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In this episode, we perceive a curious simile to reveal a person’s mind, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 298, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated in the hills of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, describing the man’s delicate situation.
சேரி சேர மெல்ல வந்து வந்து,
அரிது வாய்விட்டு இனிய கூறி,
வைகல்தோறும் நிறம் பெயர்ந்து உறையும் அவன்
பைதல் நோக்கம் நினையாய்-தோழி!-
இன் கடுங் கள்ளின் அகுதை பின்றை
வெண் கடைச் சிறுகோல் அகவன்மகளிர்
மடப் பிடிப் பரிசில் மானப்
பிறிது ஒன்று குறித்தது, அவன் நெடும் புறநிலையே.
‘Silently asking for a gift’ seems to be the core theme here. The opening words ‘சேரி சேர மெல்ல வந்து வந்து’ meaning ‘slowly, slowly coming near our neighbourhood’ visualises the actions of someone taking hesitant and gentle steps to a place. ‘அரிது வாய்விட்டு இனிய கூறி’ is a significant line for it means ‘speaking rarely and saying sweet things’, depicting the noble nature of a person, who says only the necessary and that too, in a pleasing manner. In the phrase ‘நிறம் பெயர்ந்து’ meaning ‘lacking colour’, we see an instance of a worried look that steals away the shine from a person’s face. Next, we get to meet a historical character in ‘இன் கடுங் கள்ளின் அகுதை’ meaning ‘Aguthai, famous for his strong and sweet toddy’. His abode, a liquor lover’s delight, no doubt! ‘வெண் கடைச் சிறுகோல் அகவன்மகளிர்’ meaning ‘singing soothsayers, wielding a small rod with a white tip’ describes a tribe of professional women and the accessory they were seen with. In ‘மடப் பிடிப் பரிசில்’ meaning ‘the gift of a young female elephant’, we see yet another evidence for the curious gift of elephants in those times. Ending with the words ‘அவன் நெடும் புறநிலையே’ meaning ‘his state of standing behind for a long time’, the verse intrigues our curiosity.
What diverse glimpses in this one! The context reveals that the man had met the lady in the mountains and fallen in love with her. As was the custom then, the man had to win the confidante’s confidence to further his relationship with the lady. One day, the confidante goes to the lady and says, “Walking softly to reach our neighbourhood, he says but a few words and those are sweet too. All day, he stays about, his face looking pale. You should think about his suffering-filled intentions, my friend! Akin to those female soothsayers with white-tipped small rods, who stand behind Aguthai, renowned for his strong and sweet toddy, seeking the gift of young elephants, thinking something else, he seems to stand for long, behind me”. With these words, the confidante is pleading on behalf of the man and persuading the lady to heed to his request for trysting.
A tiny verse that speaks of intricate things in the heart and interesting moments in history. The confidante starts by listing the thoughtful activities of the man as he tries to get closer to the lady. He first arrives softly and discreetly by the lady’s home and whenever he’s around her, he speaks rarely and when he does, all he says are such sweet things, the confidante adds. Then, from these positive expressions, the confidante points out how he seems to go about, pale in complexion, as if he’s drained of energy. Saying this, she insists to her friend that the lady must think about the man’s situation. To etch this vividly, the confidante then talks about a king and a tribe of women in his court. The king in question is ‘Aguthai’ and these women are singing fortune-tellers, who carry small rods with a white tip. Even today, in Chennai beaches, you will find some ladies holding a similar wooden rod with a silver rim, seeking to tell your fortunes by reading your hand. Could it be modelled after an ancient heirloom, and thus passed on, for over two thousand years?
Returning to the verse, the confidante focuses on the stance of these women, who stand behind king Aguthai, not saying a word, but what’s in their minds is evident. They seek the gift of elephants from that king. This entire situation the confidante places in parallel to the man’s situation and describes that’s how he too stands behind the confidante, silently, for a long time, with something on his mind. Although she does not explicitly say what that something is, that’s obviously the man’s intention to climb the palmyra horse and declare his love for the lady in the ritual of ‘Madal eruthal’, something thought of a last and desperate step in a man seeking a lady’s love. With that succinct simile, the confidante bids the lady to accept the man and avoid his taking the step that would bring dishonour to him and the lady. The stunning aspect of this verse is in how the poet seizes a scene seen in a king’s court and connects it to the emotions of the protagonist. Informative and intriguing is the way outer life paints in bold and bright hues, the shades of the man’s inner sphere!
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