Mb004. Devavrata, Son Of King Santanu Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Mb004. Devavrata, Son Of King Santanu



MAHABHARATA

On the bank of the River Ganga,
The King Santanu of Hastinapura,
Met the Goddess Ganga, the beauty,
In her human form, she looked pretty.

The King asked her to be his wife,
And offered all his wealth and life,
But she agreed on a condition,
She was for freedom of action.

In his blind love for her,
To her terms be whatever,
He gave her his consent,
Remained calm and silent.

Her seven children new-born,
In the river she threw one by one,
He didn't ask her for the reason,
Her actions being out of question.

On the earth no sane mother,
Dared to do such an act horror,
But still he remained silent,
Not to lose her and later repent.

The eighth child when she took,
His entire body violently shook.
No more this torture he could bear,
The reasons for it he wished to hear.

"This child you're free to take.
Why your promise, now you break?
For you need me no more, I feel,
Let me tell you the reasons real."

"Eight Vasus from the Heaven,
Came with their wives down,
To the Earth, near the hermitage,
That housed Vasishtha, the Sage."

"His holy cow and calf they stole,
And were cursed for that, as a whole,
To be born as my eight children,
And live in the world of men."

"For his mercy, when they prayed,
A part of the curse was stayed,
That they'll, on birth, be freed,
But suffer this much for their greed."

"Prabhasa, the Vasu who seized it,
Will live in the World for this act,
But will have a long life of glory,
To be written in the golden history."

"This child of yours, I shall bring up,
For some years till he's grown up,
As a boy, he'll come back to you,
And will be a prince, to succeed you."

So saying, Ganga left with his son,
To a place far away unknown,
King Santanu to a state of mourn,
By this sad incident was thrown.

Years rolled by, when one day,
Santanu saw a bright young boy
With his arrows blocked the river,
Thus arresting the flow of water.

Goddess Ganga appeared then.
She introduced the boy as his son,
Who, in arts, was second to none,
And as Devavrata, to be known.

She handed over the boy and left,
The King received him as a gift,
As heir apparent he was crowned,
In joy the entire kingdom drowned.

Monday, December 4, 2017
Topic(s) of this poem: story
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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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