Natrinai 56 – Pain of parting

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குறு நிலைக் குரவின் சிறு நனை நறு வீ
வண்டுதரு நாற்றம் வளி கலந்து ஈயக்,
கண் களி பெறூஉம் கவின் பெறு காலை,
எல் வளை ஞெகிழ்த்தோர்க்கு அல்லல் உறீஇச்
சென்ற நெஞ்சம் செய் வினைக்கு அசாவா,
ஒருங்குவரல் நசையொடு வருந்தும் கொல்லோ?
அருளான் ஆதலின், அழிந்து இவண் வந்து,
தொல் நலன் இழந்த என் பொன் நிறம் நோக்கி,
‘ஏதிலாட்டி இவள்’ எனப்
போயின்று கொல்லோ நோய் தலைமணந்தே?

As the poem opens, we can sense something sweet filling the air as we meet with the words ‘நறு வீ’ meaning ‘fragrant flower’ and ‘நாற்றம்’, again meaning ‘fragrance’ in combination with ‘வளி கலந்து’ meaning ‘fusing with the air’. To add to the beauty of this scene, the words are set to music for we meet ‘குறு – சிறு – நறு’ as well as ‘வளி – களி’! Interesting how, a poem on anguish begins with so much joy. Perhaps, a poetic tool to highlight the contrast in the outer and inner world! Further into the poem, questions, one after the other, seem to greet us, piquing our curiosity! 

Following their lead, let’s dive into the heart of the poem, where we find that the man has left the lady to go in search of wealth. Seeing her friend pained by his absence, the lady’s confidante tries to console her, saying she must keep her health and beauty well, until the man returns. To this, the lady replies, “It’s that time of the day when eyes delight in the natural beauty around, where the short-statured Kuravam tree, with its small, fragrant flowers, triggered by the bees, spreads its fragrance in the breeze.  Seeing my shining bangles loosen and fall, my heart sets out to speak of my sorrow to my man, the one who caused this. Meeting with him, does my heart wish to assist him, with unrelenting effort, in completing his task and then does it intend to return together with him? Or seeing him indifferent to the news of my sorrow, leaving him, does it arrive here and then seeing me in my golden pallor, with my past health destroyed, does it think, ’She is someone else!’ and leave, filled with sadness? I know not!” With these words, the lady is trying to tell the confidante that it’s immensely difficult for her to remain unaffected by the separation. 

Is it only a coincidence that the poem begins with something small? The small and yet delightful ‘Kuravam’ tree. On my part, delighted at meeting a new tree, I went hunting for news of its whereabouts. The common name of the tree is ‘Bottle flower tree’, apparently found in the hills of Western Ghats and Tirunelveli. Another discovery about this Kuravam tree was that it’s the holy tree in a Jain temple found in the Tirupparuthikundram village of Kanchipuram. Here, we find an ancient inscription dating to the 6th century CE describing the tree as being neither tall nor short and that it stands for dharma. This is testimony that this short tree or tall shrub has been catching the eye of people over the centuries. Another subtle point that the lady makes is that the fragrance around the tree, does not exist just because the Kuravam tree has fragrant flowers. The poem says that it’s only because the bees draw out this fragrance from the flower and fuses it in the air! 

Following the subtle scent of the Kuravam flower in the wind, my mind wonders whether the lady is equating this fragrance being drawn out, with her inner life. For just like how the action of the bees draws out the fragrance, which we normally assume to be inherent in the flower, and then sends it out in the breeze, she says the separation, has drawn her heart out of her and has sent it out into the world. Thus, she endows a thing which we cannot think apart from ourselves, with a form and mind of its own, to paint the portrait of her pain. Then she wonders whether it has travelled afar to meet with her man and in a positive sense, is it then assisting him in finishing his task or in a negative manner, thwarted by his apathy, does it return, heart-broken! A heart that has a heart that’s broken! Isn’t that a meta-level thought? Finally, her heart, now with eyes, sees how her skin has taken on a ‘golden pallor’! Gold and pallor, we wonder if it’s possible! Indeed, it’s stunning to see how years of being influenced on one hand, by western images and on the other, by materialism that we cannot imagine ‘gold’ to have any sort of negative connotation. From this, it’s clear that the ancient Tamils considered a darker shade of skin to be the healthier complexion and anything golden seems to have spelt ‘sickness’ to them.

Let’s take a moment to ponder on the plight of this poor heart, not recognising its owner, and scurrying about the world in distress. And, let us end on that note, paying a tribute to the rich imagination of those ancient poets, who saw so much beauty and meaning in the smallest of things!