Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More
In this episode, we smile at the smartness of the confidante, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 316, penned by Idaikaadanaar. The verse is set in the forest regions of ‘Mullai’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, consoling her friend as rain clouds loom on the horizon.
மடவது அம்ம, மணி நிற எழிலி-
மலரின் மௌவல் நலம் வரக் காட்டி,
“கயல் ஏர் உண்கண் கனங்குழை! இவை நின்
எயிறு ஏர் பொழுதின் ஏய்தருவேம்” என,
கண் அகன் விசும்பின் மதி என உணர்ந்த நின்
நல் நுதல் நீவிச் சென்றோர், தம் நசை
வாய்த்து வரல் வாரா அளவை, அத்தக்
கல் மிசை அடுக்கம் புதையக் கால் வீழ்த்து,
தளி தரு தண் கார் தலைஇ,
விளி இசைத்தன்றால், வியல் இடத்தானே.
Opening with ‘மடவது அம்ம, மணி நிற எழிலி’ meaning ‘foolish is that sapphire-coloured cloud’, the verse characterises a rain cloud with a quintessential human quality! Then, the focus falls on ‘மௌவல்’ or ‘jasmine’ flowers, no doubt a common sight in those forest homes. Next is the curious expression ‘கனங்குழை’ which means ‘heavy earrings’ and it’s curious because this is an address to a lady. The lady is being personified as her earring in this Sangam verse! Does this reveal the importance of jewellery to Sangam women or simply the habit of building noun forms from what a person does or wears? A question that can only remain a question, for now! In addition to the lady’s earrings, we also glimpse at ‘கயல் ஏர் உண்கண்’ meaning ‘kohl-eyes, akin to a fish’ as well as her ‘நல் நுதல்’ or ‘fine forehead’. The verse ends with ‘விளி இசைத்தன்றால், வியல் இடத்தானே’ meaning ‘thunder echoes from those wide spaces’ and invites us to get immersed!
The man and lady had been leading a happy, married life when the man had to leave on a mission. Before he leaves, he promises to be back by a season and the lady waits patiently during this time. When the promised season shows hints of appearing, the lady worries. Seeing her suffering friend, the confidante says, “Listen, this sapphire-hued cloud is senseless! Stroking your fine forehead, considering it to be the moon that rises before the eyes in those wide skies, pointing out to the buds of jasmine flowers beautifully, he said, ‘My lady with kohl-streaked, fish-like eyes and heavy, dangling earrings! In the season when these attain the beauty of your teeth, I shall be back”, and then he left. Even before it’s time for the season, when he could have fulfilled his dreams and returned to you, this cloud is hurrying to hide those mountains by coming down and pouring cool, moist rain drops, resounding in those wide open spaces!” With these words, the confidante tries to convince the lady that it’s not yet time for the rainy season and that the man would return to her, as promised.
Time to explore the nuances! The confidante starts with a bang, calling the rain cloud, seemingly in the colour of dark gems, brainless. Before she explains that accusation, she takes us to the moment the man is about to part away from the lady. As he takes a step to leave, his eyes fall on the jasmine buds in their garden. He turns to the lady and pointing to those flowers says that he would be back before those buds bloomed with the beauty of the lady’s teeth. No doubt the lady would have revealed her flower-like teeth on hearing these loving words. A moment to appreciate this simile for teeth. After having seen ‘thorn-like teeth’ in many Natrinai poems, these ‘flower-like teeth’ are a welcome sight indeed! Returning to the verse, the man says these words caressing the forehead of the lady, which seems to glow like a moon. Again, the forehead seems to be a thing of prominence in these Sangam verses!
After bringing that poignant moment before the lady’s eyes, the confidante then turns her attention to that cloud she was talking about in the beginning. Before the man could wrap up his duties and rush to the lady and before it was the rainy season, the cloud had decided to pour down cool rain on the mountains and resound with thunder. And that’s why, I say the cloud is foolish, the confidante finishes! I wouldn’t think that any lady would be naive enough to accept these words as true but she would surely see a friend’s love in this consolation. The next time, we find a friend or ourselves, in a moment of difficulty, hope we hear the truth of this verse, which says, what is needed is not the thunder of a perfect solution, merely the whisper of a positive word!
Share your thoughts...