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In this episode, we listen to the worry in a man’s heart, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 237, penned by Alloor Nanmullaiyaar. The verse is situated in the drylands of ‘Paalai’ and speaks in the voice of the man to his charioteer, as he contemplates the distance between himself and his beloved.
அஞ்சுவது அறியாது, அமர் துணை தழீஇ,
நெஞ்சு நப்பிரிந்தன்று; ஆயினும், எஞ்சிய
கை பிணி நெகிழின் அஃது எவனோ? நன்றும்
சேய அம்ம, இருவாம் இடையே;
மாக் கடல் திரையின் முழங்கி, வலன் ஏர்பு,
கோட் புலி வழங்கும் சோலை
எனைத்து என்று எண்ணுகோ-முயக்கிடை மலைவே?
A verse that ponders on ‘all that stands between’. In the opening words ‘அஞ்சுவது அறியாது’ meaning ‘not knowing the meaning of fear’, we glimpse at a phrase that is usually attributed to the very young. The phrase ‘நெஞ்சு நப்பிரிந்தன்று’ talks about ‘the heart parting away’, making us wonder if the heart is gone, then who speaks thither? ‘சேய அம்ம இருவாம் இடையே’ which means ‘great is the distance between the two of us’ echoes the core theme of the verse. The wild sends tremors in the words ‘கோட் புலி வழங்கும் சோலை’ meaning ‘groves where murderous tigers roam’. Ending with the words ‘முயக்கிடை மலைவே’ meaning ‘impediments to an embrace’, the verse intrigues our curiosity.
Distance and obstacles seem to deck this verse! The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a married life when the man parted away to gather wealth. On completing his mission, as he begins the journey back home, the man says to his charioteer, “Not knowing fear, so as to embrace my desirable mate, my heart has parted from me; Still, if the arms that are left behind cannot hold her, what is the use of this? Isn’t there a huge distance between the both of us? Roaring akin to a huge sea’s waves, waiting to attack from the right, murderous tigers roam the forest. Think how many such forests stand as obstacles to my embracing her!” With these words, the man expresses the eagerness in him to meet the lady after the long parting and bids the charioteer to rush homeward.
Could the heart have a mind of its own and do its own thing? The man seems to think so. Let’s listen to his words to understand more. He starts by talking about his heart as if it were a toddler, saying that it seems to not know fear at all. Why does he say that? Because the heart has sprouted wings and rushed to where his lovely wife lived. But then, he asks, what is the point of that, if the arms that do the embracing are left behind. From his heart and arms, his attention turns to the path ahead and he reflects on the tigers in the jungles that seem to roar like the timeless waves and wonders how many such forests stand between that present and the future moment when he would hold his lady love in his clasp!
Nowadays, we climb on a car and speed on wherever we want to. We don’t have to nudge and cajole it to go where we want it to. But, two thousand years ago, it seems like the man had to express his inner feelings to move his charioteer into action. What I like about this concept is that such a thought and request goes beyond ordering a helper and steps into the realm of treating them as one’s equals in appealing to their sense of judgement and concern. That is indeed an egalitarian view considering that this was two thousand years ago, and how, at that time, in some parts of the world, the detestable practice of slavery was prevalent. In this ancient Tamil verse, the tangential thought of equality is a heartening message for all time.
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