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In this episode, we zoom in on the emotions in parting, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 308, penned by Eyinanthai Magan Ilankeeranaar. Set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’, the verse speaks in the voice of the man to his heart, conveying his decision about parting away from the lady.
செல விரைவுற்ற அரவம் போற்றி,
மலர் ஏர் உண்கண் பனி வர, ஆயிழை-
யாம் தற் கரையவும், நாணினள் வருவோள்,
வேண்டாமையின் மென்மெல வந்து,
வினவலும் தகைத்தலும் செல்லாள் ஆகி,
வெறி கமழ் துறு முடி தயங்க, நல் வினைப்
பொறி அழி பாவையின் கலங்கி, நெடிது நினைந்து,
ஆகம் அடைதந்தோளே: அது கண்டு,
ஈர் மண் செய்கை நீர் படு பசுங் கலம்
பெரு மழைப் பெயற்கு ஏற்றாங்கு, எம்
பொருள் மலி நெஞ்சம் புணர்ந்து உவந்தன்றே.
When I encountered the word ‘அரவம்’ in the opening phrase ‘செல விரைவுற்ற அரவம்’, I thought the word referred to a ‘snake’, as it’s the contemporary meaning of the word. However, learnt that the word has the meaning of ‘noise’ and in here, talks about ‘the noises that arise when someone’s preparing to leave’. What is parting without tears and sure enough, we meet with ‘மலர் ஏர் உண்கண் பனி வர’ meaning ‘the flower-like, kohl-rimmed eyes start to shed dew’. The vital attribute of a Sangam woman makes an appearance in ‘வெறி கமழ் துறு முடி தயங்க’, which means ‘thick tresses, wafting with fragrance, sways’. ‘நீர் படு பசுங் கலம்’ brings before our eyes, ‘a fresh earthen pot, straight off the wheel, still wet in appearance’. The verse ends with a reference to ‘பொருள் மலி நெஞ்சம்’ illustrating ‘a heart that thinks only about wealth’ and beckons us to listen!
The man and lady had been leading a happy, married life and circumstances arose such that the man wanted to part away from the lady in search of wealth. One day thereafter, the man says to his heart, “Hearing the bustling noises of my preparation to part away, with tears brimming in those flower-like, kohl-rimmed eyes, my lady, the one who wears well-chosen, exquisite ornaments, was filled with shyness, when I called her. Not liking my parting away, she came slowly near me and yet, she neither questioned nor prevented me. With her fragrant, thick tresses swaying, much confused and mulling over all this, my lady came near and fell on my chest, akin to a well-crafted puppet doll, whose strings have been severed. Taking that in, akin to a fresh earthen pot, made of wet mud, caught in a downpour, my heart, which was afflicted to seek wealth, melted away and became one with hers!” With these words, the man conveys the painful effects of his decision to part away and impresses on his heart, the need to defer that decision.
Now, for the nuances! The entire poem operates within the confines of a house, which is filled with the noises of the man, busy preparing to start on his journey to seek wealth. Wonder what those noises might be? If it were today, we’d say the opening of cupboards, lifting of suitcases, arranging clothes and checking on the wallet. Back then, I imagine it must be the polishing of spears, readying the chariot, giving instructions to servants and so on. While all this is going on with much uproar, the man’s eyes suddenly turn to the lady and he notices that her eyes, painted with kohl, are brimming with tears. She speaks not a word for it was not considered chaste for a woman to prevent her man from his duty to seek wealth. The man stops his uproarious preparations and gently calls the lady to come near. Filled with shyness, she takes small steps, one after the other, perhaps like a toddler learning to walk, and moves towards the man. The man’s eyes falls on the lady’s fragrant and thick tresses that sway as she walks forward. The moment this lady comes near the man’s chest, she swoons on it. The man describes this event with the apt simile of a puppet doll, which falls down, when its strings are cut. The helplessness of the lady is captured in this picture perfect manner!
All this while, the man has been talking about the lady’s movements and now, he elaborates on what’s happening within him. To illustrate this, the man takes us to a potter’s shed. Here, the potter has just shaped wet mud in the shape of a fine pot, moving his hands with dexterity, and has lifted off the still-wet pot off the wheel and placed it aside. He intends to burn it and fuse it with the strength it needs, after it has dried a little! Spoiling his plans, the skies pour down heavily and that well-shaped mud pot melts with the rain water and returns to its old, diffused state. That vivid simile is to describe exactly what the man’s heart that had been determined to seek wealth, felt at the moment, the lady fell on the man’s chest. All resolve melted away, in the rain of the lady’s tears, and the man decided to give up his intention to part away. Fascinating how an intangible emotion is captured as if it were something one can touch and feel! When we often don’t even have words to express many emotions, here we see such emotions recorded and echoed as images that speak instantly to the heart. All we can do is melt away in this rain of poetry and become one with that exquisite moment where being with love triumphs over seeking wealth!
Beautiful ❤️