Kotik’s come-on
Draupadi Harana Chapter 265
Introduction
The chapters of Draupadi Harana parva can be accessed at https://crackpot.substack.com/t/jayadratha
As It Rhymes
1.
Kotika said to Draupadi,
‘Who are you? - don’t hide or freeze.
Step from that kadamba tree shade into the light.
Your brows are as beautiful as the peaks of an Ashram flame waved by a nighttime breeze.
2.
You are as striking as lightning.
Are you a divine being?
A Yakshi sprite?
Danava?
Apsara?
Wifed to a Daitya?
3.
A serpent king’s bride?
Are you married to Varuna?
Or Yama?
4.
Have you just come from Shakra’s palace?
Tell us what Lord you are with in this life and from what place?
5.
Respect the game.
Sit and please be comfortable, I wish to hear of your ancestry, living relatives, friends of your family’s fame and those who carry your name.
6.
My name is Kotik.
I ride that sick chariot.
Let me introduce you to my spruce crew.
King Trigarta sits in the golden chariot that blazes like the offering flame with garlands of flowers stretched around it.
7.
King Kulinda is a great bowman who lives atop flower mountain.
8.
Subala’s dark stained son blazes like flowers in the sun.
9.
That stable of sable young men are Sauviran stock.
Their chariots have the best horses yoked.
10.
Their names are Angaraka, Kunjana, Guptaka, Shatrunjaya, Sanjaya and Supravriddha, Bhayanakara, Bhramara, Ravai, Shura, Pratapa, Kuhana.
11.
Ever heard of Jayadratha, the king of Sauvira?
Jayadratha sits in his chariot like a peacock stoked.
12.
The brothers Balahaka, Vidarana, Anika and others sit.
Forgive our stares at your illustrious hair.
The litter is pleased to meet whom you may pick.
13.
Jayadratha is like Lord Indra surrounded by Rudras there.
Jayadratha asks, what mister calls you wife, daughter or sister?’
Notes
[1] An ashram is a temple.
kadamba is a type of tree.
Even by Bronze Age poetic standards, groan on Kotik’s pick up lines. (Actually, I think it’s quite poetic - but Draupadi is not having it.)
[2] These are all mythical or divine beings.
Yakshas are like demons, they hang out with Kubera, god of treasure, and Indra, king of Gods.
Danavas are demons descended from Ditya.
Apsaras are divine female dancers.
[3]
Varuna is the God of the Ocean.
Yama is the God of Death and the first man.
[4]
Shakra is Indra.
[10] None of these characters apart from Jayadratha are very important. They will all be dead soon.
[13] Rudras are forms of Shiva. There are eleven Rudras.
Translation Notes
