Introduction
The chapters of Draupadi Harana parva can be accessed by tag https://crackpot.substack.com/t/jayadratha
As It Rhymes
1.
Vaishampayana said,
The five Pandavas each returned from whence they came hauling their loads of slain game.
Once great buffalo, boar and deer were turned to venison.
2.
By the calls of birds the Pandavas knew the forest was disturbed.
Birds only cried and flew that way when stirred by pythons and venomous men.
3.
The sun blazed rays through clear skies.
The Pandavas sped along following wing silhouettes and animal alarm cries to track whoever it was trekking through the heart of the dark forest.
4.
Yudhishthira said to his brothers,
‘We need to switch back to the house.
There’s a twitch in my left eye.
My body burns and aches with doubt.
5.
Suparna rids lakes of serpents.
Listen - Was that the cry of our maid servant?’
6.
Yoked to Saindhava steeds of fine breed.
The Pandavas’ chariots swept to the Ashram with speed.
7.
A hideous bull cry came from their left side.
Upon hearing the ill omen Bhima said to Dhananjaya.
8.
‘I saw a wolf to our left.
The Kurus did something bad I bet.’
9.
The Pandavas returned to the Ashram in haste.
They saw Draupadi’s dear friend Dhatrika wailing and shrieking, ‘thief! thief!’
10.
Arjuna’s charioteer Indrasena descended from the car then rushed to console Dhatrika’s grief.
11-14 [abridged].
Indrasena said,
‘Why do you cry?
Why do you lie on the ground?
Why isn’t Draupadi around?’
15.
Don’t worry, Krishna will be back soon.
The Pandavas will teach a lesson to the goon.’
16.
Dhatrika rubbed her face with sandalwood paste.
‘Jayadratha took Krishnaa by force and laughed.’
‘Look - a shred of her garment clings to the broken branch to mark the path.’
17.
They could not have gotten far in the jungle.
The Pandavas bared their fangs at the bungle.
18.
The Pandavas readied their bows clubs and arrows for attack.
Their mouths dry, they tracked and tracked.
19.
The Pandavas knew it was a dirty dog that stole their wife and gulped their ghee.
The lines on their faces were etched with wrath and worry.
20-21 [abridged].
The Pandavas resolved to track and butcher their quarry.
The dog had laid paws on their dearly beloved Draupadi.
22.
Yudhishthira said,
‘Turn your wheels, boys!
We’re getting close!’
23.
The five Pandava cruised down the path plucking their bowstrings to express their wrath.
24.
They came upon clouds of dust still raised by the soldiers ahead.
They spotted in their midst their friend Dhaumya’s shiny bald head.
Dhaumya cried, ‘Bhima! Come quick!’
25.
The Pandavas overtook Dhaumya in an instant like swooping hawks.
The Pandavas said,
‘You are a good man, Dhaumya!
Go home and rest.
We’ve got this.’
26.
The Pandavas were yoked.
The Pandavas saw Yajnaseni riding in Jayadratha’s chariot like a bad joke.
The Pandavas wanted all the smoke.
27.
Vrikodara and Dhananjaya cast cruel aspersions.
The death twins and Yudhisthira established flanks to corral aversions.
‘Wait! Wait!’, the Pandavas cried in unison.
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana ibid.
The five Pandavas are Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva.
[5] Garuda is Suparna. Garuda is a lord of birds. Garuda sits on Vishnu’s staff.
[11-15] Indrasena and Dhatrika may have a relationship.
[16] Krishnaa is Draupadi.
[26] Yajnaseni is Draupadi.
[27] The twins of death are Sahadeva and Nakula - a pair of relatively quiet characters that do a lot of battle.
Vrikodara is Bhima.
Dhananjaya is Arjuna
Translation Notes
