Zesty Radha (Mythological Monologues #26)

The predestined hour came

Krishna left for Mathura

Taking my smile in His eyes

My love and devotion in His heart

Immortalizing our memories 

In the bountiful lap of Nature.

Leaving behind my Shyam in Vrindavan,

The melody of His flute in my heart

His Divine Name entwined with mine

Together we will be called

RadheShyam till the end of time. 

On my birth,

I kept my eyes closed

Everyone thought I was born blind

Years rolled by, doctors failed 

To give me my vision

I-Radhika opened my eyes 

For the first time when Krishna-

My journey and destination

Was in front of me

My world was illuminated by light

I was filled with zest 

Immersed in the color of Mohan.

Krishna is the vast entire Cosmos

I am His essence.

Waves do not have any identity 

Without the Sea

The Sea do not want to exist

Without its waves. 

Sitting by the banks of Yamuna,

I often bask in the melody of His flute

Smile of ecstasy in lips

Tears of love in eyes

Losing track of time and space.

They ask me in bewilderment, 

"Where is the sound of flute?"

With a smile, I say,

"In my heart. I can hear it always."

"Can you see Him too?" 

"Yes. In my reflection in the river."

I say looking at Govind smiling at me.

Love is that dazzling Divine light

The very Nature of every soul

That gives life to the entire world 

Physical separation is like a cloudy sky

The Sun is eternally there

Even when it is not visible.

Every place that I go, 

He is there with me.

Every sentence that I say, 

He is there in it.

Every breath that I take, 

He is dissolved in it. 

Sun rays can never be 

Separated from the mighty Sun

Heartbeats cannot be 

Parted from the Heart

The Soul can never be disjointed 

From the Super Soul.

Radha is in Shyam

Shyam is in Radha

His Divine name entwined with Mine

Together we will be called

RadheShyam till the end of time. 

©Purba Chakraborty

30.04.2020

Yudhishthira (Mythological Monologues #25)

With this poem, the A to Z blogging challenge 2020 finally comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed my series of Mythological Monologues. Thanks to all my readers for their tremendous love, support, encouragement, appreciation, and feedback. 

Yudhishthira (Mythological Monologues #25)

In the garb of a Yaksha,

Once Lord Dharma asked me

The greatest wonder of the world;

Countless people die everyday

Yet the ones that are living desire to be immortal;

I-Yudhisthira never forgot my answer.

With the arrival of Kaliyuga

Departure of Vasudev Krishna

There remained no purpose of my life.

I recognized the hour of my retirement

Left the kingdom of Hastinapur

In the able hands of my grandson, Parikshit 

And embarked on my final journey

With my four brothers and Panchali.

An unfamiliar dog joined us 

In our pilgrimage to the Himalayas.

As I walked towards

My final destination,

The journey of my life flashed

In front of my eyes. 

Like a boat trapped in a tempest,

My destiny took me to places

One day living in the forest

The other day at the palace;

My life was checkered by

Deceit and Manipulation in one box

Love and Devotion in another box

I stayed steadfast in both

At the face of lies and deceit,

My unshakable calmness irked the ones

Most precious to me

Yet I stayed calm under the

Umbrella of knowledge

The one enemy that is invincible is anger

Mastery over the mind

Is the only gateway to freedom.

As we continued our journey,

Panchali fell first.

A distressed Bheema asked the reason

"Excessive attachment to Arjuna", I said.

Then fell Sahadeva followed by Nakula

Pride in wisdom and looks, their folly

Next fell Arjuna, another victim

Of the vice of pride 

In being the most skilled archer.

Last of all, Bheema tires and falls

His only flaw was gluttony. 

I was left with the dog as my companion

As I climbed on top of Mount Sumeru.

Indra, the King of Heaven appeared

Inviting me to enter his chariot

Without the dog accompanying me.

At once, I refused to leave

My faithful and loyal companion

In exchange of the pleasures of Heaven.

