-finished beautiful portrait

A half-sung song with lyrics forgotten;

I remember every memory of my past life

as the graceful princess of Kashi - Amba.

I was cruelly abducted by Bhishma

My life turned into a spectacle

I was abandoned by my lover, Salva
Humiliated by plenty of men

Denied of justice, forsaken by all.

On seeing the volcano of my pain,

Lord Shiva blessed me to be the reason for 

Bhishma's death in my next birth.

I immolated myself that very moment

and was reborn as King Drupad's daughter.

Neither a man nor a woman

I- Shikhandi, the daughter of King Drupad

Raised as a brave and powerful son

Trained in warfare and statecraft

Married to the daughter of King Hiranyavarna

Abandoned by my wife for my gender;

Like a xerophilous plant, 

I survived without love in the forest

Acquired a male body 

At the mercy of a Yaksha. 

When blisters of agony 

was draining my life,

I remembered my purpose:

To complete my unfinished story

To be the reason for Bhishma's death.

Neither a man nor a woman

I-Shikhandi, the vivacious Amba reborn

Surrendered to the Cosmic plan

Awaited my chance to be the instrument of

God in establishing Dharma. 

When the Pandavas were clueless

How to defeat the great warrior Bhishma,

I rode on Arjuna's chariot,

guided by Lord Krishna on the 

tenth day of the Kurukshetra war.

At once, Bhishma recognized me 

He lowered his weapons 

Unwilling he was to strike a woman

for I was Amba in his guilt-ridden eyes.

Seeing the perfect opportunity, 

Arjuna, hiding behind my back

shot a volley of arrows at Bhishma

pinning him to the ground

immobilizing him for the war. 

I- Shikhandi became a vital instrument

Of Lord Krishna in making the Pandavas win.

I- Shikhandi embody all queer people;

In the eyes of the Lord, 

We are valuable, loved, and cherished

unlike the man made society 

that ridicules and suppresses us. 

©Purba Chakraborty

28.04.2020

Note: Shikhandi is the eldest daughter of King Drupad in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. She later became a male and was instrumental in helping the Pandavas win in the Kurukshetra war. 

Warm-hearted Sudama (Mythological Monologues #23)