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In this episode, we perceive the depth of a man’s love for his lady, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 199, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated in the hills of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the man to his heart, in response to the confidante’s message that the lady has been confined to her house.
பெறுவது இயையாதுஆயினும், உறுவது ஒன்று
உண்டுமன் வாழிய-நெஞ்சே!-திண் தேர்க்
கை வள் ஓரி கானம் தீண்டி
எறிவளி கமழும் நெறிபடு கூந்தல்
மை ஈர் ஓதி மாஅயோள்வயின்,
இன்றை அன்ன நட்பின் இந் நோய்
இறு முறை என ஒன்று இன்றி,
மறுமை உலகத்து மன்னுதல் பெறினே.
‘If not in this, in the next, for sure’ is the promise within this one! The opening words ‘பெறுவது இயையாதுஆயினும்’ meaning ‘even if obtaining is impossible’ talks about a desire that seems unlikely to come true. In the previous song, we met with ‘Kaari’ alias ‘Malaiyan’ and in this one, we meet up with another renowned historical character, ‘Ori’, as echoed in the words ‘திண் தேர்க் கை வள் ஓரி’ meaning ‘Ori, the one who has powerful chariots and generous hands’. Proclaiming the beauty of the lady appears the words ‘நெறிபடு கூந்தல் மை ஈர் ஓதி மாஅயோள்’ meaning ‘She, of the wavy, kohl-dark, well-oiled tresses; the one with dark skin’. ‘இறு முறை என ஒன்று இன்றி’ meaning ‘without a thing called end’ hints about an undying emotion. Ending with the words ‘மறுமை உலகத்து மன்னுதல் பெறினே’ meaning ‘in the next world, it will stand steadfast’, the verse welcomes us to know more.
Abstractions about immortality seem to abound. The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a love relationship when slander spread across town and the lady’s parents took to confining the lady to the house. When the confidante brought news of this to the man, he says, “Even if attaining is not possible, there is one gain, for sure. May you live long, my heart! Caressing the forests of the generous Ori, who wields powerful chariots, blows a fragrant breeze, akin to which is the wavy, kohl-hued, moist tresses of my dark-skinned lady. The bond I feel with her today, which gives rise to this love affliction, has no end. For, it will survive and succeed in the next life indeed!” With these words, the man expresses dejection at not being able to see the lady, and at the same time, echoes the determination that their relationship knows no end.
Time to explore the nuances. The man starts by talking about how although it seemed impossible to attain something, there was one good that would arise here. What is that which is impossible to attain and what could be the good to arise out of it? Instead of giving us a straight reply for these queries, the man starts to talk about a breeze. Not any old breeze but the one that blows through the forests in the domain of King Ori, known all across land, for his speedy chariots and generous nature. Blowing through Ori’s land, this breeze carries an exquisite fragrance and that is the very scent of my lady’s wavy, thick, dark tresses, the man declares. Now, we have the answer for question 1. Seems like it’s his lady love, who is unattainable.
From the description of his lady, the man moves to intangible things and talks about his bond with the lady, the very thing that’s melting away his health. He declares that his relationship with the lady has no end whatsoever. So what if I cannot be with her in this life, in the next, our love will bloom again, for sure, he says. So, the good to arise out of this is the man’s unshakeable belief that his relationship with the lady is not going to go away by the actions of others, but will live on, in lives that follow. A declaration of trust and love that will no doubt move the confidante to help the man if he were to decide to do something about his love in this life itself. It’s my view that the man talks about his unending bond in lives to come, only to reiterate the belief in how valuable it is, to him, and to find the strength to do what it takes to reach for and find joy in this one life that lies ahead!
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