Natrinai 11 – A moonlit ride by the shore

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In this episode, we walk by the shore of Tamil Sangam literary work Natrinai Poem 11, written by Ulochanar, set in the landscape of ‘Neythal’ or the coastal regions, in the consoling words of the lady’s confidante to the lady, as the man listens by. 

பெய்யாது வைகிய கோதை போல
மெய் சாயினை, அவர் செய் குறி பிழைப்ப;
உள்ளி நொதுமலர் நேர்பு உரை தெள்ளிதின்
வாரார் என்னும் புலவி உட்கொளல்
ஒழிகமாள நின் நெஞ்சத்தானே;
புணரி பொருத பூ மணல் அடைகரை,
ஆழி மருங்கின் அலவன் ஓம்பி,
வலவன் வள்பு ஆய்ந்து ஊர,
நிலவு விரிந்தன்றால் கானலானே.

As I stepped on the sandy beach of this poem, all I could see was ‘ஆழி’ or the ocean, extending into infinity. Once my eyes had done gulping the ocean, then I stooped down to pick the shells that caught my eye. For instance, the word ‘புணரி’ or a wave called out to me. Incidentally, the word ‘புணரி’ has other meanings like sea, shore and loneliness. Just the combination of these synonyms seem to pen a poetic portrait. Then there was ‘அலவன்’, which I learnt refers to the crabs that prance around, on the shore. To shed light on it all, there was ‘நிலவு’, my moon shining bright on the sea shore. 

Looking through the expert eyes of explanatory texts, my vision extended to capture the meaning and context as thus: The lady and her man had planned to rendezvous on the shore but the man had failed to turn up. As the lady feels distress, the lady’s confidante says these words to the lady, which serves to console her as well as pass on a hidden message to the man, who later arrives and is in earshot. She says, ‘Like a garland of flowers that fade away, unworn, you waste away in agony. I know you are thinking about the rumours spreading around about you both and you have decided that he will not come. Destruct that despairing thought from your heart! On this flower bed of a sand shore near these roaring waves, he will ride like an expert charioteer, a master of the reins he holds and will ride with such skill, so as to not harm the crabs that run around. Behold, even the moon is on your side, spreading its light on the expanse of this shore.’

Remember that feeling of lying on a beach and gazing at the sky? If we look without looking, the floating clouds would seem to fuse into known forms. Likewise, on this sea shore, the white clouds wafting above tell me some more stories. First is the hidden message. By outward appearance, it seems as if the lady’s confidante is only consoling the distressed lady. However, it is also a message to the man that rumours are spreading, the lady is worried and a subtle nudge to hasten his thoughts of marrying her. The other formation on the sky is the device the lady’s confidante employs to destruct negative thinking. To dispel those dark thoughts, she asks her to construct the image of her man as the expert charioteer, riding towards her. This brings to mind, the concept of Patronus seen in the Harry Potter series to vanquish one’s dementors. This lady, 2000 years ago seems to be thinking on the very lines as she says, ‘Imagine and see, right before your eyes, the scene of your man riding the chariot and reaching towards you!’ 

In the end, the wholesome feeling of being in this shore was contained in the reference to those crabs by the shore and how even these little creatures are left unharmed by the grace and expertise of the rider. This made me ask whether in our rush towards our goals and dreams, if we always remember to remember those metaphorical crabs that stroll by on the shore of our life? Those seemingly unrelated things in our journey. But, the answer also seems to lie in verse. For, if we can be guided by that shining moon, which is our true purpose, then we shall journey on, missing not just the crabs, but even the ants in our life.