Yudhishthira's Ashwamedham 02 Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

(2)Dhritarashtra

After the war had ended,
Dhritarashtra lived in peace
So everybody was given to believe;
But, with life, he was never at ease.

Life was a bitter pill for him to swallow.

Born with no light in his eyes
Was he denied his rightful throne
Had to swallow the pain when Pandu,
his brother, was anointed the King.

He lived a life of self-induced
Solitude, always felt humiliated
Living at the mercy of the King
Unacceptable to his self respect.

He felt humiliation complete when
The bride Bhishma had found for him
Decided: like her husband-to-be
she would lead a life sans light too.

Now again he had the same feeling
Of humiliation gnawing at his heart:
He was living on the charity
Of the new King, Yudhishthira.

More than everything, the absolute loneliness
Failed him: he had lost in the war
All his hundred sons and his son-in-law
Apart from all his grandchildren.

The victorious Pandavas led by Yudhishthira
Paid a visit to him, seeking his blessings
Before Yudhishthira had his Abhishek as King
And Dhritarashtra did not hesitate to wish him well.

But, when Bhimasena was announced
He could not control his emotions,
For it was Bhimsena himself, who had killed
All his hundred sons, by his own hands.

When he welcomed Bhim into his arms,
Krishna stopped him and pushed in an iron statue
In the musala-like arms of Dhritarashtra strong
The statue broke into powder in seconds.

Much to the chagrin of all those present
Trying to conceal his glee, but unsuccessfully,
feigning that the death of Bhim was just an accident
He started to wail, but who would believe him!

Krishna now pushed Bheemasena to him
Saying, "O' Dhritarashtra! I knew your designs
And so, what you've broken into dust
Is, but a statue of Bhimasena cast in iron.

"There is no cause for your sorrow
But, definitely mend your ways
And live a life of peace and prayer
So, the doors of heaven open for you."