Mb070. Krishna's Mission Fails Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

Accompanied by Satyaki,
The peace-messenger Krishna,
He started for Hastinapura,
To meet the King Dhritarashtra.

One round of discussion,
O'er the peace mission,
Before leaving He had.
While their faces looked sad.

Bhima, always for war,
This time he was not for.
But Draupadi cried,
Before Krishna she said:

"Krishna, look at my tresses,
Which hang down for years.
If no honor, there's no peace,
If honor gets not its due place."

"If my husbands aren't for war,
My old father will fight for,
Or, though young, our children
They'll shoulder this burden."

"For Yudhishthira's sake,
I kept mum and didn't talk.
But I can bear it how long?
To me they did this wrong."

Krishna softened her and said,
"Your feelings I've understood.
Cry not. By now time came,
For us to reply their foul game."

The kingdom of Hastinapura,
Was ready to receive Krishna,
With arches and decorations,
And grand royal celebrations.

"This time is not for feast,
Nor am I here as your guest.
Here I'm as a messenger,
To tell war isn't the answer."

"Your people don't ruin.
Your sons you restrain.
Pandavas are for peace,
War is out of place."

With these words Krishna,
Advised the King Dhritarashtra,
Who said he was powerless,
‘Cause his sons, quite helpless.

Krishna then told Duryodhana,
"Pursue the path of Dharma.
Listen to reason and justice,
Go not for war but peace."

"Make peace and give them
Just half of the kingdom."
Into the deaf ears of Duryodhana,
Went the peace talk of Krishna.

Besides Bhisma and Drona,
Also advice came from Vidura.
Duryodhana was very stubborn.
He gave them words of caution.

"What right Pandavas have,
When their kingdom they gave,
As losers in the dice game,
To claim it, have they no shame? "

"Why you always glorify them?
Yes, blameless I'm at any time.
Why this talk, as if I did a crime.
Left alone I'm why you blame? "

"Not even an inch I can part.
Nor even a needle point of it,
This is my last word, " in retort
He silenced them and left the court.

Peace had lost its importance,
War had come in its place.
"War is must, " Krishna thought.
To Upaplavya sped His chariot.