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In this episode, we perceive metaphors of hope, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 358, penned by Nakkirar. The verse is set in the coastal regions of ‘Neythal’ and speaks in the voice of the lady to her confidante, expressing the angst in her heart at the man’s parting away to seek wealth.
”பெருந் தோள் நெகிழ, அவ் வரி வாட,
சிறு மெல் ஆகம் பெரும் பசப்பு ஊர,
இன்னேம் ஆக, எற் கண்டு நாணி,
நின்னொடு தெளித்தனர் ஆயினும், என்னதூஉம்,
அணங்கல் ஓம்புமதி, வாழிய நீ!” என,
கணம் கெழு கடவுட்கு உயர் பலி தூஉய்,
பரவினம் வருகம் சென்மோ-தோழி!-
பெருஞ் சேயிறவின் துய்த் தலை முடங்கல்
சிறு வெண் காக்கை நாள் இரை பெறூஉம்
பசும் பூண் வழுதி மருங்கை அன்ன, என்
அரும் பெறல் ஆய் கவின் தொலைய,
பிரிந்து ஆண்டு உறைதல் வல்லியோரே.
Opening with ‘பெருந் தோள் நெகிழ’ meaning ‘thick arms thin away’, the verse reveals the central theme of pining herein. Another symptom of this ancient affliction is noted in ‘அவ் வரி வாட’ meaning ‘those exquisite lines fade away’. This refers to the lines of an art form called ‘thoyyil’, which was practised then, wherein lined patterns were etched on a lady’s torso. The words ‘என்னதூஉம், அணங்கல் ஓம்புமதி’ convey the reassuring message ‘do not worry about this, even a little’. ‘கடவுட்கு உயர் பலி தூஉய், பரவினம்’ meaning ‘let us offer a sacrifice to god and pray’ seems to indicate a belief in god and prayers. Two animal elements of the seashore make an appearance in ‘பெருஞ் சேயிறவு’ meaning ‘a huge, red shrimp’ and ‘சிறு வெண் காக்கை’ meaning ‘a little white gull’. An ancient Pandiya king and his town present themselves to us in ‘பசும் பூண் வழுதி’ and ‘மருங்கை’. The verse ends with the words ‘பிரிந்து ஆண்டு உறைதல் வல்லியோரே’ meaning ‘he, who is capable of living apart from me’ and beckons us into the meaning of the song.
The man and lady had been leading a love relationship when their relationship was revealed to the lady’s parents, which necessitated that the man leave to gather wealth towards their wedding. During this period of separation, the lady languishes in pining, and says to her confidante, “Perceiving that my thick arms had thinned, those alluring lines had faded, and a deep pallor had spread on my soft, little bosom, feeling guilt for this state of mine, he made it clear to you that you never have to worry, even a little, about this. May you live long! Now, we have to offer a great sacrifice and plead to that momentous god. Come, let us go, my friend! A small, white gull finds as its catch, the curved flesh of a huge, red shrimp with a cotton-like head, in the town of ‘Marungai’, ruled by ‘Pasumpoon Vazhuthi’. For now, making my hard-to get, exquisite beauty, which is akin to that town of Marungai, to waste away, he has parted from me and seems capable of living far away!” With these words, the lady gives word to the angst in her heart at the man breaking his promise to never part away and yet, coats the dark clouds with the silver streak of hope.
Time to delve into the details! The lady opens her words not by talking about her present but the past words of a person. This person seems to have taken a look at the lady’s thinned arms, faded lines and pallor spreading on her bosom and felt guilt and shame. So, we know that this person can only be the man and the reason for his guilt is that he parted away from the lady on some mission of his. Returning, he seems to have made a promise to the confidante that this would never happen, for he would never part from the lady and leave her in that state. How rash of him to make a promise like that, when he knows not what the future holds! Returning to the verse, the lady after narrating this scene from her past, now focuses on her present and says that it’s important that she and the confidante leave immediately to appease their god with offerings and a prayer. Why this sudden display of faith, we’ll find out in a short while!
Meanwhile, the lady travels to the town of ‘Marungai’ said to be ruled by ‘Pasumpoon Vazhuthi’, an early Pandya king, and here, in this picturesque town, the lady zooms on a white gull that is happily feasting on the day’s catch – a huge, red shrimp! The lady has apparently talked about this town, only to refer to her own beauty. Two interesting things emerge here – One, that attribute of comparing a lady’s beauty to a city and the other, that the lady may have been shy and naive, but humble, she apparently wasn’t! Joking apart, the lady says that the man has parted away making that beauty of hers fade away. It’s now we realise that the reason for the sacrifice and pleading to god is because the man has broken his promise and has travelled yet again, leaving the lady to pine and suffer. There was, no doubt, a belief that a broken promise invited the wrath of god! Even amidst all this suffering, in that scene of the gull catching a huge, red shrimp, the lady places a metaphor for the man earning the wealth he seeks to offer to the lady’s parents in exchange for her hand. Logically if you look at it, the man has left only to bring permanent happiness to the lady and she shouldn’t be worrying even a little about this. Knowing the man’s intentions, the lady still worries and this only tells us that logic seems to shatter when comes to the matters of the heart!
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