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In this episode, we perceive a unique technique of persuasion, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 392, penned by Thumbiser Keeranaar. The verse is situated in the mountains of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to a bee, passing on a pointed message to the man, listening nearby.
அம்ம வாழியோ- மணிச் சிறைத் தும்பி!-
நல் மொழிக்கு அச்சம் இல்லை; அவர் நாட்டு
அண்ணல் நெடு வரைச் சேறி ஆயின்,
கடவை மிடைந்த துடவைஅம் சிறு தினைத்
துளர் எறி நுண் துகள் களைஞர் தங்கை
தமரின் தீராள் என்மோ-அரசர்
நிரை செலல் நுண் தோல் போலப்
பிரசம் தூங்கு மலைகிழவோற்கே!
‘An important message to be taken to the man’ is at the heart of the verse! In the opening words ‘அம்ம வாழியோ’ meaning ‘Listen, may you live long’, we observe the laudable Sangam tradition of seeking someone’s attention by rendering them a blessing. The listener of these words is captured in the compact portrait ‘மணிச் சிறைத் தும்பி’ meaning ‘a fly, with wings like sapphire’. A motivating message hides in ‘நல் மொழிக்கு அச்சம் இல்லை’ meaning ‘Never do you have to fear to speak good words’. In ‘அண்ணல் நெடு வரை’, we see a transferred epithet for it means ‘honourable mountain ranges’, glorifying an element of the man’s land as if it were he himself. The rhythmic words ‘கடவை மிடைந்த துடவை’ meaning ‘field filled with sambar deer’ talk about this wild animal and its surprising presence in the domesticated mountain fields. In ‘களைஞர் தங்கை’ meaning ‘the sister of those who remove weeds’, we learn of the family profession of the lady in question. Ending with the words ‘பிரசம் தூங்கு மலைகிழவோற்கே’ meaning ‘the man from the mountains, in whose domain honeycombs hang down’, the verse welcomes us to explore this terrain.
What could be that heavy duty message piled on a bee’s back? The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a love relationship and that the man was trysting with the lady for a long while. The confidante decides it’s time to nudge the man in the path of marriage. One day, observing the man arrive at the lady’s house for his tryst, pretending not to notice him, but making sure he’s in earshot, the confidante says to a bee, “Listen, may you live long, O fly with sapphire-hued wings! There need be no fear to speak good words. If you are to reach the esteemed mountains in his country, please tell the man something: In the fields, where ‘kadavai’ deer roam, and where beautiful small millets sprout, weed removers, hard at work, are covered with fine dust. The sister of these weed removers seems not to be able to leave behind her kith and kin! Please tell this to the man from the mountains, in whose domain, honey combs hang appearing like rows of finely etched battle shields of kings!” With these words, the confidante nudges the man to seek the lady’s hand without any further delay.
It’s ‘marry her, marry her’ that is the message to be relayed to the man through a bee! Let’s delve into the specific details of this song. The confidante starts as she always does, with a blessing and a compliment, in this case, to a bee, appreciating the striking hue of its wings. Once these mandatory formalities are completed, the confidante seems to open with a sort of foreword on words, saying that one need to have no fear at all, if it’s good words they want to speak. On that encouraging note, the confidante turns to focus on the core of the matter and says to the bee, if at all the insect were to fly to the esteemed mountains of the man, she wants something done. Let’s take a moment and pause on that word ‘esteemed’ for a static feature of a place. The confidante is someone who sees the need to compliment even a little bee. When that’s the case, will she ignore the respect to be paid to the listening man? That’s why this choice of adjective!
Returning, we learn of the specific action the bee must take in the man’s mountains. It’s to pass on a few words about the lady, saying a specific thing about this maiden, who was the sister of mountain farmers, who were at the moment indulging in weeding out the millet fields, where deer roam about, and because of this activity, they were covered in fine dust. That specific thing to be relayed is that the lady is unable to step away from her kith and kin. So as to reiterate, to whom this message must be passed, the confidante says it’s the man from the mountains and describes this as a place, where round honeycombs hang in numerous numbers much like the etched shields of kings in battle. As if answering the bee’s question what’s in it for me, note how the confidante makes the proposed visit attractive by saying, the bee will find honeycombs there!
The hidden significance in the message that the lady cannot leave her kith and kin is that she has been placed under guard. At this time, when she should be enjoying the company of the man in his mountain village, she still languishes under the control of her family, the confidante implies. Hearing this, the man would no doubt be moved to take action and marry the lady without any delay. The nuance I would like to focus on here is the way the confidante presents her message to the bee and to the man. She respects them deeply before she places her request. This is an illustration of a praiseworthy way of seeking another’s help, not by ordering them around, but by blessing them, appreciating them, and showing them the positives. Be it a tiny bee or a great personality, the verse shows the right way of putting forth a plea!
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