Lord Indra asked me to act wisely

"If I leave the dog, my heart

Will no longer be a Heaven

Of Dharma and good deeds.

What use is Heaven then for me?"

I answered, folding my hands

When the dog magically 

Transformed into Lord Dharma,

Saying that I passed the final test of my life.

©Purba Chakraborty

29.04.2020

Note: Yudhishthira was the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He later became the King of Hastinapur. 

Xerophilous Shikhandi (Mythological Monologues #24)

Warm-hearted Sudama (Mythological Monologues #23)

The fragrance of true friendship

Never fades and evaporates with distance;

It dwells in the kernel of heart

Like the most mellifluous Bhajan,

The petrichor of monsoon

The aromatic flowers of Vasant

The vibrant colors of Holi.

My prized memories with dear Krishna

Take away all my scorching agonies

Like a whiff of perfumed zephyr-

Stealing butter from nearby households

Finding clay pots of freshly churned butter

Escaping the eyes of everyone and relishing it.

Every day, a new prank and hatching stories

To avoid getting caught by anyone.

Getting lost in the melody of His flute,

Experiencing Oneness with the Cosmos. 

I- Sudama have not met my loving friend

Since years yet I feel him in my heart

Providing love and solace whenever I need.

At the merciless hands of poverty, 

My wife asked me to seek help 

From Krishna, the King of Dwarka.

I embarked on my long journey to Dwarka,

Taking a handful of beaten rice for Krishna. 

The thought of beholding the effulgent face 

Of my dear friend after years of separation 

Inspired me to walk steadily to His palace. 

I- Sudama, a poor Brahmin was received

With bounteous warmth, joy, and respect 

By Krishna's wife, Rukmini. 

The long-awaited beautiful moment came

Krishna and I looked at each other

Tears of love flowing down our eyes

My heart overflowing with affection and devotion.

With trembling hands, I offered Him my gift

Feeling embarrassed in the midst of the grandeur.

Krishna took the handful of beaten rice

Savored it the way he savored butter in childhood

The cheerful and contented smile on His face- 

It made me forget my purpose of visiting Him. 

At that moment, Krishna was not the King of Dwarka

Sudama was no longer a poor, destitute Brahmin

Our differences were dissolved in the nectar of love.

Krishna insisted me to sit on His throne

As we recalled our childhood stories, 

Krishna washed my tired feet 

With water and sandalwood.

I stayed at the palace for two days

Basking in the euphoria of Divine Love.

Krishna embraced me before I left His palace.

As I walked towards my home, 

The cruel realization dawned on me;

The ecstasy of meeting Krishna-

It made me forget my purpose of visiting Him.

I failed to ask for any help

I wept as I thought of my wife and children

Starving since days without complaint.

I was speechless when I reached home

Instead of my hut, there was a palace

My wife, dressed in the finest clothes greeted me.

I knelt down as tears of joy rolled down my eyes

"O Krishna! You know my heart more than I do

You heard all my unsaid words 

You felt all my unexpressed anguish

You saw all my uncried tears.

The blessed ones who have You as their friend

Never need to worry about anything."

©Purba Chakraborty

27.04.2020

Note: Sudama was a Brahmin childhood friend of Lord Krishna. His story of meeting Krishna in Dwarka is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. 

Vibhishana (Mythological Monologues #22)

Vibhishana (Mythological Monologues #22)

All that I prayed for,

The One I meditated on

From early childhood,

He is right in front of my eyes.

Since time immemorial, 

The only goal of my life has been

To keep my wavering mind transfixed

At the benign feet of the Lord. 

Despite being surrounded by mud and muck,

The pure Lotus blooms, untouched. 

With His Divine Grace, 

I-Vibhishana aspired to stay untouched 

From materialistic desires and egoistic pursuits

Despite belonging to the family of Rakshasas.

The lotus flower and I desired the same destiny-

To serve the Lord despite every visible odd.

