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In this episode, we listen to the conflict raging in a lady’s heart, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 268, penned by Karuvoor Cheramaan Sathanaar. Set in the mountains of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, passing on a hidden message to the man, listening nearby.
”சேறிரோ?” எனச் செப்பலும் ஆற்றாம்;
”வருவிரோ? என வினவலும் வினவாம்;
யாங்குச் செய்வாம்கொல்?-தோழி!-பாம்பின்
பையுடை இருந் தலை துமிக்கும் ஏற்றொடு
நடு நாள் என்னார், வந்து,
நெடு மென் பணைத் தோள் அடைந்திசினோரே.
‘What to do?’ is the core question here, indicating helplessness. The opening words ‘சேறிரோ, எனச் செப்பலும் ஆற்றாம்’ meaning ‘unable to say, ‘won’t you leave?’ expresses how one course of action is blocked. Following this, appears ‘வருவிரோ என வினவலும் வினவாம்’ meaning ‘unable to ask ‘won’t you return?’ narrates how another course of action is a no-go too! An element of danger is presented in the phrase ‘பாம்பின் பையுடை இருந் தலை துமிக்கும் ஏற்றொடு’ meaning ‘along with thunder that strikes at a snake’s hooded head’. Ending with the words ‘பணைத் தோள் அடைந்திசினோரே’ meaning ‘the one who enfolds those bamboo-like arms’, the verse invites us to learn more.
Being unable to say or ask anything seems to be the cornerstone of this verse. The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a love relationship and the man was trysting by night with the lady for a while. One day, when the man arrives for his nightly tryst, pretending not to notice him, but making sure he’s in earshot, the confidante says to the lady, “Neither do we have the ability to say, ‘won’t you leave?’ nor can we ask, ‘will you return?’. What are we to do, my friend? Thinking not it’s the midnight hour when thunder severs the huge head of a hooded snake, he walks on, to embrace your long and soft bamboo-like arms!” With these words, the confidante hints to the man that the lady is in a difficult situation and in a subtle manner, persuades the man to seek the lady’s hand in marriage.
It’s decoding time! The confidante starts by saying that neither can they ask the man to leave nor can they ask him when he will return. A question arises as to why the man must leave. Let’s hold on to that question and listen to the rest of what the good friend says. Now, she turns to bring into view a snake with its huge hooded head raised high. Then suddenly thunder roars, lightning flashes and this chops off the snake’s head clean, she says. In Sangam songs, we see how the ancients had a belief that thunder killed snakes. Here, it’s as if the confidante is presenting a meta-level danger – danger striking the dangerous, to put in a different way! The confidante has mentioned this scene only to say that it’s the late night hour that the man chooses to be in the company of the lady’s long and beautiful bamboo-like arms!
Now, we know why they are afraid to ask, ‘when he will return?’. There are so many dangers in his path that the lady fears for his life and safety and that’s why she doesn’t have the heart to ask him to return. Zooming on to the first question as to why they must ask the man to leave, we understand that it’s because of the fear of being discovered. While the previous one was a fear about the dangers of the outside world, this thought that he must leave is because of the dangers from the lady’s family. And so, you can’t move left or right, O lord, and the only way is to proceed is to head straight and choose the permanent path of happiness by seeking the lady’s hand, the confidante conveys to the man. Note how she never tells him directly that he must marry the lady and yet, presents all the essential details that will move his mind in that direction. The verse thus, excels in presenting a dilemma in a situation and also, outlining a subtle and effective technique of persuasion!
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