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Love Stories from The Mahabharata  
Parikshit and Sushobhana – 12

Sushobhana starts, as though afraid. Immediately thereafter the gaze of her collyrium-ringed blazing eyes seems to grow suddenly sad and pitiful. Calmly Sushobhana smiles,

“I am glad to hear this. After so very long father has been able to be cruel to me. I am happy to feel maid, that by revealing my offence father has saved the subjects from the maddened Parikshit. A foolish lover will depart today scorning the deceiver who is all-lies. I, too, am saved from the clutches of that fool’s love, Subinita.”
The maid Subinita’s eyes suddenly fill with pain, “The subjects are safe, princess, but you...”
“What?”
“The lover Parikshit is waiting for you, nursing the flaming lamp of hope.”
Sushobhana shrieks aloud, “No, this cannot be! Do not mention such a terrible hope, maid. Inform that doting fool that Ayu’s daughter Sushobhana has no heart. That is why she does not know how to gift her heart and become a man’s wife. Tell him to leave at once, detesting Sushobhana.”
“What if he cannot detest?”

Glancing at the flame of the lamp, with eyes bright like glowing flames, Sushobhana stands still, silent. Then, like a serpent tormented by its own bite, raising hurt eyes to the maid Subinita, she says,

“Then arouse hatred in that stupid man’s heart! Tell him all the secret history of this heartless creature, violater of feminine nature. Let Sushobhana’s infamy resound in the three worlds. Let Parikshit know that the Manduka monarch’s moon-radiant daughter is a fallen woman who has had many lovers in the past.”
With tearful eyes the maid Subinita says, “By this time probably even that is known to king Parikshit.”
In surprised agony Sushobhana’s cries out, “How?”
“Your father Ayu has truly been cruel to you today, lady. Along with his ministers he has himself gone to Parikshit’s camp today to recount to the glory of the Ikshvakus with his own lips his daughter’s infamous history. Besides this there was no other way to free mighty Parikshit from the delusion of your love, unfortunate princess.”

Covering her eyes with both palms, the maid Subinita flees from the chamber.

A bubble of blue poison floated in a cup brimful with wine. Today, after so long, the time has come for Sushobhana’s final assignation.  From the window a star-spangled sky is visible, as though the flowers used by celestial damsels in worship are still lying strewn about. This is the right time to fall asleep.

Her infamy has spread. Not even a blind person in this world will now fail to recognise this multi-faceted deceiver. Losing all the pride of all these years, all the thrill and joy, life has become empty. Death has already occurred. Then why delay any more? There is no meaning in lying around on this earth merely as an infamous tale. Now, finally detesting this lovely serpent, as deceitful as a celestial courtesan of a false heaven, more terrifyingly heartless than a bodiless ghoul, Parikshit will at last be able to return. There is no need to hold on to this life devoid of a heart merely for punishing it and for bearing the whole world’s scornful gaze.

The poison foams in the wine-cup. Sushobhana’s lips thirst. She picks up the cup.

“Princess!”

Interrupted by the maid Subinita’s summons, Sushobhana turns to look.

Subinita says, “A message has arrived from Parikshit, princess.”
“What?”
“He is waiting for you.”
“Can this be?”
“It is the truth.”
“Has he not heard that I am but an impure, black story?”
“He has heard all.”

Putting down the cup of poison on the floor, Sushobhana stands up and goes to the window. She sees in the enemy camp one lamp burning steadily. Still, patient, calm, untrembling is its flame.

Unblinking, Sushobhana keeps staring. The radiance from that enemy camp’s lamp seems to be touching the darkness in Sushobhana’s breast. A heart awakens, as if from within the depths of a desert-darkness an exiled jasmine bud were to bloom. And the wonder of this awakening spontaneously rises through Sushobhana’s lips as a murmur,

“How beautiful an enemy you are!”
Startled, the maid Subinita asks, “What did you say, princess?”
Slowly Sushobhana moves near Subinita. “Today the time has come for the last assignation in my life, Subinita. Dress me, maid, for you will not get any more opportunities.”

Looking at this tearful lovely face of Sushobhana, like a fresh shefali flower washed by the monsoon rains of some new sky, the maid Subinita is surprised. Apprehensively she asks,

“Where do you wish to go, princess?”
“To that beautiful enemy.”
Amazed, Subinita asks, “How shall I dress you?”
“In bridal dress.”   

– Original in Bengali by Subodh Ghosh
– Translated by Pradip Bhattacharya
June 15, 2003

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