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In this episode, we relish a unique simile that etches the lady’s state, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 305, penned by Kuppai Kozhiyaar. Set in the farmlands of ‘Marutham’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady, passing on a pointed message to the confidante listening nearby.
கண் தர வந்த காம ஒள் எரி
என்பு உற நலியினும், அவரொடு பேணிச்
சென்று, நாம் முயங்கற்கு அருங் காட்சியமே
வந்து அஞர் களைதலை அவர் ஆற்றலரே;
உய்த்தனர் விடாஅர் பிரித்து இடை களையார்
குப்பைக் கோழித் தனிப் போர் போல,
விளிவாங்கு விளியின் அல்லது,
களைவோர் இலை-யான் உற்ற நோயே.
‘No one to end this’ sighs a voice in this verse! The opening words ‘கண் தர வந்த காம ஒள் எரி’ meaning ‘the shining flame of desire that sparks through the eyes’ talks about that point of inception in love. ‘முயங்கற்கு அருங் காட்சியமே’ meaning ‘to unite is a rare thing’ talks about the difficulties in trysting. In ‘குப்பைக் கோழித் தனிப் போர் போல’ meaning ‘like the solitary tussle between cockerels on a dirt heap’, we take in a significant phrase, which has rendered the name of this poet. Ending with the words ‘களைவோர் இலை யான் உற்ற நோயே’ meaning ‘there’s no one to weed out this disease of mine’, the verse welcomes us to listen with empathy.
Sounds like someone is seeking help outside to slay the pain within! The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a love relationship and were trysting together for a while. Owing to spreading slander, the lady finds herself confined to her house by her family. One day, when the confidante is listening nearby, the lady says as if to herself, “Even when that radiant flame of love that was lit by the eyes melts my very bones, it’s impossible to go with desire to where he is and embrace him; He too, seems incapable of coming here to slay this suffering; And so, akin to the solitary fight of cockerels on the dust heap, with no one to begin that and no one to intervene and separate, which will end not, unless it ends on its own, there’s no one to destroy this disease of mine!”. With these words, the lady subtly persuades her confidante to reveal her relationship with the man to her family.
How can a fighting bird reveal the exact state of the lady’s mind? Let’s explore by delving into her words. She starts by zooming on to a glowing flame and explains to us, this real element is an abstraction of the love and desire in her heart, something that came within because of the meeting of eyes. This is the first striking image of a flame that bursts within, by the brushing of gazes. The lady extends that image further and says the fire is so strong that it’s melting her bones and even in that dire stage, it’s not possible to go to the man, whose eyes started the flame, and be with him. If she’s unable to go to him on one side, at least he must understand her angst and come to her. But he too finds himself in a situation where he is unable to do that. All these are indications that the lady is confined to the home and in no position to tryst with the man.
From these descriptions of her state, the lady turns to present a scene that she has seen. That of two cockerels fighting on a dirt mound, which have come together on their own and have no one to pull them apart and end the fight. Perhaps, these are birds that have been reared for fighting and then abandoned. All they know is to fight till the end. The lady concludes by relating how like this fight that will end only on its own, maybe only with the death of the birds, her affliction too will have the same fate, with no one to cure it. Hearing this, whether that burning flame melts the lady’s bones or not, it will surely melt the confidante’s heart, who will rush to the lady’s parents and relay the situation at hand. Thus, with an action-filled scene in the real world, the lady etches the abstract details in the inner recess of her heart!
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