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In this episode, we perceive a moment when consolation is rendered to a worried heart, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 391, penned by Paalai Paadiya Perungkadungko. Set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, allaying the anxiety in her friend’s heart about the man’s parting away.
ஆழல், மடந்தை! அழுங்குவர் செலவே-
புலிப் பொறி அன்ன புள்ளி அம் பொதும்பின்
பனிப் பவர் மேய்ந்த மா இரு மருப்பின்
மலர் தலைக் காரான் அகற்றிய தண் நடை
ஒண் தொடி மகளிர் இழை அணிக் கூட்டும்,
பொன் படு, கொண்கான நன்னன் நல் நாட்டு
ஏழிற்குன்றம் பெறினும், பொருள்வயின்
யாரோ பிரிகிற்பவரே- குவளை
நீர் வார் நிகர் மலர் அன்ன, நின்
பேர் அமர் மழைக் கண் தெண் பனி கொளவே?
The verse opens with the words ‘ஆழல், மடந்தை’ meaning ‘do not cry, O innocent girl’, instantly applying a balm of care to a pained heart. References to two animals can be seen in this verse, one in ‘புலிப் பொறி’ or ‘the markings on a tiger’ and the other, ‘மலர் தலைக் காரான்’, meaning ‘wide-headed buffalo’. From animals in the jungle, we turn to bejewelled women in ‘ஒண் தொடி மகளிர்’ meaning ‘maiden wearing glowing bangles’. History greets us in ‘கொண்கான நன்னன் நல் நாட்டு ஏழிற்குன்றம்’ talking about ‘a hill called ‘Ezhilkundram’ in the ‘Konkaan country of king Nannan’. A fragrant flower nudges our nostrils in ‘குவளை நீர் வார் நிகர் மலர்’ meaning ‘a dew-coated white lily’. Closely following this flower is a glorious expression, favoured by Sangam poets, for a lady’s eyes – ‘மழைக் கண்’ or ‘rain-like, moist eyes’. Ending with ‘தெண் பனி கொளவே’ meaning ‘as they well with tears’, the verse captures the brimming of emotions and invites us to listen with empathy!
The man and lady had been leading a happy, married life when the man felt the need to part away from the lady on a mission to gather wealth. Seeing his subtle signs of preparation, the lady starts worrying about his imminent journey. When her confidante observes the worry in the lady, she says, “Do not cry, O naive maiden! He will give up his intention to travel. In the grove, the huge and dark-horned buffalo with a flower-like head grazes on moist and luxuriant bushes with lines akin to the stripes of a tiger. What’s left of those cool leaves, adorns the beauty of women wearing luminous bangles in the gold-rich ‘Konkaan’ country of king Nannan. Even if he were to gain the ’Ezhil kundram’ in Nannan’s country, how can he part away to gather wealth, when your huge, beautiful, rain-like eyes, akin to a dew-covered water lily, sheds those clear tears?” With these words, the confidante instills confidence in the lady’s heart by promising that the man would not part from her, no matter what!
Now, for the nuances! The confidante starts her words by asking her friend not to cry. A moment to look with awe at the power of a mind to move one to tears just by imagining something, even though nothing has truly transpired! Relaying to us, the trouble in the lady’s heart, the confidante assures the lady that the man would not part away. After these initial words, she turns to describe a bushy plant growing in the groves, by highlighting how the leaves of this plant have tiger-like stripes on them. This made me curious to search for some plants like that, and I found a house plant called ‘calathea tiger’ with stunning stripes on its leaves. Wonder if the confidante is indeed referring to an ancient, wild cousin of this domesticated, modern plant! Returning, the confidante has mentioned these bushes because their leaves are the much-preferred food of long-horned buffaloes. Not just buffaloes looking for a nutritious diet, but even women, with a sense of fashion, seek out these leaves. The confidante clarifies that after the buffalo has had its fill, there’s plenty left for the bejewelled maidens to deck themselves with these striped leaves. She has shared these details only to describe the prosperity of King Nannan’s country! A special point that she mentions is that this country was rich in gold and even if the lord were to gain wealth as huge as the hill of ‘Ezhilkundram’ in Nannan’s land, he wouldn’t think of leaving the lady, the confidante clarifies. How can he, when something he deems higher than that mountain, the lady’s eyes, are welling with tears, akin to a white lily, covered with dew drops?
In the description of women enjoying those lined leaves after the buffalo has satiated its hunger, the confidante places a metaphor for the man’s economic situation, wherein he has enough wealth to render to those who come seeking to him, even after the lady has spent what the family needs. The verse reveals how rendering charity was foremost on the minds of Sangam people and it’s to give to others that they intended to part away on wealth-gathering missions. This, in turn leads to that struggle in the minds of those men between doing good to the world and causing pain to a beloved. A struggle between two noble intentions that has captured the imagination of many a poet in the Sangam age!
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