Natrinai 295 – Strange ships in the port

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முரிந்த சிலம்பின் நெரிந்த வள்ளியின்,
புறன் அழிந்து ஒலிவரும் தாழ் இருங் கூந்தல்
ஆயமும் அழுங்கின்று; யாயும் அஃது அறிந்தனள்,
அருங் கடி அயர்ந்தனள், காப்பே; எந்தை,
வேறு பல் நாட்டுக் கால் தர வந்த,
பல வினை நாவாய் தோன்றும் பெருந் துறை,
கலி மடைக் கள்ளின் சாடி அன்ன, எம்
இள நலம் இற்கடை ஒழியச்
சேறும்; வாழியோ! முதிர்கம் யாமே.

The verse opens with the beat of ‘முரிந்த சிலம்பின் நெரிந்த வள்ளியின்’ meaning ‘the burnt vines on barren slopes’ and lets out a whiff of a wild fire. In connection to the vines, appear ‘ஒலிவரும் தாழ் இருங் கூந்தல் ஆயமும் ‘ meaning ‘dense, long tresses of young girls’, highlighting how important hair was to the portrayal of Sangam women. The phrase ‘யாயும் அஃது அறிந்தனள்’ meaning ‘mother knows that too’ is interesting because it doesn’t state what the ‘அஃது’ or ‘that’ really is! It’s not just mother, who says hello in this verse, but ‘father’ too in ‘எந்தை’. The curious phrase ‘வேறு பல் நாட்டுக் கால்’ referring to the ‘winds of many, different nations’, seems to make the wind, a possession of a country! It makes me grateful that the wind is invisible and cannot be claimed by any nation, unlike the land and the seas that nations want to dominate! Returning to the words of the verse, the phrase continues as ‘தர வந்த பல வினை நாவாய்’ talking about ‘well-crafted ships that have arrived’. Now, I wonder whether the marker ‘belonging to many nations’ is for the ‘winds’ or for the ‘ships’! In any case, intriguing how Sangam folks seem to have considered the presence of foreign ships in their ports as a commonplace occurrence. ‘கலி மடைக் கள்ளின் சாடி’ talks about ‘a jar containing intoxicating liquor’ and adds to the age-old characterisation of sailors as hardy men of toddy! Ending with ‘முதிர்கம் யாமே’ meaning ‘age, we shall’, the verse invites us to know more about it all!

The man and lady had been leading a love relationship and the man was intent on trysting with the lady. The confidante observes this attitude of the man and decides to speak to him about it. One day, when he comes to the lady’s house, the confidante says to him, “On barren slopes, lie burnt vines, their beauty bereft. Her playmates, who have low-lying, thick tresses like those vines, now suffer without her company. Mother has come to know and has kept her under a strict, impenetrable guard. In the great shores of father, where propelled by the winds of many different nations, arrive wooden ships, crafted with exquisite workmanship. Akin to a jar of intoxicating liquor found herein, all her young beauty is about to be ruined within the confines of her home. She will live there to a ripe old age, may you live long!” With these words, the confidante conveys how the lady has been confined to the house and subtly indicates that unless the man takes the necessary steps, she may languish therein forever, losing her health and beauty.

Time to explore the nuances! The confidante opens the conversation by taking the man to a dried-up mountain slope and there, on the sides, spread the burnt vines of the ‘five-leaf yam’. Perhaps, there has been a wildfire break-out recently, for the green-leaved vines are now pitch-black. And this, she takes in as a simile to the tresses of the lady’s playmates, remarking how it’s lying on the backs of these young girls, who seem to be desolate. Then, from the playmates, the confidante turns her attention to the lady’s mother and simply says, ‘mother knows’. Apparently, these two words were all that was needed to make the man realise that trouble is afoot. The confidante clarifies the consequence of mother’s knowing and relates how the lady is now placed under a strict guard at home. From mother, the confidante moves to father and delights us with a description of father’s seaport!

In father’s seaport, the confidante says, ships with different signs and symbols, crafted by the skilled hands of many workmen, seem to be resting there. She also adds that these ships have come from many, different nations, propelled by the winds. This image captures acutely the interaction of Sangam people with people of many other nations. A verse that seems to establish that ancient Tamils were a sea-faring people, travelling to strange lands and welcoming travellers to their land.

Returning to the verse, the confidante zooms on a jar of toddy in this port and describes how the lady’s health will be devoured by pining within the confines of her home. A moment to rewind and wonder if the ships at father’s port is a metaphor to indicate the many proposals the lady is receiving from strangers! While that may be, the confidante knows that the lady will not accept them, steadfast in her love for the man. The confidante finishes by saying to the man that the only result of this would be the lady will live on, in that house, until she becomes an old woman. Then, to drive the wedge deeper, she says to the man, ‘But, you go on and live a long and happy life!’ Without commanding him to do anything, without giving him an earful for his negligence, the confidence reveals the reality of the situation and persuades him to allay the lady’s suffering by seeking a formal union with her. Indeed, a song that shows one how to set the sails in order in the middle of a storm, and float away to a safe port, propelled by the wind of rightful action!