Mb109. Balarama Condemns Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

At Kurukshetra arrived Balarama,
He saw Bhima hitting Duryodhana,
On both thighs, below his navel,
A breach of combat rules single.

"Below navel will any Kshatriya hit,
For any combat, he becomes unfit.
I can't tolerate such an unfair fight.
Bhima played what kind of combat? "

So saying, Balarama raised his plough.
Krishna tried to calm him somehow.
"Our friends and relations are Pandavas.
How much they were teased by Kauravas? "

"When Draupadi was insulted in the hall.
Bhima took a vow, "Duryodhana, I'll kill,
Your two thighs, in battle, I'll break,
And your life, one day, I'll take."

"As a Kshatriya he fulfilled his oath,
That everyone heard from his mouth.
What's wrong in Bhima's action.
No reason for your provocation."

"At Duryodhana's prompting,
The Abhimanyu's bow string
Was cut by Karna, the merciless,
And he stood alone defenseless."

"In a most cowardly way,
They killed him that day.
Where had the rule gone,
When this wrong was done? "

"Thirteen long years Bhima,
Bore the atrocities of Duryodhana,
Who knew this pending vow,
When he took up the fight now."

Not satisfied with Krishna,
But calm became Balarama.
His opinion still he kept.
Silently, in hate, he then left.

Duryodhana shouted at Krishna:
"It's you, the cunning Krishna,
You're behind this melodrama,
You try now to fool Balarama."

"I saw your shameless act,
The signal you gave by a pat,
With your hand on your thighs
That prompted Bhima hit my thighs."

"Shikandin stood before Bhisma,
Under your direction to Arjuna,
Who, from behind, sent his shot.
Thus Bhisma's death he brought"

"You brought the end of Drona,
Thro' a lie from Yudhishthira.
When he was in the yoga position,
Beheaded was he with no compassion."

"You instigated the warrior Karna,
To shoot the spear at Ghatotkacha.
Just to save your friend Arjuna.
Thus you did injustice to Karna."

"Satyaki butchered Bhurisravas,
When you gave him ill advice.
To kill, you directed Arjuna,
While lifting the wheel, Karna."

"You tricked Jayadratha to come out,
When still the sun had not set,
By bringing darkness all around,
With your cunning magic wand."

Thus Duryodhana went on criticizing,
But Krishna was calmly listening.
He replied, "It's your own actions,
Those come back as reactions."

"Bhisma and Drona had to buy
Your sins, for this they had to die.
For Karna's death, you're the cause.
Draupadi's agony how will you ease? "

No answer Duryodhana found.
Speechless was he on the ground.
He was blessed with a martyr's death.
Despite his misdeeds before his death.