Intro
Ghosha means cowherd. Ghoshayatra Parva is the story of the Kauravas going to the stock show near Lake Dvaitavana.
The ‘As It Rhymes’ chapters in Ghosha parva are available in this link.
As It Rhymes
1.
Vaishampayana said,
‘The Gandharvas splintered Karna’s chariot tank.
When Karna scurried to escape, the rest were quick to break rank.
2.
Dhritarashtra’s soldier sons melted back.
Duryodhana mounted a counter attack.
3.
Duryodhana showered arrows on the rampaging musicians in whizzing arcs.
4.
But under jungle cover the musicians closed on Duryodhana’s cart.
5.
The musicians tore Duryodhana’s standard apart.
The musicians freed Duryodhana’s ponies.
The musicians ripped Duryodhana’s charioteer out of his chair by his hair.
6.
Chitrasena beat Duryodhana on the ground.
The insurgent musicians won the round.
7.
Duhshasana gave it up without a sound.
The musicians found, surrounded and bound that lion of the ground and pound.
8.
Chitrasena nabbed Vivinsati.
Others grabbed Vinda like a welp.
Duryodhana’s harem was seen being led away to the musicians lounge lair.
9.
The rest of Dhritarashtra’s brood ran back through the wood.
They sought out the Pandavas for help.
10.
To curry favor, Dhritrashtra’s soldier sons gifted the Pandavas their goods.
All tents and equipment.
Trailers and foods.
All arrows and weapons.
The down wardrobe and crown jewels.
The caravans the fools thought would burn the Pandavas with envy warmed their hands.
11.
Dhritarashtra’s soldier sons said,
‘Please accept our humble offering.
We need your help to save the king.
12.
Duhshasana, Durvisha, Durmukha, Durjaya are POWs.
We saw the musicians strap them to plows and drive them away like cows.
They took the King’s harem.
Yudhishthira, you are our only hope to save them.’
13.
Duryodhana’s followers bawled about the cursed day.
Duryodhana’s men begged Yudhishthira to lead the way.
14.
Duryodhana’s wise old men came to heap praise.
Bhimasena stepped in to stop the chase.
15.
Bhima said,
‘Whoop! The musicians got the scoop.
It was supposed to be us to give Duryodhana the paddle.
I saw us seated atop tuskers raging across a field of battle.
16.
Duryodhana came to preen his sheen.
This is the fate of a king who gambles to win.
17.
I do not bemoan the downfall of our cousin.
I heard beware the pitfall of sin.
18.
Duryodhana has no wish for us to survive.
We have starved and deprived.
19-20.
Felt cold and wind and heat on our bare skin.
We stand in the open.
In his hour of crisis Duryodhana needs hope.
But we are emaciated and thin.
Duryodhana got rope-a-doped.
21.
Duryodhana came to clown and got shot down.
Who are the idiot advisors feeding the king dog chow?’
22.
Yudhishthira shushed Bhimasena’s bow wow.
‘Not now!’
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana, Janamejaya ibid.
Gandharvas are musicians and dancers.
[7] Duhshasana is Duryodhana's brother. Duhshasana dragged Draupadi on the ground in front of the Sabha after the dice game.
[8] Vivinsati and Vinda are Duryodhana's brothers.
[12] Durvisha, Durmukha, Durjaya are more of Duryodhana's brothers.