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In this episode, we perceive the tussle between being with a beloved and parting away to earn wealth, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 63, penned by Ugaaikudi Kilaar. Set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’, the verse speaks in the voice of the man to his heart, expressing how impossible it is, to execute what it desires.
”ஈதலும் துய்த்தலும் இல்லோர்க்கு இல்” எனச்
செய் வினை கைம்மிக எண்ணுதி; அவ் வினைக்கு
அம் மா அரிவையும் வருமோ?
எம்மை உய்த்தியோ? உரைத்திசின்- நெஞ்சே!
Benefits of seeking wealth and the challenges therein form the core here! The opening phrase ‘ஈதலும் துய்த்தலும் இல்லோர்க்கு இல்’ has a ‘Thirukkural-like’ tone and talks about how ‘the have-nots cannot think about charity to others or enjoyment of pleasures for themselves’. ‘செய் வினை’ refers to ‘the tasks taken up to earn wealth’. From wealth, the verse turns to beauty in ‘அம் மா அரிவை’ referring to ‘the beautiful, dark-skinned young lady’. Ending with the words ‘உரைத்திசின்- நெஞ்சே’ meaning ‘Speak, O heart’, the verse beckons us to listen intently.
Wealth and beauty seem to be sparring with swords! The context reveals that the man and lady had been leading a happy, married life when the man felt the need to part from the lady to go in search of wealth. At this time, he turns to his heart and says, “Deciding that benevolence and enjoyment are not for those who have not, you think excessively about the path that must be taken to earn wealth. But, will my beautiful, dark-skinned lady come along in that path too? Or, are you goading me to walk on alone? Tell me, my heart!” With these words, the man seems to be refusing to heed to his heart’s message to part away from the lady and seek wealth!
Will the man succeed in persuading his heart to give up its thought? Before we get there, let’s listen to his words another time. The man begins by speaking out aloud the logic in his heart’s desire to seek wealth. He outlines how giving to others and delighting in pleasures is impossible for those who have not. A moment to pause and appreciate how thought about others comes first in the minds of these ancient people. Wealth appears to be not for hoarding for one’s own welfare but for giving away to those who come seeking! Returning to the verse, we see how the man puts this logic as the thought of his heart, separating himself from that entity. He tells his heart that he understands that logic to be the reason it was pushing him to seek wealth. Then, he adds a question about whether his beautiful, young lady would accompany him in his quest. Knowing that the answer to that question is a ‘no’, he adds the alternate question about whether his heart is pushing him to go on alone. With a request for his heart to speak out its mind, the man ends his exchange.
Can the heart open its mouth and speak out? What is the point of this exercise then? The man seems to be saying he will not go leaving the lady alone but in truth, by speaking to his heart, with his lady in earshot, he is slowly building the need to go in search of wealth as well as declaring his love for her. This way, the lady’s trust would grow and in time, she would be able to bear with the man’s parting. Instead of harshly declaring ‘I have to go, I have no other choice’, there is a gentleness in this thoughtful approach that has the power to build strength gradually. We may dismiss these concerns about parting as something in the past, thanks to our technology. But, we would soon realise that’s just momentary consolation! A heart in love will know that even with all our present avenues of communication, there’s nothing like being next to the person you love. And, thinking ahead, I’m sure a person departing to seek life in Mars or beyond, will feel the same, no matter how far into the future!
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