Mb015. The Wax Palace Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

"Oh father, we're now lost.
Just think of your past.
When you're the senior
Crowned was your junior."

"May be your eyes blind,
But not so your mind.
Your younger brother Pandu,
How did he supersede you? "

"You did one more mistake,
Your crown prince to make,
Why Yudisthira was your choice,
While I'm your first prince? "

"Pandavas' image is high now.
People talk, you know, how?
Better the blind old man,
It's high time, he steps down."

"Yudhisthira, in your place,
They wish for in one voice.
Why on Pandavas' benevolence,
Allow our future dependence? "

Duryodhana like this went on,
He poured words full of scorn.
With a soft corner for the prince,
Dhritarashtra tried to convince.

"I agree with what you say,
But I'm helpless in anyway.
Yudhisthira, a virtuous man,
Will never, my son, let you down."

"Oh father, he's a weakling,
And he's good for nothing.
Bhima will take the upper hand,
And will dominate this land."

"Send them all to Varanavata,
Where they honour God Siva,
In the coming annual festival,
To represent our side royal."

"While they're busy there,
We take up full control here.
To sideline them then easy be it'll,
And to earn the people's goodwill."

Dhritarashra found some reason.
Out of love he believed his son.
He persuaded Pandavas to go,
And attend the festival show.

Purochana, the minister,
With a design sinister,
In advance, he was sent.
To kill them, there he went.

A combustible palace he built,
With wood, wax, fat and jute.
To burn alive one midnight,
Kunti and her sons, in secret.

This none would suspect,
As no one would expect,
Such a horrible incident,
An end by a fire accident.