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In this episode, we perceive the beauty of an unshakeable faith, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 309, penned by Kabilar. Set in the mountain country of Kurinji, the verse speaks in the words of the lady to her confidante, allaying the sadness in her friend, as the man delays formalising his union with the lady.
நெகிழ்ந்த தோளும், வாடிய வரியும்,
தளிர் வனப்பு இழந்த என் நிறனும் நோக்கி,
”யான் செய்தன்று இவள் துயர்” என, அன்பின்
ஆழல்; வாழி!-தோழி!-”வாழைக்
கொழு மடல் அகல் இலைத் தளி தலைக் கலாவும்,
பெரு மலை நாடன் கேண்மை நமக்கே
விழுமமாக அறியுநர் இன்று” என,
கூறுவைமன்னோ, நீயே;
தேறுவன்மன் யான், அவருடை நட்பே.
A tiny gem of a verse that opens with ‘நெகிழ்ந்த தோளும்’ meaning ‘arms that are thinning away’, immediately revealing that pining is afoot! The words ‘வாடிய வரியும்’ meaning ‘lines that fade’, make us wonder what lines are being mentioned here. Is it the lines on the skin or something else? Let’s explore that in a while. When we encounter the phrase ‘யான் செய்தன்று இவள் துயர்’ which means ‘I’m the reason for her troubles’, a vivid picture of someone’s regret is sketched for us. ‘அன்பின் ஆழல்’ is an exquisite expression referring to those ‘tears of love’. An element from nature greets us in ‘வாழைக் கொழு மடல் அகல் இலை’ meaning ‘the rich and broad leaves in a plantain tree’ that anyone who has had a Tamil meal would know well. The verse ends with ‘அவருடை நட்பே’ meaning ‘my beloved’s bond’ and piques our interest in this mountain song!
The man and lady had been leading a love relationship and the man was trysting with the lady for a while. It was custom for the man to delay his visiting the lady in order to make her love for him bloom and become indispensable. The confidante notices the signs of pining in the lady and worries endlessly. To her, the lady says, “Seeing my thinning arms, my faded lines and my skin that has lost its fresh glow, you think, ‘all these troubles of hers are my doing’, and you shed tears, because of your love for me. Do not cry, my dear friend. May you live long! Although you say, ‘raindrops gather and enrich the luscious, wide leaves of the plantain in the mountain country of the lord, who doesn’t realise the suffering his relationship has inflicted upon you’, I believe in my bond with him and will bear with this parting.” With these words, the lady consoles her friend and conveys her confidence in the man’s return.
Now, for the delightful nuances! The lady is in a severe state of pining, wherein her arms lose their health and her skin loses its glowing beauty. Remember those lines we talked about in the beginning. These are the lines of ‘thoyyil’ paintings, those lined patterns painted on the shoulders and arms of the lady, which are now fading away. Even though the lady is in such a state of suffering, she puts aside her own troubles and looks at her friend, who is at the moment, feeling guilty. Why should the confidante feel guilty for the lady’s pining? This is because the confidante takes responsibility for allowing the lady’s relationship with the man. She thinks it’s her fault that the lady accepted and became close to the man. Understanding all that is going through in her friend’s heart, the lady sees the love in the confidante for her.
The lady then talks in the words of the confidante relaying how the confidante is feeling sad that the man does not realise the pain his parting is inflicting on the lady. And, when she’s describing the man, as it’s the custom, she talks about the man’s mountain country, wherein on the broad and green leaves of a plantain tree, rain drops puddle and fuse within. Although this seems like a mere description of the greenery in the man’s land, the lady is merging a metaphor within. Akin to how the rain drops fall on those plantain leaves and becomes fused within, the lady says the man’s words have fallen on her heart and has become one with her. This makes her believe strongly in the man’s relationship and trust that he will be back soon.
In these few lines, we glimpse at multiple dimensions of love! One, the confidante’s love for the lady that makes her cry for the sadness and suffering in her friend, as if it were her own. Then, the lady’s love for the confidante that makes her put aside her pain and focus on consoling her friend. And, as the crowning glory, the lady’s love for the man, evident from that unwavering trust in her relationship with him. A song that seems to whisper with wisdom that troubles are temporary but love is lasting!
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