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In this episode, we listen to thoughtful words of advice rendered to a king, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 35, penned about the Chozha king Kulamutrathu Thunjiya Killivalavan by the poet Vellaikudi Naakanaar. Set in the category of ‘Paadaan Thinai’ or ‘king’s praise’, the verse focuses on the importance of rendering justice to the farming subjects in a reign.
நளி இரு முந்நீர் ஏணி ஆக,
வளி இடை வழங்கா வானம் சூடிய
மண் திணி கிடக்கைத் தண் தமிழ்க் கிழவர்,
முரசு முழங்கு தானை மூவருள்ளும்,
அரசு எனப்படுவது நினதே, பெரும!
அலங்குகதிர்க் கனலி நால்வயின் தோன்றினும்,
இலங்குகதிர் வெள்ளி தென் புலம் படரினும்,
அம் தண் காவிரி வந்து கவர்பு ஊட்ட,
தோடு கொள் வேலின் தோற்றம் போல,
ஆடு கண் கரும்பின் வெண் பூ நுடங்கும்
நாடு எனப்படுவது நினதே அத்தை; ஆங்க
நாடு கெழு செல்வத்துப் பீடு கெழு வேந்தே!
நினவ கூறுவல்; எனவ கேண்மதி!
அறம் புரிந்தன்ன செங்கோல் நாட்டத்து
முறை வேண்டு பொழுதில் பதன் எளியோர் ஈண்டு
உறை வேண்டு பொழுதில் பெயல் பெற்றோரே;
ஞாயிறு சுமந்த கோடு திரள் கொண்மூ
மாக விசும்பின் நடுவு நின்றாங்கு,
கண் பொர விளங்கு நின் விண் பொரு வியன்குடை
வெயில் மறைக் கொண்டன்றோ? அன்றே; வருந்திய
குடி மறைப்பதுவே; கூர்வேல் வளவ!
வெளிற்றுப் பனந் துணியின் வீற்றுவீற்றுக் கிடப்ப,
களிற்றுக் கணம் பொருத கண் அகன் பறந்தலை,
வருபடை தாங்கி, பெயர் புறத்து ஆர்த்து,
பொருபடை தரூஉம் கொற்றமும் உழுபடை
ஊன்று சால் மருங்கின் ஈன்றதன் பயனே;
மாரி பொய்ப்பினும், வாரி குன்றினும்,
இயற்கை அல்லன செயற்கையில் தோன்றினும்,
காவலர்ப் பழிக்கும், இக் கண் அகல் ஞாலம்;
அது நற்கு அறிந்தனைஆயின், நீயும்
நொதுமலாளர் பொதுமொழி கொள்ளாது,
பகடு புறந்தருநர் பாரம் ஓம்பி,
குடி புறந்தருகுவை ஆயின், நின்
அடி புறந்தருகுவர், அடங்காதோரே.
Quite a long song containing a lot of information about ancient Tamil land, kings and their rule. Again, it’s a song celebrating the Chozha king Killivalavan. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“With the expansive, dark seas on three sides as the boundaries, with the sky as the crown – one that is not toppled by the winds in between – is this land made of earth – the cool Tamil land, ruled by emperors, three, with their drum roaring armies. Of the three, yours is the true empire, O lord!
Even if the sun with its swaying rays appears in all four directions, and even if the radiant rays of Venus spreads in the South, that beautiful, moist Cauvery flows and spreads as many tributaries to feed your land, making dancing stalks of sugarcane with white flowers appear akin to an assembly of spears. And so, only your nation can be called a nation. O esteemed king, who is the ruler of such a land of prosperity, I have something to say about certain matters and I request you to lend your ears!
In a land, where the sceptre reigns as if justice itself is ruling, when those of modest means beseech your grace, may they receive a rain shower when they ask for a raindrop. Akin to a thick cloud standing in the middle of the sky that bears the rays of the sun, hiding that from hurting the eyes, is your wide umbrella that soars to the skies. Is it merely there to hide the blazing sunshine? Not at all, it’s to render shade unto the anxious subjects of your land, O Valavan with a sharp spear!
Akin to a young palm tree’s chopped-up pieces, lies the heavy elephant’s parts in the wide spaces of that battlefield. Here, bearing the assault of enemy armies and making them retreat, your soldiers render victory unto you. Never forget that this is possible only because of the army of farmers pressing the plough in the farm fields.
Even if the rains were to fail, even if the harvest were to diminish, even if it’s not an act of nature and rather depends on the actions of the people, it’s the protectors who will be blamed in this wide world. If you were to understand that well, you will avoid accepting the malicious words of slanderous strangers. Instead, you will ease the burden of those who till the soil with ploughing oxen. If you will take care of these subjects so, then even your enemies shall surrender at your feet!”
Let’s delve into the nuances of this poet’s message to the king! With the description of ancient Tamil land as one, surrounded by seas on three sides, along with a steady sky atop and rich earth beneath, the poet begins his account. He continues by saying that this land is being ruled by three great emperors – the Chera, Chozha and Pandya kings. What I wish to highlight here, is that although there are three dynasties ruling this ancient land, the oneness of this land mass is stressed in its collective description of being ‘Tamil land’. If one were to see where these boundaries extend in a modern map of India, all of Kerala, parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, along with the state of Tamilnadu, would be part of this land described as the ‘cool and moist Tamil regions’.
The poet continues by saying in this Tamil region, one that can be called a true empire is only that of the Chozhas and he justifies his statement by saying how no matter what changes in the world outside, such as the sun suddenly rising up in four directions or the Venus moving to the south, the river Cauvery would continue to flow steadily without any change, feeding the Chozha land with rich resources, making sugarcane soar like spears. After praising the wealth and prosperity of the Chozha nation so, the poet arrives at the crux of the matter and says he has some words of importance to put forth to the king.
Turning his attention to the king’s royal insignia, the white umbrella, the poet puts forth a question asking if the umbrella was there only to render shade and protect from the harsh sunlight. Then answering that question with a ‘no’ himself, the poet goes on to say that the real duty of that umbrella was to render succour to the stressed people of the land.
Then, bringing to fore the gore of the battlefield, the poet points to how the parts of an elephant’s body are lying scattered like a palm tree’s sections and says that in this battlefield, the king’s victory has been achieved by the soldiers, no doubt. And yet, the core reason for that victory is the hard work of the farmers who rear the food for all in the land, the poet clarifies. Pointing out how the king must be aware of any harm that falls unto the livelihood of these people, be it because of nature or their own actions, the poet advises the king to not heed the thoughtless counsel of strangers but instead do all it takes to protect the farmers, who do so much for his nation. And if the king were to do that, even enemies would fall at the king’s feet, declaring his supremacy, the poet concludes.
A song that stands in solidarity with the ancient farmers of the Chozha land. What struck me was the critical analysis and rationality in the thought that a king’s victory came not from the gods, or even his warring soldiers but through the work of farmers who provide them with food and prosperity. This has much relevance to the modern world where in so many countries, expenditure for agriculture is dipping and that for defence is soaring. Time for those in power to heed the words of this ancient poet, who proclaims the indispensable contribution of the farmers to the wealth and health of any nation!
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