16 (Sakuntala) The King's Court (I) Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

The Sage Kanva’s party,
Met in the hours early,
The chief guard of palace,
At the gate’s entrance.

They wanted to meet,
The King in his court,
The chief guard waited
For the King’s command.

A poet sang, “With no rest,
You do work for the rest,
Like a tree swallowing the heat
Giving its shadow to the rest.”

Next poet sang, “More wealth
Means more relatives on earth.
But the people consider the king
As a relative, more than anything.”

The King was so pleased,
With their flowery words,
He forgot his tiresomeness
And felt of his freshness.

From the air, a song came.
It sang, “A thief bee came
For fresh honey, kissed
Mango flower and sucked.”

“It was so happy then
Like the fresh lily one,
But soon it forgot
That fresh honey taste.”

The King was absorbed
In the song that floated
On the air to reach his ears.
His heart, it did pierce.

It was from his queen
Hamsavati, the one
Dear to the king once,
But later not in that race.

He said, “I’m in the dark
When I just look back.
Something inside, I feel,
What is it? I can’t tell.”

The chief guard said
“Oh King, there’s a maid,
At the gate, with hermits,
Who’re her escorts.

“They’re from Sage Kanva.
Her name is Sakuntala.
They want to meet the King
And tell His Majesty something.”

King told him to bring them all,
Straight to the sacrifice hall.
The hermits and the girl
Stood in the main hall.

Sakuntala felt something,
And to know the meaning
Of her right eye throbbing,
She was then enquiring.

The King asked them,
“Is there any problem
For which you’re here.
Tell me without fear.”

Sarangarava replied
“We feel honoured
By Your Excellency
And your kind enquiry.”

The King asked, “What’s your
Great Master’s order?
I’m here to carry it.
Let me know it.”

The message he then read,
“My daughter, you married.
Without anyone’s knowledge.
Now I agree to this marriage.”

“She carries your baby.
Now accept her lawfully
As your wife openly
And ceremoniously.”

Gowthami also said,
“Elders, you avoided,
Nor she consulted,
But you both married.”

“How can others say
On this affair anyway?
Who can advise you
When it’s known to you? ”

The King doubtfully said,
“A kind of scheme is laid
Before me to trap me.
This is what I now see.”

Sakuntala felt his words,
As fire fell into her ears.
She waited there to hear
More from him further.

“How do you say this girl
Married to me at my will?
By a mistaken identity
This has come up for scrutiny.”

When she heard this reply
She felt let down badly.
Was the King talking
Or his ghost talking?

“When the power is up
Man’s head reels up.
He changes his word.”
The disciple then said.

“I’m taken to task severely
And also unnecessarily, ”
Like this, the king said
As the royal head.

Then he saw her deeply
And thought doubtfully
“Is this girl before me
Really belongs to me?

“I’m unable to reject,
Nor able to accept,
Is it true, what I hear?
I’m not very much clear.”

“What’s the meaning
Of your silence, Oh King, ”
The disciple finally asked.
For that the king said:

“Oh you holy men,
Please carefully listen.
I’m trying my best
To recollect the past.”

“I don’t remember
To have met her
Anytime in the past.
This is my word last.”

“Now pregnant she is.
How can I accept this?
I’m not her husband,
As you all demand.”
.
Sakuntala’s turn came
And she told him,
“With an open heart
I played my part.”

“By nature, we’re plain.
Pious life, we’ve chosen.
We trust a good person.
You’re cheating a woman.”

“A sacred agreement,
In which you took part,
Is now broken into pieces
On some silly excuses.”

The king closed his ears
With his two hands.
“Stop this nonsense.
Talk something else.”

“You’re a disgrace
To your high race
And wish to degrade
My position, ” he said.