08 (Sakuntala) Rest In The Base Camp Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Madavya, the court jester,
Showed his funny gesture,
To express his displeasure
On the king’s unusual behavior.

The discontented Jester blessed,
“I can’t lift my hands, am tired,
And can only spare my words.”
“Let victory be always yours! ”

“Leaving aside straight paths,
You gave up royal duties.
I’m afraid, you may stay here
With hermits and your lover.”

“To tell you the truth,
This life is not worth.
Hunting animals daily
Is sickening me simply.”

“Listen, let us take rest
For one day at least.
Now no more hunt.
Only rest in the tent.”

For the much needed rest
King Dushyanta also felt.
“My mind is with her now.
I can’t even use my bow.”

He told his commander,
Bhadrasena, “Look here,
Madavya is too tired,
And is much worried.”

“To continue our hunt,
I’ve lost my interest.
Let us all take rest,
So, I feel it, the best.”

Bhadrasena said then,
“This jester has no brain.
A King only is meant
For the benefit of a hunt.”

“Waist shrinks, body thins,
Fat melts, masculinity increases,
Also aptitude increases,
No Anger and no fears.”

“The changing habits
Of the wild animals
A hunter can, in turn,
Step by step learn.”

“To say hunting is bad
It’s wrong by every word.
Is there a fair game
Any other, like the same? ”

For this Madavya chided
And with anger he said,
“Here the King is normal.
If you want, go to the jungle.”

The King told the commander,
“The ascetics’ place is near.
This is no time for a hunt.
It’s now time for our rest.”

“Now bulls are busy.
Their bath, they enjoy,
In the cool pond,
Of which they’re fond.”

“All the grazing deer,
Now have no fear,
The wild pigs in the wood
Quietly eat their food.”

“It’s good time now,
To lay down the bow,
Taste our hard earned rest
For a few days at least.”

“Withdraw the tired soldiers.
Also the weary hunters.
Let the drummers keep quite.
Don’t disturb any hermit.”

“The nature of hermits is soft.
Under provocation they retort,
Like a cool sun crystal bit,
Under pressure, blows hot.”

Of all the persons then,
Madavya was the one,
Who, in his jubilation,
Welcomed this decision

Dushyanta told the jester,
“You haven’t tasted anywhere
The feast for your eyes
That’s why you’re like this.”

“For my eyes, as a feast, ”
He replied, “On this spot
I see well your presence,
That makes more sense.”

The king came to the point,
“I saw during my hunt,
The best of all the jewels
One Sakuntala among the girls.”

The jester said, “I’ll not allow
This to go any further now,
As she’s an ascetic girl
Who’s beyond your goal.”

“You’re a fool, ” The King said,
“Will you not see, above your head,
The beauty of the full moon
Once at least, as an artistic man? ”

“Moreover, my mind will never
Yield to such an unfair matter.
She was abandoned by a Sage,
There, in her very young age.”

“Like a beautiful jasmine flower,
Fallen down from the creeper,
She was left by a celestial-mother
And brought up by a Sage-father.”