All that I prayed for,

The One I meditated on

From early childhood,

He is right in front of my eyes.

Transformed and Transcended I am

With the resplendent vision of Lord Rama.

All my psychical identities slowly strip off

Like years of dust accumulated on my body;

Attachments and ties evaporate into nothingness

I find the door to liberation in my Lord's eyes

My soul unites with the Super Soul

Personal Consciousness merges 

With the Divine Consciousness.

From a mental and emotional man,

I- Vibhishana become a spiritual man

Illumined by the Divine Light,

I experience the boundless, undivided joy 

One with the Cosmos, I feel

I am in the Sun, the Moon, the Cloud, and the Stars. 

The Creator is in me; I am in the Creator

I get transcended to the spiritual realm. 

All that I prayed for,

The One I meditated on

From early childhood,

He is right in front of my eyes.

Despite being warned by his allies and devotees, 

My Lord chose me- a demon devotee

An ordinary lotus born amid mud and muck

Without looking at my birth and circumstances.

 His instrument I became in the Cosmic Drama

I played my part with the utmost devotion 

To ensure the victory of good over evil

In the Great Lanka war. 

They said, "You will be called a Traitor

for betraying your own kith and kin."

I said, "I am ready to pay this small price.

I have experienced the merging of 

My Soul with the Super Soul.

Once the river merges with the Ocean, 

It loses its identity

The river becomes the Ocean."

©Purba Chakraborty

25.04.2020

Note: Vibhishana is the brother of Ravana in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. He was a great devotee of Lord Rama. 

Urmila (Mythological Monologues #21)

Urmila (Mythological Monologues #21)

Love is that powerful force

A miracle, A weapon, A shield

That can reach the beloved from afar

It is not always in presence

The lotus of love blooms

Drawing appreciation and admiration;

In the darkness of absence,

The night jasmine silently blooms

Spreading fragrance in the air

To fall off, the very next morning

Without exacting an ounce of admiration.

I- Urmila, unlike my sister Sita

Did not follow my husband, Lakshmana

 To the forests to live a life of austerity.

I stayed back in the palace of Ayodhya, 

Ensuring my husband serves Rama and Sita

Without getting distracted by my company.

Restless I was in the midst of everyone

My heart yearned to help Lakshmana

Every day and night, I prayed for a chance

To be his ally in this cosmic plan

Till the Universe granted my wish. 

The Goddess of Sleep visited me one night

"Lakshmana wants to stay awake 

For the next fourteen years 

To serve Rama and Sita.

His boon can only be granted

If someone accepts his share of sleep."

With a smile on my face, I said, 

"Please give me his share of sleep, Goddess."

For the next fourteen years, I slept

Whereas Lakshmana stayed awake.

Despite our physical distance, we were united

In our mission to serve Lord Rama;

Lakshmana could slay the mighty Indrajit

Who had the boon of being killed only by

The person who has conquered sleep. 

Love is that mighty gift

That can conquer any distance

Love is that miraculous armor

That can protect the beloved afar

Love is that divine nectar

That can make a person immortal.

People forget themselves when they sleep

I- Urmila was united with Lakshmana

As I slept uninterrupted for fourteen years;

With every beat of my heart, 

I was with him unconditionally, 

Without attachment and expectations;

The long years were not lost in oblivion

They made me an associate of my soulmate.

Separation, Distance, and Trust 

Became the holy soil on which

Urmila and Lakshmana's love bloomed

Into Parijata, night flowering jasmine. 

©Purba Chakraborty

24.04.2020

Note: Urmila is the wife of Lakshmana in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She was the daughter of King Janaka and Queen Sunaina and the younger sister of Sita. 

Tender-Hearted Bharata (Mythological Monologues #20)

Tender-Hearted Bharata (Mythological Monologues #20)

The way Sudarshan Chakra 

Loses its existence without Lord Vishnu, 

My life loses all its meaning

When I am not serving my elder brother, Rama. 

