09 (Sakuntala) Service At The Hermitage Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

The jester told the King,
And was again joking,
“One fed up with sweet dates
Went for tamarind to taste.”

“Tired with the palace girls,
You’re now after a hermit girl.
Before you go for this,
You must think twice.”

The King said, “Among the creations
Of Lord Brahma, she’s the best one.
Had you seen her once
You’ll not talk like this.”

“Rare things in the world
Were rolled into one mould
Life was given to it then.
Sakuntala is that one.”

“No unsacred fingers
Can dare touch her.
A flower not smelled.
A Spring time young bud.”

“A fresh honey not tasted
By anyone’s lip in the world.
It was so fresh and raw.
A good pearl with no flaw.”

“Who’s that sinless man
To taste her beauty, born,
Chosen by Brahma now,
This, who’ll tell and how? ”

“Better go there soon
Before some holy man
With oily unkempt hair
In the jungle, catches her.”

Tilting to the other side
Madavya like this forced
The king to go to the spot
And quickly settle it.”

The king said, “Her father
Has gone out somewhere,
So, she cannot decide
Being an ascetic bride.”

“When I looked at her,
Her look was elsewhere.
Her smile did reveal
Something to foretell.”

“Her actions were full
Of shyness to tell,
She indicated her love
But hiding it somehow.”

“She went a few feet.
Acted as if her feet
Were cut by a grass blade
And stood under a shade.”

“Then she said her dress
Was caught in branches
Of some bushy tree
And she tried to get free.”

“Such acts may be excuses
I feel, to give me her feelers
That she really likes me.
She turned and saw me.”

“What reason I can say
If I go there any day?
Can you suggest one?
I’ll go there alone.”

Madavya replied, “You can say
Tax due on rice, they should pay.
You went just to remind them.
A valid excuse, this time.”

“No, it doesn’t look nice,
As the hermits’ blessings
In fact, are more valuable,
Than the tax receivable.”

Two hermits saw the king.
About him they were talking.
“For the benefit of the world
To take up this role he is bold.”

“To protect subjects is his role.
Perfect rule is his goal.
Desire is under self-control
Such a king is so simple.”

“It’s a fact he had brought,
The whole world in his net,
And he’s like a thunder
To his enemies, no wonder.”

To him they gave fruits,
Paid their due respects,
Gave him the message
Sent by the hermitage.

“We need your presence,
To protect our fire sacrifice,
As in our Head Sage’s absence
Demons create a lot of nuisance.”

He said, “You’ve honoured me,
For this duty, by inviting me.
To serve you, it’s my pleasure
Soon I shall go over there.”

A messenger brought the news
“The King’s mother invites
Him for a function most religious
That’ll be held in the palace.”

In a dilemma, Dushyanta was
Of the two, which one to choose?
He told Madavya, “You’re,
My mother thinks, my brother.”

“So, you go to the palace.
Do the duties in my place.
I’ll remain in the forest
And serve the hermits.”

“About Sakuntala, it’s a fun,
A matter not a serious one.
So, don’t tell my parents
Or, my other queens.”

“As a mismatch for me,
She’s more like a deer,
Which're her close friends.
So, what I told are only jokes.”

He was afraid of the jester
Who may worsen the matter
So, he had to tell a lie
To keep the love affair low.”