learning what is central to narrative c.500 BCE onwards
after learning draupadi did not marry five men
i hear chariot bards composed the mahabharata,
a colossal epic. with over 100,000 verses.
about star crossed brothers? yes, yes.
the frankish term fehu-ôd meant moveable objects of value.
land was used as an excuse to be dogs? no, listen.
think of mahabharata ‘feud over land’, or ‘feud over fehu-ôd’.
men were land, daughters were viewed
differently, i’m taught. under the framework. in marriage,
the daughter was object. kanyadana, or the gift of daughter,
was the religious duty of father, whose sons were important
for continuity of patrilineage. should they forget, his son
was born of another man’s kanyadana. draupadi married
five men.
no, she did not. what do you think she is? a fruit?
some things are lost in translation. like love letters, cocaine,
and god. some things never get lost in translation. like love
letters, cocaine, and god.
i hear chariot bards wrote well in verse metres. considering
how tough it can be composing when crawling battlefields,
i also hear ved vyasa drank copious amounts of coffee,
while it was not certain if he actually liked it.
By Tanya Singh
Biography:
Tanya Singh is interested in all things poetry, and philosophy. Her poems have appeared, or are forthcoming in Literary Orphans, Dear Damsels, among others. Tanya serves as the Blog Editor for Moledro Magazine. She is also a contributor to Iuventum’s quarterly newsletter. She lives in India.