Once upon a time in India,
Lived a Queen Harini
Time has come, Queens’s daughter has to get married
Mother called for Swayamvara
Kings across towns prepared their sons, wishing to win the Princess and her large dynasty
Few got handsome whiskers, few are Well-built
Few got powerful swords, few are well-qualified
Queen brought them all and assembled.
Princess posed a quirky question to all.
“He, who knocks the door of heaven and opens the Hell;
She, who hunts for a Fox and gets a Lion;
Lion caught in the Cage;
Fox fixed in the Mind;
Who is He?; Who is She?”
Rule to Reply is simple
Wrong ones are beheaded, Right one is garlanded.
Whole pack of Prince lost their hope out of fear. And, left her alone.
Next Day,
A Hunter from countryside took up the proposal.
“Think Twice!
If you’re wrong, you will be thrown to Death bed” said the Queen
Without losing a moment, He went straight to the Princess and kissed her lips.
At a quick reflex, he received a tight slap.
While everyone at shock,
Queen Ordered her soldiers “Take him in control! Hang Him!”
On Execution Day,
In front of whole Public, the Queen, and the Princess.
Proceedings went on.
Before the death bell rings;
As a Ritual to everyone,
Minister comes forward on Stage, and at a loud note proposes, “State your final wish?”
Then, The Hunter Replied,
“He, who wishes to live,
Let Heaven be thy lips, and slap be thy Hell,
Courage in thy Lion’s Cage, and
Foxy Love in thy Mind”
None understood the Riddle,
Yet, One.
Princess ran, and kissed Him long.
-x-
Lived a Queen Harini
Time has come, Queens’s daughter has to get married
Mother called for Swayamvara
Kings across towns prepared their sons, wishing to win the Princess and her large dynasty
Few got handsome whiskers, few are Well-built
Few got powerful swords, few are well-qualified
Queen brought them all and assembled.
Princess posed a quirky question to all.
“He, who knocks the door of heaven and opens the Hell;
She, who hunts for a Fox and gets a Lion;
Lion caught in the Cage;
Fox fixed in the Mind;
Who is He?; Who is She?”
Rule to Reply is simple
Wrong ones are beheaded, Right one is garlanded.
Whole pack of Prince lost their hope out of fear. And, left her alone.
Next Day,
A Hunter from countryside took up the proposal.
“Think Twice!
If you’re wrong, you will be thrown to Death bed” said the Queen
Without losing a moment, He went straight to the Princess and kissed her lips.
At a quick reflex, he received a tight slap.
While everyone at shock,
Queen Ordered her soldiers “Take him in control! Hang Him!”
On Execution Day,
In front of whole Public, the Queen, and the Princess.
Proceedings went on.
Before the death bell rings;
As a Ritual to everyone,
Minister comes forward on Stage, and at a loud note proposes, “State your final wish?”
Then, The Hunter Replied,
“He, who wishes to live,
Let Heaven be thy lips, and slap be thy Hell,
Courage in thy Lion’s Cage, and
Foxy Love in thy Mind”
None understood the Riddle,
Yet, One.
Princess ran, and kissed Him long.
-x-
Pradeep Ankem
