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In this episode, we observe how a man expresses his affection after a long separation, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 209, penned by Paalai Paadiya Perunkadunko. The verse is situated in the drylands of ‘Paalai’ and speaks in the voice of the man to the confidante, passing on a message to the lady listening nearby.
அறந்தலைப்பட்ட நெல்லிஅம் பசுங் காய்
மறப் புலிக் குருளை கோள் இடம் கரக்கும்
இறப்பு அருங் குன்றம் இறந்த யாமே,
குறு நடை பல உள்ளலமே, நெறிமுதல்
கடற்றில் கலித்த முடச் சினை வெட்சித்
தளை அவிழ் பல் போது கமழும்
மை இருங் கூந்தல் மடந்தை நட்பே.
‘She was the only thing I thought of’ declares a voice in this verse. The opening words ‘அறந்தலைப்பட்ட நெல்லிஅம் பசுங் காய்’ meaning ‘green fruits of the charitable gooseberry tree’ intrigues with its glowing portrait of this drylands tree. Following plant life, there’s mention of ‘மறப் புலிக் குருளை’ meaning ‘the cub of a strong tiger’. In the phrase ‘பல உள்ளலமே’ meaning ‘I thought not of many other things’, a hint of the core theme can be sensed. Another plant greets us in ‘முடச் சினை வெட்சி’ meaning ‘Ixora plants with curved branches’. This plant is a favourite among gardeners and landscape artists for its bunched bouquet of flowers, the shape of which has made contemporary Tamils refer to it as ‘Idlipoo’, referring to the famous South Indian steamed breakfast of ‘Idli’. Ending with the words ‘மை இருங் கூந்தல் மடந்தை நட்பே’ meaning ‘relationship with the maiden having kohl-dark tresses’, the verse beckons us within.
Good-hearted gooseberry trees bloom and powerful tigers roam in this one! The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a happy, married life when the man parted with the lady to gather wealth. On his return, as the lady listens nearby, the confidante asks him, ‘Did even a single thought about us pass through you, when you were away?’ To the confidante and the listening lady, the man replies, “The generous and just ’Nelli’ tree’s green fruits drops in the spot that a powerful tiger’s cubs lays in wait. When I traversed through such a difficult to cross hill, I did not think of other things, O maiden with a short stride! In the path through the forest, grow many ‘Vetchi’ shrubs with curved branches and their spread out leaves are decked with fragrant flowers. My love for the lady with kohl-dark tresses, wafting with the fragrance of those ‘Vetchi’ flowers, was all I thought of!” With these words, the man narrates what went through his mind, as he was separated from the lady, all those days.
Time to dive into the nuances. The man starts by talking about a ‘just’ gooseberry tree. Why the choice of that adjective for this tree? On researching, I learnt that gooseberry trees were the ‘go-to’ trees when it came to arresting thirst, for these have water-rich fruits. For travellers walking through the searing drylands, with no fresh sources of water, this tree seems to have been a life-saver. Perhaps, kings or patrons took to planting gooseberry trees in the paths frequented by travellers. And so, it was an act of generosity on the part of the planters but more importantly, on the part of the tree, for rendering its goodness to aid another. Could it be also be a subtext for the man’s parting away in search of wealth, for whether he liked it or not, was it not expected of him to earn wealth and render unto the needy? Returning, we find the man has mentioned the gooseberry tree only to say that the fruits of these trees drop down in a spot, which is frequented by tiger cubs. What connection could gooseberry fruits have with tigers? It’s not like these tigers would take a bite of the fruit, even if they are hungry, being the carnivores they are. So, what’s the significance? Let’s ponder on that a little while as we listen to the man’s words.
The man continues by saying even when he walked through such a path, his mind did not waver about this and that. Instead, all he thought of, was his relationship with the lady, who had dark black tresses, filled with a fragrance akin to the ‘Ixora’ bushes that flourish in the forests. Now would be a good time to return to the tiger-gooseberry puzzle. Why does the tiger choose the spot where gooseberry fruits fall in bunches even through it’s not going to eat that? It’s because it wants to eat what eats the fruits. Herbivores and humans, who are desperate for water would seek respite in the gooseberry fruits. Lured by bunches of those fruits, they would walk in there, only to be pounced upon by the tiger. So, the man has mentioned this to say how dangerous that path was, and how much alertness was needed to escape alive from there. Even in such precarious situations, all I thought of, was the lady, the man declares, and thereby conveys the extent of his affection for his beloved. No doubt the lady would melt on hearing these words and throw away even those last traces of anger on the man for parting away from her. The way this Sangam verse plays out like a movie, while conveying so many lessons about survival, is a testimony to how these verses were the infotainment of the ancient era!
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