Mb098. Arjuna's Grief Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

On the southern war side,
Fought the suicide squad.
They were tough and crazy
And kept Arjuna very busy.

The squad one by one,
Arjuna killed everyone.
At a distance to keep him,
They fulfilled this aim.

An indication Arjuna had,
Some incident very sad,
Pandavas would have faced,
So, back to the spot he raced.

"Krishna, no welcome song
I hear.Something is wrong.
Why the silence everywhere?
The usual uproar isn't there."

"I heard, in lotus formation
Drona kept his war position.
No one knows how to break it
But Abhimanyu can do it."

"But he doesn't know
To come out how?
This I didn't teach him,
Now I don't find him."

"Arjuna, feel not sorry,
Why so much worry?
When elders were there
He was in their care? "

Krishna consoled him,
But it failed to calm him.
From Yudhishthira's tent,
He heard a sound of lament.

"To the jaws of death I sent.
To obey my request he went.
How can I face his father?
And also answer his mother? "

"It was Jayaratha who spoiled.
Our attempt to enter he foiled.
This lone lad, so many killed.
How Drona's mercy failed? "

Like this Yudhishthira mourned.
Arjuna, who heard this, swooned.
Krishna to console did His best.
Arjuna couldn't remain at rest.

"By tomorrow, before sunset,
Take Saindhava's life I must.
Or, myself I'll immolate,
If I fail to seal his fate."

This vow he took aloud.
His eyes neither allowed
Him to have his night sleep,
Nor, more to cry or weep.