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In this episode, we perceive a picturesque scene, revealing hidden secrets, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 26, penned by Kollan Alisi. Set in the mountain country of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady’s kith and kin, after hearing the fortune-teller’s divination about the lady’s ill-health.
அரும்பு அற மலர்ந்த கருங் கால் வேங்கை
மேக்கு எழு பெருஞ் சினை இருந்த தோகை
பூக் கொய் மகளிரின் தோன்றும் நாடன்
தகாஅன் போலத் தான் தீது மொழியினும்,
தன் கண் கண்டது பொய்க்குவது அன்றே-
தேக் கொக்கு அருந்தும் முள் எயிற்றுத்துவர் வாய்
வரை ஆடு வன் பறழ்த் தந்தைக்
கடுவனும் அறியும், அக் கொடியோனையே.
A wildlife safari through words, indeed! The first thing we see is ‘a dark-stemmed Indian Kino tree, which has flowered fully’ in the phrase ‘அரும்பு அற மலர்ந்த கருங் கால் வேங்கை’. Then, we glimpse at ‘பெருஞ் சினை இருந்த தோகை’ meaning ‘a peacock on the huge branch’. From these delightful scenes, we turn to the abstract in ‘தீது மொழியினும்’ meaning ‘even though false words are spoken’. Intrigue fills us on taking in the words ‘தன் கண் கண்டது பொய்க்குவது அன்றே’ meaning ‘that which is seen by one’s eyes will not be false’. Learnt that ‘தேக் கொக்கு’ refers to ‘sweet mangoes’, an expression that makes mouths water. Ending with the words ‘கடுவனும் அறியும், அக் கொடியோனையே’ meaning ‘the male monkey knows that cruel man’, the verse beckons us to listen closely.
What has a monkey got to do with the man and his relationship with the lady? The context reveals that the man and lady had been leading a love relationship and had been trysting together for a while. Whenever he parted away, the lady languished. Wanting to probe the reasons for her ill-health, the lady’s foster mother and birth mother avail the services of a fortune-teller. This fortune-telling woman declares that the reason for the lady’s ill-health was another god. Hearing this statement, the confidante comes forward and says, “On a huge branch that rises above on the black-trunked ‘vengai’, fully flowered sans young buds, stands a peacock, appearing like a maiden gathering flowers. Such is the country of the lord from the mountains. Even though false words are being uttered as if he is an unsuitable one, these can never falsify the truth seen with the eyes. For, the father of the strong, little mountain monkey with thorn-like teeth and crimson mouth that feeds on sweet mangoes, knows well that cruel man!” With these words, the confidante reveals to the lady’s relatives that the man and lady were in a love relationship and that was the only reason for the changes in her.
Kino trees, peacocks, monkeys and mangoes – what a treat for us! However, it’s time to probe the confidante’s intentions. She first talks about a ‘Kino’ tree, with upraised branches, and on which full-blossomed yellow flowers greet us from every nook and corner of the tree, with not a single unopened bud. Here, on the branch of the tree, stands a peacock and the confidante mentions how this looks like a maiden, who is gathering flowers. She mentions this as if to describe the man’s mountain country. From there, she turns to her present and describes how even though the fortune-teller seemed to be saying things, which were not true, with regard to the man, the truth seen by the eyes can never be false, she declares. Let’s unravel this puzzling statement. What is the falsehood that the fortune-teller is saying? From the context, we understand that these false words are the ones connecting the lady’s ill-health with the wrath of a god. What about the statement about the truth seen by the eyes? Whose eyes are these? Clarifying our queries, the confidante reveals that these eyes belong to the father of a little monkey with a red mouth and sharp teeth, one which savours sweet mangoes, and concludes saying that this male monkey knows that cruel person very well!
Which leads us to another question – what has the monkey knowing this cruel person got to do with anything? Calling that mountain monkey as the witness to the love-relationship between the man and the lady, the confidante declares that the man is the sole reason for the lady’s ill-health, which is why the confidante calls him ‘cruel’ as well! Through this, the confidante declares instead of going towards pointless rituals, the lady’s kith and kin should focus on marrying their daughter to the man, if they want to truly resolve the lady’s suffering. Yet again, a delicious instance of turning people towards the validity of what eyes see, even if those belong to a monkey, rather than inferences arrived at, by the so-called divination experts. How lucky the lady is, to have such a wise and thoughtful spokesperson to guide her and those around her in the path of truth!
//a delicious instance of turning people towards the validity of what eyes see, even if those belong to a monkey, rather than inferences arrived at, by the so-called divination experts. // – very true 😍 love this line.