Watching The Epic War Poem by Bishnupada Sethi

Keeping the holy epic book
On the unfolded wooden book stand
Finely crafted by the artisan
Sitting on a mat nearby
On the bare ground,
She would read aloud
The verses from the Mahabharat,
Complete a chapter or two
Every evening without fail.

Not for a day or two
But for seven decades
Reading and narrating the tales
Even when none was listening
About a great war in the continent,
She was never exhausted.
Each time she felt
She was witnessing
Another day of the epic war.

Bold was her saying
‘Whatever is found here
On Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha
One may find elsewhere.
But whatever is not in it
Can't be found anywhere else.'

Hundreds of characters;
Unique were their personalities;
Faith, loyalties divided;
Wanton display of ego;
Jealousy, treachery, revenge-
All woven in complex manner.

Two sets of cousins-
One side usurping the throne;
Deceiving and playing games;
Resorting to gambling, tricks, murder;
Boasting of the numbers and
Choosing war over negotiation.

With the turn of wheel of time
Earth got soaked with blood.
The mightiest of warriors
Left dead on the ground
While performing their roles.
Truth claimed victory
With God on the side of a minority.

After completing the book
When she would start
From the first chapter again,
The characters became alive
Ready to play the roles.

I would wonder how
She would be reading
The same pages
Time and again
Without ennui
With great excitement!

She would explain-
We humans need directions
As we lead our lives,
For seeking great future
To have a life that is noble
Faithful, fair and truthful.
One needs freedom from sins
For body, speech and mind.
To free from the fear of disease
For attaining the earthly goals
Long life, wealth and fame
There should be a focus
On deeds that are pure
And for the journey to heaven.
The words of the epic
Are no less than the nectar
She believed while urging
To read and pay attention.

While looking over
The life she lived
I wonder at her inner strength
Her belief on virtues!
She was blessed
All the fruits of life she got
Though the battle was hard.

She watched the epic war,
The wheel of Dharma every minute
Till she passed over peacefully
To the other side.

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