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In this episode, we listen to a curious conversation with the moon, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 196, penned by Vellaikudi Nakanaar. Set in the coastal landscape of ‘Neythal’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady to the moon, attempting to make it reveal the path where the man, who has parted away, traverses.
பளிங்கு செறிந்தன்ன பல் கதிர் இடைஇடை,
பால் முகந்தன்ன பசு வெண் நிலவின்,
மால்பு இடர் அறியா, நிறையுறு மதியம்!
சால்பும் செம்மையும் உடையை ஆதலின்,
நிற் கரந்து உறையும் உலகம் இன்மையின்,
எற் கரந்து உறைவோர் உள்வழி காட்டாய்!
நற் கவின் இழந்த என் தோள் போல் சாஅய்,
சிறுகுபு சிறுகுபு செரீஇ,
அறி கரி பொய்த்தலின், ஆகுமோ அதுவே?
The poem opens with a reference to ‘marble’ in ‘பளிங்கு செறிந்தன்ன’, enlightening us that usage of marbles was commonplace in the ancient world. In rhythmic sequence, appears ‘பால் முகந்தன்ன’ meaning ‘as if milk has been collected and poured’. Next we meet, ‘மால்பு’, ‘a ladder made of bamboo’, that has been used in ancient times to collect honey from the high ridges of the mountains. The word ‘மதியம்’ appears meaning not the contemporary ‘noon’ but the word ‘moon’. Rhythm plays all through this verse in words like ‘சால்பும் செம்மையும்’, ‘நிற் கரந்து – எற் கரந்து – நற் கவின்’, ‘உறையும் உலகம்’, ‘உறைவோர் உள்வழி’ but most of all in these repetitive phrases ‘இடைஇடை’ and ‘சிறுகுபு சிறுகுபு’. Time to explore the meaning in this melodious verse.
The man and lady had been leading a happy married life, when the time came for the man to part away from her on a mission. He was gone many days to a far-off place and there was no news about his whereabouts. The lady suffered in anguish, not knowing where he was or when he would return. One night, she turns to the moon in the sky and says, “Like fused marble amidst your many rays, looking like milk has been poured within, you rove, bright white moon, at a height far beyond the reach of bamboo ladders. O full moon, filled to the brim, you are one with virtue and integrity. There is no part of the world that can hide away from your sight. So, won’t you show the place where the one who has parted away from me resides? As you do not concede to my wish, like my arms that have lost their beauty, you too shall fade, little by little, for that is the fate of one who offers false witness, saying he doesn’t know when he does!” With these words, the lady gives voice to the pain in her heart, as she pines for the man, far away.
Now, for the nuances within! The lady invokes the moon with two parallel references. One, as if it were fused marble and another, poured milk. Stepping back from the poem, I imagine that the poets reciting these verses before wealthy patrons were probably standing on marble as they spoke. In the poem, the lady compliments the moon on its radiant appearance and also indicates that the moon resides at a height that knew not any disturbance from the ladders of man. Continuing from that lofty description, she places the moon high up there in virtue too. After showering all these compliments, she comes to the point saying that there’s no part of the world that could possibly hide away from the eyes of the moon and so, she puts forth her wish to the moon, urging it to show where her man now treads. The moon being the moon gives no reply and she ends up saying that just like her fine arms are losing their health, the moon too would fade bit by bit and diminish. No wonder, she finishes, for that is the fate of anyone who gives false witness, hiding something when they know the truth.
Keeping aside logic and science, when we glance at this poem, it’s a classic case of projecting the pain within on external objects, and in this case, the moon high up. The moon’s natural waning is claimed by this verse as the consequence of not parting with the secret of where the man is, and in that, lies the ingenuity of the verse. We know that the moon wanes but it also does find its way back to glow with all its might. Likewise, let’s wish the lady to soon have her man in sight, and till then, keep up the inner fight!
Creative ❤️