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In this episode, we observe a man’s mind mulling over love and wealth, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 262, penned by Perunthalai Saathanaar. Set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’ landscape, the verse speaks in the voice of the man, as he reflects on what his parting away will do to the lady’s health and beauty.
தண் புனக் கருவிளைக் கண் போல் மா மலர்,
ஆடு மயிற் பீலியின் வாடையொடு துயல்வர,
உறை மயக்குற்ற ஊர் துஞ்சு யாமத்து,
நடுங்கு பிணி நலிய நல் எழில் சாஅய்,
துனி கூர் மனத்தள், முனி படர் உழக்கும்
பணைத் தோள், அரும்பிய சுணங்கின், கணைக் கால்,
குவளை நாறும் கூந்தல், தேமொழி
இவளின் தீர்ந்தும், ஆள்வினை வலிப்ப,
‘பிரிவல்’ நெஞ்சு, என்னும்ஆயின்,
அரிது மன்றம்ம, இன்மையது இளிவே.
The opening phrase ‘தண் புனக் கருவிளை’ talks about a flower called as ‘Asian pigeonwings’ or ‘bluebellvine’, which is unique to Asian countries, but has later spread around the world with human migration. This flower is referred to as ‘Aparajitha’ in Ayurvedic medicine and is known for its diverse therapeutic benefits. However, in the verse, the focus is on the ‘flower’s swaying in the breeze that has been compared with a peacock’s tail’ as seen in the words ‘ஆடு மயிற் பீலியின் வாடையொடு துயல்வர’. The phrase ‘நல் எழில் சாஅய்’ talks about someone’s ‘fine beauty being ruined’. We learn that the person in question is a lady with ‘பணைத் தோள்’ ‘bamboo-like arms’, ‘குவளை நாறும் கூந்தல்’ meaning ‘tresses fragrant with blue waterlilies’ and ‘தேமொழி’ meaning ‘sweet words’. The verse then ends with ‘இன்மையது இளிவே’ talking about the ‘disgrace that having no wealth is’. Time to learn more!
The man and lady had been leading a happy, married life when the man felt the need to leave the lady to go in search of wealth. Perceiving his intention to leave her, the lady’s happiness starts declining. Seeing these changes in the lady, the man says to himself, “In the cool orchards, the dark-hued, eye-like bluebellvine flower dances in the northern winds like a peacock’s tail, and rain fused with wind drizzles, as the town sleeps in the midnight hour. At this time, assailed by pangs of pining that makes her shiver, she loses her fine beauty and her heart fills with sorrow as suffering surrounds her. She is one with bamboo-like shoulders, beauty spots, thick-trunked tresses that are fragrant with the scent of waterlilies and words akin to honey. If I leave her, propelled by my heart that bids me to part away in my duty to gather wealth, then the dishonour that destitution is, must be hard to bear indeed!” With these words, the man is considering the consequences of parting with the lady in search of wealth and decides that parting away is not worth the pain that would happen upon their lives.
Let’s delve deeper into this verse! The man starts by travelling to a future time in his mind and describes a midnight hour, when the bluebell vines dance in the northern winds, akin to a peacock, and when a soft rain drizzles on the town. He describes this as a time when the town entire sleeps but for one person. That person is the lady, who seems to be shivering in loneliness and suffering, her beauty spoilt. He observes that she will become one bitter of heart. His mind reflects on how she’s one with sweet words, fine arms, and with flowing, fragrant tresses. He places this lady, her present beauty and future ruin on one side and turns to see what dwells on the other side. There, his heart is bidding him to leave, stressing that it’s his duty to earn wealth. Then, he thinks about the consequence of not gathering wealth and wonders if that is such a disgrace when compared to the ruin that parting will wreak on the lady. And then, he decides in favour of the lady’s welfare and tells his heart, the way to go, at the moment.
Although such a turmoil between being with a beloved and gathering wealth is not entirely comprehensible to us, we can understand from the man’s perspective that he finds himself between a rock and a hard place! On one hand, if he does not leave in search of wealth, he will not have any to offer to those who come seeking to him, which is considered a huge shame on the man’s name. On the other hand, the lady will suffer terrible consequences of losing her health and beauty if he were to part away. In the end, the man decides to refrain from inflicting pain on the lady by parting away. It may not be the same rock and the same hard place in the twenty-first century. However, as the verse guides us, hope we can always strive to place compassion before ambition in our quandries!
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