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In this episode, we perceive a happy moment of reconciliation, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 359, penned by Peyanaar. The verse is situated in the farmlands of ‘Marutham’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the bard, relating how the man has managed to allay the anger of his wife and reunite with her.
கண்டிசின்-பாண!-பண்பு உடைத்து அம்ம:
மாலை விரிந்த பசு வெண் நிலவின்
குறுங் காற் கட்டில் நறும் பூஞ் சேக்கை,
பள்ளி யானையின் உயிர்த்தனன் நசைஇ,
புதல்வற் தழீஇயினன் விறலவன்;
புதல்வன் தாய் அவன் புறம் கவைஇயினளே.
‘He embraced and she embraced’ is the core thought here. The opening words ‘கண்டிசின்-பாண!-பண்பு உடைத்து அம்ம’ meaning ‘Look at this, O bard. It’s so filled with goodness’ beckon attention towards a joyous event. Elements of the night pop up in ‘பசு வெண் நிலவு’ meaning ‘a young white moon’ and ‘குறுங் காற் கட்டில் நறும் பூஞ் சேக்கை’ meaning ‘a cot with short legs, on which, a fragrant flower mattress is spread’. The phrase ‘தழீஇயினன் விறலவன்’ meaning ‘the victorious man embraced’ echoes the core theme. Ending with the words ‘அவன் புறம் கவைஇயினளே’ meaning ‘she embraced him from the back’, the verse invites us to delve into the blissful scene within.
What could be the core of goodness hiding herein? 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 angered by this action of the man. In usual circumstances, the man would seek the help of the bard and the confidante to plead for his entry into the lady’s house. However, something unusual had happened then. About this, the confidante says to the bard, “Behold this, O bard! Isn’t it reflective of good character? Under a new white moon, in the evening, on a short-legged cot, a fragrant flower mattress has been spread out, and on this, akin to a sleeping elephant, he lets out a sigh of joy. For, just earlier, with desire, this victorious man embraced his son, and upon seeing this, the child’s mother embraced him from behind!” With these words, the confidante tells the bard with much cheer about how the man has managed to calm the ire of his wife.
Time to explore the nuances. The confidante starts by calling the bard’s attention to something that happened and talks about how the event was filled with goodness. Relating about when that event happened, the confidante mentions it was under a glowing white full moon in the sky. Down below, a short-legged cot can be seen, softened with a natural mattress of sweet-smelling flowers. Lying on this bed, the man lets out a happy sigh like a sleeping elephant. The reason for his happiness, the confidante says is because he had entered the lady’s house and hugged his son. Seeing this, without a word, forgetting every bit of anger in her, the lady ran and hugged the man from behind. Capturing that scene rippling with embraces, the confidante concludes her words to the bard.
Frozen in words forever, is the scene of the man holding his child close to his heart and his wife hugging his back. A common scene of affection, one may say. But looking into the context, it signifies much more than affection. It embodies the radiant quality of forgiveness and acceptance. Inspired by that simple expression of love by the man towards her son, the lady sheds all the burden of anger and accepts him. A tiny verse that holds within, the humungous power of love and acceptance!
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