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In this episode, we hear the lament of a lady on a picturesque night, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 348, penned by Velliveethiyaar. Set in the coastal regions of ‘Neythal’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady, expressing her angst at being parted away from her man.
நிலவே, நீல் நிற விசும்பில் பல் கதிர் பரப்பி,
பால் மலி கடலின், பரந்து பட்டன்றே;
ஊரே, ஒலி வரும் சும்மையொடு மலிபு தொகுபு ஈண்டி,
கலி கெழு மறுகின், விழவு அயரும்மே;
கானே, பூ மலர் கஞலிய பொழில் அகம்தோறும்
தாம் அமர் துணையொடு வண்டு இமிரும்மே;
யானே, புனை இழை ஞெகிழ்த்த புலம்பு கொள் அவலமொடு
கனை இருங் கங்குலும் கண்படை இலெனே:
அதனால், என்னொடு பொரும்கொல், இவ் உலகம்?
உலகமொடு பொரும்கொல், என் அவலம் உறு நெஞ்சே?
The verse opens with the words ‘நிலவே, நீல் நிற விசும்பில்’ meaning ‘the moon in the blue-hued sky’ and establishes the time of the day. In a structured fashion, the next layer of the verse talks about ‘ஊரே, ஒலி வரும் சும்மையொடு’ meaning ‘the town, filled with loud noises’ and sketches for us, the place where this unfolds. Keeping in line with the structure, the following layer mentions ‘கானே, பூ மலர்’ meaning ‘the forest filled with flowering buds’. The fourth and final layer follows in a rhythmic manner with the words ‘யானே, புனை இழை ஞெகிழ்த்த’ meaning ‘Me, with my slipping jewels’ and brings to fore that quintessential symptom of pining in Sangam times. The word ‘பொரும்கொல்’ meaning ‘at battle’ occurs repeatedly in the finishing lines, with the verse ending with ‘என் அவலம் உறு நெஞ்சே’ meaning ‘my tormented heart’!
The man and lady had been in a love relationship and the man had been trysting with the lady for a while. As the man had to leave on various missions and to keep the slander in town in check, he stays away from trysting with the lady. One such night, the lady says to herself, “The moon is spreading its many rays on the blue-hued sky and turning it into a sea of milk; The townsfolk have gathered in huge numbers and the streets are filled with uproarious noises of their festival celebrations; The forest has burst open its flower buds all over the groves and there, the bees are buzzing in the company of their desired mates. Whereas, I am in that suffering-filled state, which makes my jewels slip and fall, and even in the darkest hour of this night, my eyes rest not! And so, will the world wage war with me? Or will my anguished heart wage war with the world?” With these words, the lady speaks out about the torment in her heart in contrast to the celebrating world around.
Time to delve into the details of this exquisitely etched verse! The first thing that the lady points out is the moon in the sky, and this is, no doubt, a full moon day, for the lady adds that this celestial being is spreading its many arms of rays far and wide and seems to be magically turning what was a blue-hued sky into a sea of milk. From the sight of this milky sea, we turn to see the lady pointing in the direction of loud noises coming from her town, where people are thronging the streets to take part in a festival and causing an uproar. This tells us that ancient people had festivities planned for full-moon nights. Wonder what they were celebrating? As we are smiling at that evident joy, the lady then points to the groves that surround their hamlet and there, all the flowers seem to be in full bloom, and the denizens of these groves, the bees, seem to be partying like the townsfolk, in the company of their desirable mates.
After sketching such scenes and sounds of beauty and bliss, the lady turns the focus inward and talks about how she lies there, with her fine jewels slipping away, and her eyes not seeing a moment of rest even in the darkness of the night. Diverging markedly from the scenes outside, we find the lady in deep pining, exhibiting the modern-day symptoms of insomnia. Then, the lady finishes her words by wondering whether the world will fight with her for not joining in its celebrations or whether her heart will take to fighting the world for not keeping company in its sadness! Reflecting on this, whatever may be the cause of suffering and sleeplessness, doesn’t it appear to the one suffering as if the whole world seems to be rejoicing about something or the other? A tormented mind is an expert at depicting one as a lone victim in a perfect world. The verse is an insightful study in this seeming contrast between the inner and outer world in that moment of sadness!
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