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In this episode, we perceive how the sensations of the world paints angst in a heart, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 335, penned by Velliveethiyaar. Set in the coastal regions of ‘Neythal’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady, expressing the pain in her heart on a lonely night.
திங்களும் திகழ் வான் ஏர்தரும்; இமிழ் நீர்ப்
பொங்கு திரைப் புணரியும் பாடு ஓவாதே;
ஒலி சிறந்து ஓதமும் பெயரும்; மலி புனற்
பல் பூங் கானல் முள் இலைத் தாழை
சோறு சொரி குடையின் கூம்பு முகை அவிழ,
வளி பரந்து ஊட்டும் விளிவு இல் நாற்றமொடு
மை இரும் பனைமிசைப் பைதல உயவும்
அன்றிலும் என்புற நரலும்; அன்றி,
விரல் கவர்ந்து உழந்த கவர்வின் நல் யாழ்
யாமம் உய்யாமை நின்றன்று;
காமம் பெரிதே; களைஞரோ இலரே!
The verse opens with ‘திங்களும் திகழ் வான் ஏர்தரும்’ meaning ‘the shining moon rises in the sky’, painting a full moon night in the ancient past. The next element that catches our eyes is the ‘பொங்கு திரைப் புணரி’ which means ‘the seas with roaring waves’. ‘முள் இலைத் தாழை’ meaning ‘thorn-leafed pandanus’ greets us with its ‘விளிவு இல் நாற்றம்’ meaning ‘endless fine fragrance’. Accompanying the plant life, appears ‘பைதல உயவும் அன்றிலும்’ referring to ‘the red-naped ibis that calls out with sorrow’. Adding to the musical elements, appears the ‘கவர்வின் நல் யாழ்’ meaning ‘the desirable, excellent lute’. Ending with ‘காமம் பெரிதே; களைஞரோ இலரே’ meaning ‘desire is vast but absent is the one to alleviate it’, the verse beckons us to take a walk within!
The man and lady had been leading a love relationship when the man had to leave the lady to go in search of wealth for their wedding. Although her mind understood the reason for the man’s parting, her heart pined for him. One night, she says to herself, “The luminous moon rises upon the sky; the resounding of the waters in the sea with foaming waves ends not; With an unceasing noise, these waves touch the shore and part away; In the many-flowered orchard by the sea, the copious waters makes the thorn-leaved ‘thazhai’ burst open its cone-like buds, akin to rice boiling and flowing over from its pot; As the wind pierces within the flowers and flutters away, the fragrance spreads perpetually; From atop the kohl-like dark palm tree, the ‘andril’ sounds out its sorrow-filled call, which comes by my ears and echoes ceaselessly; Touched by fingers, the strings of a desirable, fine lute sends out never-ending music in this midnight hour. My yearning is great but there is no one to allay it!” With these words, the lady gives expression to the soaring pain in her heart, filled with passion for the man, who has parted away from her!
Now, for the nuances! The lady begins her tale of suffering by pointing to the glowing moon rising in the skies. From the skies, her eyes move to the ground beneath and she sees the foamed filled sea. The waves capture not only her sense of sight but inevitably that of sound as well, as its ceaseless roar fills her ears. Then, she returns to the sense of sight, catching these waves caressing the shore and receding away over and over again. Just then, the movement of these waves seem to make the pandanus tree growing on the shore open out its buds. For this action, the lady brings in the simile of a pot of rice boiling over and the image of this foamy, white flower’s budding will reveal what an apt comparison this is! Now, the buds have opened and there’s a breeze roving about. Swirling around these buds, the breeze takes its fragrance to the lady’s nostrils. Just then, the lady hears the cry of an ‘andril’ perched above a palm tree! Adding to these sounds, the hands of an expert musician wielding a lute, seems to flood the midnight hour with music!
All these elements mentioned are known to give immense pleasure to the perceiver. The sight of the moon and the waves, the fragrance of flowers, the sound of birds and lutes is surely a delight for the senses to anyone! But, in this lady, they evoke not an appreciation of these fine things but a deep angst. The reason for this is that all these elements accentuate the lady’s loneliness and makes her yearn for the man. Indeed, such beauty can fill the heart with love and in this lady, who is separated from her man, it seems a pain which has no end just then. A sensitive and sensual song that tries to find solace by speaking out aloud, its sorrow!
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