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In this episode, we perceive the power of metaphors in conveying intention intricately, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 228, penned by Mudathirumaaranaar. Set in the mountain country of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, conveying a subtle message to the man, listening nearby.
என் எனப்படுமோ-தோழி!-மின்னு வசிபு
அதிர் குரல் எழிலி, முதிர் கடன் தீர,
கண் தூர்பு விரிந்த கனை இருள் நடு நாள்,
பண்பு இல் ஆர் இடை வரூஉம் நம் திறத்து
அருளான்கொல்லோ தானே-கானவன்
சிறு புறம் கடுக்கும் பெருங் கை வேழம்,
வெறி கொள் சாபத்து எறி கணை வெரீஇ,
அழுந்துபட விடரகத்து இயம்பும்
எழுந்து வீழ் அருவிய மலை கிழவோனே?
Opening with ‘என் எனப்படுமோ’ meaning ‘what could it mean’, the verse evokes the image of someone wondering out aloud. We meet with ‘எழிலி’ or ‘rain cloud’ with its evergreen features of ‘அதிர் குரல்’ or ‘roaring voice’ and ‘மின்னு வசிபு’ meaning ‘flashes of lightning’. A curious phrase ‘முதிர் கடன்’ meaning ‘a mature duty’ is ascribed to the cloud above. What it means, we’ll explore in a short while. ‘கனை இருள் நடு நாள்’ talks about the ‘dense darkness of midnight’. The phrase ‘பண்பு இல் ஆர் இடை’ personifies an inanimate path as ‘characterless’, meaning ‘unmannered, harsh path’. ‘An elephant with a huge trunk’ makes an appearance in ‘பெருங் கை வேழம்’. The contemporary word for ‘curse’ ‘சாபம்’ appears in a different meaning in this ancient verse, referring to a ‘bow’ here. The verse ends with the phrase ‘எழுந்து வீழ் அருவிய மலை கிழவோனே’ meaning ‘the lord of the mountains wherein cascades rise only to fall’. Taking that as an invitation, let’s trek deeper into this mountain land.
The man and lady are in a love relationship and the man continues to tryst with her by night. The confidante decides to convey to him, the importance of formalising his union with the lady. One night, when the man arrives to tryst with the lady, pretending not to see him, but ensuring that he’s within earshot, the confidante says to the lady, “How should I understand this, O friend? With flashes of lightning and a rumbling voice, the rain cloud completes its mature duty, amidst the thick darkness that shrouds the eyes at midnight. The lord, who walks through all this, on the unruly, harsh path so as to be with you, has not favoured you with his grace now! An elephant, with a long trunk akin to a hunter’s back, fearing the arrow thrown out of a terrifying bow, rushes to the mountain clefts and trumpets aloud amidst the cascades that rise to fall in the land of the mountain lord!” With these words, the confidante subtly conveys that the lady is troubled by rumours in the hamlet about her relationship with the man and also, reminds the man of his duty to seek the lady’s hand in marriage.
Now, to dig deeper to understand how the confidante conceals her message within these words! The confidante starts by wondering what could be the reason. Reason for what? Reason why the man who visits the lady has not turned up yet. And within this, she talks about the dangers in the man’s path as he hurries to the lady. There’s the blinding flash of lightning now and then, and a deep rumble in the skies, announcing the arrival of the rain cloud. The confidante characterises this rain cloud as being intent on completing its duty. Not just a task but, a duty, she says! What could be the significance of this characterisation? Leaving our minds to mull over that, let’s turn our attention to another description the confidante offers. She depicts how an elephant with a long trunk, akin to a hunter’s back, fearing arrows rushing from a bow, runs to the mountain clefts and trumpets in fear! The confidante mentions this, as a scene in the man’s mountain country, where cascades flow on high ground only to come crashing down, but there’s more to it than conveying the setting!
In bringing forth the image of the scared elephant that trumpets in the mountain clefts, the confidante is presenting the lady’s state of mind, wherein the lady will be left crying out aloud, confined to her house owing to those arrows of slander from the mouths of village folk. Now, let’s elevate the other image about that dutiful cloud, which we saw earlier. Just like how the cloud feeds on the waters of the sea and then fulfils its duty by pouring on land, the man too, must not stop with relishing the sweet company of the lady but continue to do his duty, which is to seek the lady’s hand in marriage. With two metaphors, the confidante conveys the reality of the lady’s situation and the rightful course of action that the man must pursue. The thing to wonder about is the spaciousness of the time they lived in then, to dwell upon each word and to extract its hidden meanings. On the contrary, take the case of a couple from today. When one person is talking, there is high probability the other is looking at some gadget. These days, even direct communication rises only to fall into a void. It does feel special to think of that time in the past when people were so attuned to each other so that every word and look was treasured and received in entirety!
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