Kurunthogai 258 – On the shores of the Kaveri

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In this episode, we perceive the refusal to accept a returning man, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 258, penned by Paranar. Set in the farmlands of ‘Marutham’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the man, when he returns from visiting a courtesan.

வாரல் எம் சேரி; தாரல் நின் தாரே;
அலராகின்றால்-பெரும!-காவிரிப்
பலர் ஆடு பெருந் துறை மருதொடு பிணித்த
ஏந்து கோட்டு யானைச் சேந்தன் தந்தை,
அரியல்அம் புகவின் அம் கோட்டு வேட்டை
நிரைய ஒள் வாள் இளையர் பெருமகன்,
அழிசி ஆர்க்காடு அன்ன இவள்
பழி தீர் மாண் நலம் தொலைவன கண்டே.

‘Her beauty is lost’ cries a voice in this verse. The opening words ‘வாரல் எம் சேரி’ meaning ‘do not come to our neighbourhood’ starts on an unwelcoming note to someone. ‘Slander’ seems to be spreading around town as can be seen in ‘அலராகின்றால்’. A river, inseparable from Tamil history, makes an appearance in ‘காவிரிப் பலர் ஆடு பெருந் துறை’ meaning ‘the long shores of the river Kaveri, in which many bathe’. In ‘மருதொடு பிணித்த ஏந்து கோட்டு யானை’, we glimpse at both flora and fauna, for it means ‘elephants with long tusks tied to Arjuna trees’. Next, we get to meet historical characters in ‘சேந்தன்’ and his father ‘அழிசி’, the ruler of ‘ஆர்க்காடு’. Ending with the words ‘மாண் நலம் தொலைவன கண்டே’ meaning ‘seeing her illustrious beauty fade away’, the verse welcomes us to know more.

Rich rivers and resounding rumours seem to flow in this verse! The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a married life, when the man took to keeping the company of courtesans. Understandably, the lady is filled with anger owing to his behaviour. One day, intending to calm his angry wife, the man returns to the lady’s home. To him, the confidante says, “Come not to our locality; Give not your garland; For gossip spreads around, O lord! In the Kaveri river, in which many bathe, along its huge shores, grow ‘marutham’ trees and on these are tied long-tusked elephants, belonging to Senthan, whose father partakes the fine food of toddy and has the excellent profession of hunting. He is the leader of young men, standing as rows of shining swords – the great Azhisi. Akin to Azhisi’s town of Arcaud is her flawless, famous beauty. Perceiving that such a beauty is lost, gossip does spread!’ With these words, the confidante refuses the man entry to the lady’s house.

Time to explore the nuances. The confidante starts by making her mind clear to the man, asking him to not come near where they live and asking him not to give his garland to the lady. A man rendering his garland to a lady seems to have been a custom of expressing affection then. Returning, the confidante says that she instructs him so, because rumours were drifting all around town. When we ask her what kind of rumours and why, instead of giving us a direct reply, she talks about how on the shores of the river Kaveri, long-tusked, thereby implying powerful, elephants are tied to the trunks of ‘Marutham’ trees that abound there. When we are pondering on why elephants are suddenly referred, the confidante indicates that it is to talk about a chief ‘Senthan’, the owner of these trained pachyderms. But instead of stopping with that chief, the confidante talks about his father, whom she illustrates as one, who relishes sweet toddy as food, and who is an expert huntsman as well as the commander of an army of young men with shining swords. That’s fine, but what has all this got to do with the rumours spreading in town, when we ask the confidante, she connects the town of Arcaud, ruled by Senthan’s father Azhisi, to the beauty of the lady and because this beauty is lost, those currents of slander and gossip seemed to be swirling around town, she concludes.

At the core, the confidante says the lady’s beauty is lost because of the man’s thoughtless actions in seeking the courtesan and adds that people have started talking about his lack of loyalty. Explaining the state of things as they were, the confidante conveys to the man that he is not forgiven for his actions and he needs to repent further, before he would be given admittance back to his home. In the midst of a domestic quarrel, the poet manages to render to us scenes of life by the river Kaveri in ancient times and the lifestyle of ancient Sangam leaders. A fountain of information about history, biology, food and warfare in this story of relationships!