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In this episode, we relish similes from the natural world that reflect the inner landscape, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 74, penned by Vitta Kuthiraiyaar. The verse is situated in the hills of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, subtly persuading her to accept the man’s request to tryst with the lady.
விட்ட குதிரை விசைப்பின் அன்ன,
விசும்பு தோய் பசுங் கழைக் குன்ற நாடன்
யாம் தற் படர்ந்தமை அறியான், தானும்
வேனில் ஆனேறு போலச்
சாயினன் என்ப-நம் மாண் நலம் நயந்தே.
Something held back and something breaking free are the predominant images in this one! The opening words ‘விட்ட குதிரை’ meaning ‘a horse untied’ visualises the pent-up energy that’s being released in that frozen moment. Incidentally, these words have gone on to name the poet, whose true name is lost in time. It’s the mountains we speak of and the quintessential element of this land appears in ‘விசும்பு தோய் பசுங் கழை’ meaning ‘fresh green bamboo soaring to the skies’. This image of bamboos rushing to the sky was recently sketched in Kurunthogai 54, when these stalks were let go by a jungle elephant in fear. Following these elements of the wild, a domestic animal greets us in ‘வேனில் ஆனேறு’ referring to ‘a bull in early summer’. Ending with the words ‘நம் மாண் நலம் நயந்தே’ meaning ‘desiring our excellent beauty’, the verse welcomes us to listen to the story within!
What will this ‘horse and bull’ story tell us about the beat of the hearts then? The context reveals that the man had met the lady and fallen in love with her, and the lady too echoed his feelings. However, as custom dictated, the man had to win the confidence of the confidante to further his relationship with the lady. After many attempts, the confidante decides to take his plea to the lady. So, one day, the confidante says to the lady, “Akin to a horse that leaps on being let out, green bamboos soar to the skies in the peaks of the lord’s domain. Without realising that you are withering because of him, akin to a bull in spring, he loses his health, desiring your fine beauty!” With these words, the confidante presses the lady, in a hidden manner, to choose a trysting spot to meet with the man of her dreams.
Here’s a friend who seems to know the lady’s heart better than the lady herself! Now, let’s explore the quaint way with which she approaches the subject with the lady. The first image that the confidante conjures before our eyes is that of a horse that has been tied up for a long time and she freezes the moment when this tied-up horse is released. Imagine how it will leap to the skies, delighting in its new-found freedom! Enough to fire anyone with energy but why is the confidante talking about freed horses? Only to bring that up as a parallel for the way bamboos leap to the skies in the man’s mountain country. Although only the present of the leaping bamboo is mentioned, we should understand the implication that they leap so, because they were bent previously, just like how the horses were tied up too. These two dynamic images have been seemingly outlined by the confidante, only to describe the man’s domain.
After mentioning the man’s land, the confidante turns to talk about how the lady is wasting away, longing for him and adds that without knowing that, the man too is losing his health, desiring the fine beauty of the lady. To capture his state of mind vividly, the confidante talks about yet another animal, a bull in the season of spring. Perhaps, this was the breeding season for the bull and it was an animal in heat, not just because of the approaching summer but also, because of its innate biological instincts! With that, the confidante is telling the lady, ‘Although you speak no words to me, I know you are in love with him and so is he.’ And with that, she places the hidden nudge that the lady must consent to meet with the man to allay the suffering of separated lovers. The verse seems to zoom on to the most significant worry of those in love – whether the other too loves as one does! In a curious manner, the confidante also illustrates how when two people are in love, it’s sometimes easier for a third person to see that, than even the two involved! Beyond these evergreen concerns in love psychology, in the description of the man’s country, wherein bamboos, although bent momentarily, leap to the skies, the confidante etches how although the man seems to have bent down in pleading to the confidante and the lady, his honour was naturally sky-high, akin to the bamboos in his land. Amazing is the talent of these ancients, who construct the architecture of subtle emotions, not with material things, but with the elements of nature, leaping with life!
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