Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More
In this episode, we perceive the emotions felt by a man at war, as he reflects on his family back home, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 341, penned by Madurai Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. Set in the mountains of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of a man, lamenting about his loneliness, one cold night.
வங்கா வரிப் பறைச் சிறு பாடு முணையின்,
செம் பொறி அரக்கின் வட்டு நா வடிக்கும்
விளையாடு இன் நகை அழுங்கா, பால் மடுத்து,
அலையா, உலவை ஓச்சி, சில கிளையாக்
குன்றக் குறவனொடு குறு நொடி பயிற்றும்
துணை நன்கு உடையள், மடந்தை: யாமே
வெம் பகை அரு முனைத் தண் பெயல் பொழிந்தென,
நீர் இரங்கு அரை நாள் மயங்கி, கூதிரொடு
வேறு புல வாடை அலைப்ப,
துணை இலேம், தமியேம், பாசறையேமே.
The poem opens with ‘வங்கா வரிப் பறை’ meaning ‘silver-lined drums’ and talks about the importance accorded to musical objects. The phrase ‘விளையாடு இன் நகை’ talks about ‘the delightful smile that comes from playing’ and we can conclude this is a child being talked about, for the pure joy of playing can only be felt by the young. We follow the said child as ‘he walks about, waving a stick and lisping words few’ as captured by ‘உலவை ஓச்சி, சில கிளையா’. The subject is finally mentioned here as ‘குன்றக் குறவன்’ meaning ‘the mountain dweller, who rules over the peaks’ and has led to much confusion in scholarly circles, which we will explore, shortly. ‘துணை நன்கு உடையள்’ talks about ‘a lady who has good company’ and in contrast, the verse ends with ‘துணை இலேம், தமியேம், பாசறையேமே’ meaning ‘I don’t have company and am all alone in this encampment’!
The man and lady had been leading a happy married life when the man had to part away from her on a mission. One night, far away from his home, he says to himself, “If my son feels a little dislike after playing with his silver-lined drums for long, he sets it aside and starts playing with a bowl, coated with red-dotted lac. With an unfading, sweet smile that comes from playing, he drinks milk, and then roams around, waving a stick, and speaking a few words. My naive, young lady, who tells tiny stories to my son, who is to be the lord of these mountains, has fine company indeed! As for me, I have come to face this battle-field, filled with terrible foes. As the cool rains pour, listening to the sounds of water flowing in this midnight hour, when dew merges with the cold northern winds from another land and troubles me, I stay in this war camp, bereft of company, all alone!” With these words, the man gives word to the pain in his heart at those solitary moments, as his mind travels back home and he is confined to the war camp!
Now, for the nuances! The man starts by zooming the lens on a drum – not any old drum, but one coated with silver lines. Perhaps, people of then, just seeing these words, would know immediately that it belongs to a child, just as we would, if a modern poet were to start her poem with the words – ‘polka-dotted, plastic watch’! When looking at the past, we have to wait for further context to emerge. The man clarifies with the words that follow, which are ‘even if there’s a little dislike that comes with playing on these drums’. Then, we know, that the drum doesn’t belong to a musician but a little child, who keeps knocking on it, and then tires after a point. What does the little boy do afterwards? He takes a bowl, which has been coated with red lac’ and then starts his play with that. He probably rolls it or pours liquids into it, seizing whatever enthralling idea his brain throws at him! This makes me think how sometimes kids set aside expensive toys and start playing with the cardboard boxes that come along in the package! In any case, a big smile glows on their face, when engrossed in play and so does the man’s son. Then, after a while, he goes to his mother for a drink of milk and then waving a stick, left and right, he saunters around the house, speaking words with a lisp, that I imagine those around would gather, as if it were pearls! After this lengthy description, the man suddenly calls the person who has been doing all this as ‘the lord of the mountains’ and this phrase has led to a lot of confusion in scholars, who debate whether the man had been referring to this entire scene, as if it were something he witnessed nearby. However, the most probable truth here, is that when the man says ‘the lord, who rules over the peaks, the man is talking about the title his young son will take on, one day!
Returning to the verse, the man then brings his innocent, young wife, into the picture and says that she spends her time, sharing stories with her son and the man concludes, perhaps with a sigh, that the lady is in fine company. At that moment, he reflects on his own state and talks about how he’s all alone in a camp near the battle-field, without the sweet company of his wife and son. Adding to his agony at that dark hour of the night, are the pouring rains and the cold winds that come from strange lands, the man concludes. The man seems to illustrate an aspect of human nature, wherein when in suffering, it seems as if everyone else is leading a happy life. We have seen in so many poems how when he is away, the lady pines for the man, losing her health, but here, the man’s mind tricks him into thinking that she seems to be in a happier state than him, with their son for company. In the end, the verse underscores an admirable aspect in Sangam poetry, which is to render the truth that finer emotions of missing someone and yearning for them is universal, no matter the gender!
Share your thoughts...