The moon gets its light from the Sun

I- Bharata derive my strength from Rama.

If only my mother, Kaikeyi realized 

Ashada can never take the place of Shraavana,

She would not have imposed 

The misery of draught on Ayodhya. 

Desire to become the King of Ayodhya

Was as alien to me as monsoon in winter;

Despite carrying me in her womb for nine months,

My mother failed to know my soul

That is connected to Rama since several lifetimes. 

I pleaded numerous times to my elder brother

To return to Ayodhya and bless the kingdom

He turned me down again and again,

Stating he cannot dishonor father's words. 

Helpless and disheartened, I prayed to Him

And received the knowledge to run a kingdom

Every word of His was Holy nectar 

That I consumed with obeisance.

The impending long separation of fourteen years

Made my heart tremble with agony and fear

"How will I live without you, brother?" My heart cried

"By fulfilling your duties, Bharata." My Lord said.

All my fears, agony, and anxiety disappeared

I could see a ray of light showing me the path.

Before leaving, I asked for his footwear

Placed them on the royal seat of Ayodhya

I let the people of Ayodhya know it clearly

"Only Rama is the ruler of Ayodhya

His brother, Bharata only serves Him." 

Without abandoning my duties, 

I left the luxuries of the palace 

Started living in Nandi Gram

Practiced austerity for fourteen years

To feel closer to my elder brother.

The way Sudarshan Chakra 

Loses its existence without Lord Vishnu, 

Bharata's life loses all its meaning

When He is not serving His elder brother, Rama. 

©Purba Chakraborty

23.04.2020

Note: Bharata is the younger brother of Lord Rama in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. He is the son of King Dasharath and Queen Kaikeyi. 

Satyavati (Mythological Monologues #19)

Satyavati (Mythological Monologues #19)

Women are judged everyday- aren't they?

You are kind - you will be labelled weak

You are outspoken - you will be labelled blunt

In my time, in the past

Also in the near and faraway future

Women will be judged more harshly than men;

So I - Satyavati, a headstrong fisher woman 

Decided to live life on my own terms

Let them call me anything they want-

Selfish, Manipulative, Scheming

Yet I will live life on my own terms

Defying the rules of the society. 

I did not want to marry King Shantanu

Unless he promised to give my sons

The rights to be called King of Hastinapur.

I- Satyavati never saw it as blackmailing

It was a wise concern for my position;

Desiring a life of power and respect

Living life on my own terms

Was considered a sin for a woman

I attracted mean glances and taunts

Yet I never wanted to live a life of sacrifice.

Shantanu and Ganga's son, Devavrata 

Took a colossal vow, becoming Bhishma

To ensure his father's happiness with me. 

He left his rights to be the King, 

Giving my sons the power the rule the kingdom.

Blessed Bhishma is, the son of Goddess Ganga

Divine qualities are inherent within him

Whereas I had to experience the eternal 

Tug of war between virtues and vices.

Be it destiny or Karma, I lost both my sons

-Chitrangad and Vichitravirya 

Leaving the kingdom without an heir. 

I- Satyavati was not a woman 

Who would succumb under remorse and pity.

I ensured Hastinapur has heirs

By calling Sage Vyasa, my son out of wedlock.

My grandsons, Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur

Were born, taking the Kuru clan forward. 

Women are judged everyday- aren't they?

I- Satyavati, the great grandmother 

Of Pandavas and Kauravas 

Never feared being judged and criticized;

Never did I compete with anyone

Never did I want to be better than anyone;

I embraced everything about myself-

The virtues and the vices.

I weaved ambitious dreams

Tried to capture the entire sky

In my two tiny eyes

Controlled and rectified situations

When things went wrong;

I- Satyavati lived life on my own terms

I was a woman way ahead of my times.

©Purba Chakraborty

22.04.2020

Note: Satyavati was the queen of King Shantanu in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. She was the great grandmother of the Pandavas and Kauravas. 

Rukmini (Mythological Monologues #18)