Natrinai 77 – The sweetness within

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In this episode, we unearth slices of history and scenes from his story, depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 77, written by Kabilar. Set in the mountain country of ‘Kurinji’, the poem speaks in the voice of the man to his heart, bidding it to be patient, as he tries to win the confidence of the confidante, who stands between him and his lady.

மலையன் மா ஊர்ந்து போகி, புலையன்
பெருந்துடி கறங்கப் பிற புலம் புக்கு அவர்
அருங்குறும்பு எருக்கி அயா உயிர்த்தாஅங்கு
உய்த்தன்று மன்னே, நெஞ்சே! செவ் வேர்ச்
சினைதொறும் தூங்கும் பயங்கெழு பலவின்
சுளையுடை முன்றில், மனையோள் கங்குல்
ஒலி வெள் அருவி ஒலியின் துஞ்சும்
ஊரலஞ்சேரிச் சீறூர், வல்லோன்
வாள் அரம் பொருத கோள் நேர் எல் வளை
அகன் தொடி செறித்த முன் கை ஒண்ணுதல்,
திதலை அல்குல், குறுமகள்
குவளை உண்கண் மகிழ் மட நோக்கே.

A song, densely packed with facts and feelings like the ‘பயங்கெழு பலவு’ meaning ‘useful, lush jackfruit’, which we shall relish shortly. Interesting to learn that ‘துடி’ means a ‘drum’ as the word’s variant ‘துடித்தல்’ means ‘to beat’ and is often used to describe the heart beating so. Smiled to see the word ‘குறும்பு’, which is now commonly used as the ‘go-to’ adjective to describe a child up to pranks many, to mean a ‘fort’ here. With the few words in ‘ஊரலஞ்சேரிச் சீறூர்’, the entire layout of this ancient place is laid out before our eyes. For it means, ‘not a town, but a little village with many colonies’. Talk about densely packing concepts of town planning in a piece of poetry! 

The man has caught a glimpse of the lady he likes. This lady is always surrounded by her playmates and of the playmates, one is her closest friend, the confidante, whose trust the man must win, to get near the lady. The confidante perhaps to test the man’s love keeps putting him off and seems to give the impression that she’s not impressed with him. In such a situation, the man turns to his heart and says, “The leader Malaiyan, riding on his horse, as drummers strike war drums, enters the enemy country and destroys their well-guarded forts. Thus making the Chola king, he came in support of, heave a sigh of relief. O heart, we too have been sent here to seek victory by my lady, who lives in a house surrounded by red-rooted, luxuriant jackfruit trees, whose every branch hangs with that useful fruit, with layers of sweet slices concealed. My lady sleeps in the night, listening to the sound of the resounding white waterfall, in her little town with many colonies of people. From one such colony of goldsmiths, an expert has sawed away at the metal and designed a handy bangle, which along with other wide bangles, adorns the well-built forearms of my lady. This young girl, who has a luminous forehead and gold-spotted loins looks at me with her kohl-streaked, lily-like eyes. It was a look bubbling with joy and youth. The very look that has brought us here. So bear with it and you too shall glimpse victory, O heart!” With these words, the man intends to calm his heart, insulted by the words of the confidante and also, pointing to the goodness of his lady and her love for him, he bids it to persevere in winning the lady. 

Let’s delve deeper into the poem, to reveal what it contains within. First, we get to know the leader Malaiyan, who is also known as ‘Malaiyan Thirumudi Kaari’. He was one of the last seven patrons, who ruled the area of ‘Malai naadu’ with the current ‘Thirukoviloor’ in the Villupuram district as his capital. His name comes from the black horse he rode into battle and was said to be one with. The great rulers of the Tamil land, the Cheras, Cholas and Pandiyas, at different times, came to seek his help in defeating another king. It was said whichever king’s forces Kaari joined, that king was bound to emerge victorious, no matter the number of forts or armies, the enemy had. This poem also pays tribute to his victorious streak in a battle where he comes to the aid of another king, riding on his black horse and winning the war for that king. The man likens the look of love that his lady gave him to the confidence that Malaiyan inspires in those who trust him. At the moment, things were not looking great for the man as the confidante is not relenting to his advances towards the lady, and in turn, his heart is also asking why such a great man as himself must bend before the confidante, much lower in stature to him. To make his heart realise, the man elaborates the goodness and greatness of the lady, whom he describes as wearing bangles carved for her by expert goldsmiths in a colony of skilled men and that she has a luminous forehead and eyes, streaked with kohl, floating like water-lilies. With these words, he tries to convey to the confidante listening that he indeed knows the lady well and that she is one with him already!

In the description about the lady to his heart, the man portrays her as one living in a house with jackfruit trees in its backyard. And, what a glowing description he endows on the tree! A tree with fruit hanging in all its branches and the fruit itself so rich and desirable, he says. Recently, there was an article in the Guardian talking about this jackfruit as a fruit that Indians leave to rot on the trees. How much the fruit is loved by the people of the land, not just now, but even two thousand years ago is evident by the glowing words of this poem. Why does the man talk specifically about the jackfruit? Only to tell his heart that the situation they find themselves may be prickly and harsh like the outer skin of the jackfruit but within lies the sweetness of the lady’s love. When we find ourselves disheartened by the obstacles in our path, perhaps we should remember to turn our attention to the sweet slices of the dream that wait to delight us, at our journey’s end!