14 (Sakuntala) Preparations For The Journey Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

It was time for the dawn.
Behind the western mountain
Went the cool setting moon.
In the east, came the rising sun.

Sage Kanva’s disciple got up
And the time, he checked up.
The reddish sky showed,
The morning had just arrived.

Lotus flowers in the ponds
Were cut off from their bonds
With the moon, felt like maidens
Cried for their separated lovers.

The dew drops sucked
The early sunlight, so red.
All the thatched huts woke
With the dance of peacock.

The black deer stretched
Their bodies and stood
Near the sacrifice altar
Waiting for their master.

Friend Anusuya thought
“O’er the King’s contact
With Sakuntala, in secret,
Anyone can easily comment.”

“I got up this early morning.
What’s there to do? Nothing.
To perform morning duties
Why my both hands refuse? ”

“Happy may be the Cupid,
For joining my friend,
With a man, a deserter,
More or less, a cheater.”

“The curse on the King,
Perhaps, is now acting.
May be he’s innocent.
Not as I earlier meant.”

“All those tall promises,
He gave my friend once,
But why he hasn’t so far
Sent anyone for her? ”

“If we send to the king,
His own wedding ring,
He may, perhaps, remember
The secret marriage with her.”

“But how to send it?
Will any hermit take it?
She’s now in the family way
And is carrying his baby.”

“The situation is so critical
There’s no solution simple.
Her father should know this
To avoid, later on, any fuss.”

Pryamvada called Anusuya,
“See, before sending Sakuntala
To her husband’s palace
A celebration is taking place.”

“Just now I saw her father,
Blessed and informed her,
“Don’t worry, with proper escorts,
You’ll go to your husband’s place.”

“From the sky a voice came.
It mentioned your name.
What happened, it revealed,
Saying, it benefits the world.”

Anusuya said, “I’m happy.
At the same time I’m sorry,
To think she’s leaving us,
Though for her own place.”

“We should all celebrate
Now this happy event
By decorating her
In a grand manner.”

Amidst the hermit-wives,
Sakuntala sat on a dais,
Decorated with flowers,
And other ornaments.

It was a pleasant moment
For everyone to comment.
Elders sprinkled holy water,
With raised hands blessing her.

“May you be the queen
To adorn the throne! ”
May your fame shine
Among all the queens.

“May Gods in the heaven
Bless you with a son!
May this God child
Rule the entire world! ’

Sakuntala cried and said,
“Among all, I’ll regard,
In my life, as the best,
This very pleasant event.”

“When another occasion
For a similar decoration
Will come, to be done
By my friends again? ”

They consoled her,
And requested her
Not to shed tears on
Such a happy occasion.

The show came to an end
And it was time to send
Her with proper escort
All the way, through out.

A boy gave her presents
Like bangles and bracelets.
They were in a tree hole,
Meant as gift for this girl.

She gave it pots of water.
So, it gave the gift to her.
She looked more beautiful
After wearing the jewels.

Sage Kanva then prayed,
“I pray to the forest God.
To her place, I’m sending her.
For her happy future, bless her.”

A disciple, Sarangarava
Of the Sage Kanva,
There, was called in
To lead the mission.

Sakuntala again wept
“With my heavy heart
I’m leaving this place
Which kept me in peace.”

Pryamvada replied her,
“In this parting hour,
I see, not only your eyes,
Also this forest shedding tears,

“The poor deer left grazing.
The peacocks stopped dancing.
The creepers shed their leaves
As if they had lost their lives.”

Sakuntala asked her father,
“When that young deer
Delivers its little kid
Will you send me a word? ”

Kanva replied, “Why not?
Sure, I’ll not forget it.”
Upto the lake, he went.
There, he had to halt.

Their long journey this way,
Started on an auspicious day,
Amidst all the weeping eyes
And the parting good wishes.