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In this episode, we marvel at the importance accorded to love and family, as portrayed in Sangam literary work, Natrinai 166, penned by an anonymous poet. Set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’ landscape, the verse speaks in the voice of the man to his lady, allaying fears of his parting away in her heart.
பொன்னும் மணியும் போலும், யாழ நின்
நன்னர் மேனியும் நாறு இருங் கதுப்பும்;
போதும் பணையும் போலும், யாழ நின்
மாதர் உண்கணும் வனப்பின் தோளும்:
இவை காண்தோறும் அகம் மலிந்து, யானும்
அறம் நிலைபெற்றோர் அனையேன்; அதன்தலை,
பொலந்தொடிப் புதல்வனும் பொய்தல் கற்றனன்;
வினையும் வேறு புலத்து இலெனே; நினையின்,
யாதனின் பிரிகோ?-மடந்தை!-
காதல் தானும் கடலினும் பெரிதே!
As if taking us within an ancient cave filled with treasures, the poem opens with ‘பொன்னும் மணியும்’ meaning ‘gold and sapphire’. Throughout the verse, variations of the adjective ‘beautiful’ wave to us, in words such as ‘நன்னர்’, ‘மாதர்’ and ‘வனப்பு’. It’s not just precious gems we consider beautiful, but nature too, these words seem to proclaim as we glance at ‘போது’ meaning ‘blue lily’ and ‘பணை’ meaning ‘bamboo’. The phrase ‘அகம் மலிந்து’ talks about a ‘deep rejoicing within’. The verse ends with a pithy statement ‘காதல் தானும் கடலினும் பெரிதே’ that shouts out ‘love is mightier than the oceans’! Piqued by this proclamation, let’s step deeper into the verse.
The man and lady have been leading a happy married life when the lady suspects that the man is about to part from her on a mission. She starts to suffer on account of this anxiety and subtle changes appear on her form. The man, sensing this, turns to her and says, “Like gold, shines your dazzling skin and like sapphire, your fragrant, dark tresses; Like blue-lilies, glow your enticing kohl-streaked eyes and like bamboos, those shapely shoulders. Whenever I glimpse at these, my heart rejoices and I too, seem to attain the highest state of those sages who have walked the righteous path. More importantly, our son, who wears golden bangles, has learnt to play imaginatively. Besides, I don’t have tasks in any other place. If you think well about it, why should I part from you? O naive maiden, my love for you is greater than the oceans!” With these words, the man intends to remove the fears in the lady’s heart, declaring that no life is greater than the one in her company.
Delving into this delicious verse, we perceive a deep admiration for beauty. Half the verse flows in glory of the lady’s attributes. Her skin is said to glow akin to gold and her black tresses are said to seem like fluid sapphire. Those eyes, the windows to her soul, seem to open out to the man like a pair of blue lilies in a pond. Those shoulders of hers are described as firm and flexible like a pair of bamboos. The man says glancing upon these elements makes him feel as if he too has attained the state of those who renounce the world to seek an elevated state of being. The man seems to be offering an alternative to the harsh path of seeking enlightenment by punishing oneself through isolation and abstaining from all sources of pleasure, as followed by ancient ascetics. He seems to say that even admiration of beauty will lead to the same glorious end that those sages seek. The man adds that more importantly, their son has learnt to play games that are not situated in reality. What a unique thing to be happy about! Perhaps, the man had seen the child use his imagination to create beings out of thin air and watched him play-act with them. Today, research in child psychology confirms that the most important indicator of a child’s development is their capability for imaginative play. In the current century, there’s awareness of the importance of play-based learning. Here, more than two thousand years ago, the pulse of these findings have already been captured in this line of verse. The man mentions about his child playing creatively as a thing giving him the greatest of joys. The wise one he is, perhaps he can foretell, through this instance, that his son is on the right path.
After declaring these elements that give him happiness, the man adds saying he has no task elsewhere and so, he concludes that there is no reason for him to part away from the lady. As a finishing touch, no doubt sweeping her off her feet, he declares that his love for her surpasses even those expansive oceans. The oceans were the greatest thing to the ancients, for it extended far beyond their eyes and imagination. To say, that one’s love was greater than those mighty oceans was elevating love as their highest-possible superlative! Talking of love, another nuance beckons us. That quality of how the lady says not a word about her worry and just by looking at her, the man filters those minute changes in her form, which leads him to say these words. A stunning instance of what attention can and should be. In these days, when modern distractions assail us from every direction, even words said by a significant other are not heeded to. The words of this sensitive man should make us pause and see those significant people in our lives, with the true attention they deserve!
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