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In this episode, we sense the feeling of relief on hearing good tidings, as depicted in Sangam literary work, Natrinai 163, penned by an anonymous poet. The verse is set in the coastal regions of ‘Neythal’ landscape and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, conveying a happy news concerning the man.
உயிர்த்தனவாகுக, அளிய, நாளும்-
அயிர்த் துகள் முகந்த ஆனா ஊதையொடு
எல்லியும் இரவும் என்னாது, கல்லெனக்
கறங்கு இசை இன மணி கைபுணர்ந்து ஒலிப்ப,
நிலவுத் தவழ் மணற் கோடு ஏறிச் செலவர,
இன்று என் நெஞ்சம் போல, தொன்று, நனி
வருந்துமன்; அளிய தாமே: பெருங் கடல்
நீல் நிறப் புன்னைத் தமி ஒண் கைதை,
வானம் மூழ்கிய வயங்கு ஒளி நெடுஞ் சுடர்க்
கதிர் காய்ந்து எழுந்து அகம் கனலி ஞாயிற்று
வைகுறு வனப்பின், தோன்றும்
கைதைஅம் கானல் துறைவன் மாவே!
The poem opens with ‘உயிர்த்தனவாகுக’ meaning ‘let them be refreshed’ throbbing with energy, right at the beginning. The word ‘அளிய’ meaning ‘to be pitied’ appears twice in the verse, conveying a significant emotion. ‘ஊதை’ referring to the ‘cold winds from the north’, which have found themselves featured in many a Tamil film song, appears to have caught the imagination of ancient poets too. ‘நிலவுத் தவழ் மணற் கோடு’ brings forth the endearing imagery of ‘sand dunes appearing as if the moon was crawling like a toddler’. If you look back, you will recollect that this beach sand was referred to as ‘powdered moon’, a few songs ago. When it’s a song about the coastal land, would the ‘புன்னை’ or ‘laurelwood tree’ shy away from appearing? There it is and close by, another word ‘கைதை’ waves to us. Reading this word made me smile for ‘கைதை’ or colloquially ‘கைத’ means ‘a donkey’, an oft-repeated expression of insult on Chennai’s streets. However, the ancestors are not referring to an animal but a tree and coming to think of it, a much-favoured tree, the fragrant ‘screw-pine’ also called as ‘தாழை’. What do these trees have to tell us about the life and love of those ancient folk?
The man and lady have been in a love relationship for a while and the man has been trysting with her by day and night. The confidante, who has been a worried about the delay in formalising this union, one day, comes to the lady and says, “Let them be rejuvenated, those pitiable ones! Every day, bracing against the fine sand scattered about by the cold, northern winds, not minding if it is day or night, with the sharp sound caused by the chorus of many bells echoing, they climb up those sand dunes akin to a moon’s descent on earth. Just like my heart, for a long time, they would have suffered! Near the dark-trunked ‘punnai’ tree by the great ocean, stands a lonely ‘kaithai’ tree with its leaf blades glowing with the light of the sun buried in the sky, as it rises to paint the sky in a fiery hue. Indeed, pitiable they were, those horses belonging to the lord of this shore with the glowing ‘kaithai’ tree, resplendent at dawn!” With these words, the confidante declares in a hidden message that the man has arrived to seek the blessings of elders and soon, the lady will experience the joy of marriage.
An intricate song that is filled with surprises! The confidante does not mention who or what she’s referring to, as she begins. She only says they are to be pitied. What we do know is whoever they are, they bear with the scattering of sand by cold winds and journey day and night, climbing moon-like sand dunes, accompanied by a tinkling sound. Perhaps, that will ring a bell and make people guess who the confidante is mentioning. Let’s pretend we don’t understand and let the confidante go with her flow. She likens her heart to those pitiable ones and says it has been suffering too. From there, her attention moves to focus on the lord’s coastal domain where a dark-trunked ‘punnai’ tree stands and close to it, there is also a ‘kaithai’ tree and the leaf-blades of this tree are shining in the red-orange glow of the rising sun. Thus, she paints a picturesque portrait of dawn in the man’s country.
As we have seen in many songs before, the spread of the land conveys the spread of the mind. Here, the metaphor of the ‘punnai’ and ‘kaithai’ trees standing adjacent conveys a symbol of marital union and the glow of dawn behind them is the blessing of elders, signifying the happy life that is to follow. The confidante, after expressing her congratulations in this hidden manner, then reveals the suspense about those ‘pitiable’ ones. Turns out they are the man’s horses and she’s happy that they don’t have to tarry forth day and night in secret anymore. They can rest and relax now, as the lady and man prepare to start a life of domestic bliss. A poem that skilfully demonstrates the poetic device of projection and personification in order to express deep-seated emotions!
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