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In this episode, we listen to a glowing tribute to a king, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 38, penned about the Chozha King Kulamutrathu Thunjiya Killivalavan by the poet Avoor Moolankizhaar. The verse is situated in the category of ‘Paadaan Thinai’ or ‘king’s praise’ and speaks about power of the Chozha king and the prosperity in his domain.
வரை புரையும் மழ களிற்றின் மிசை,
வான் துடைக்கும் வகைய போல,
விரவு உருவின கொடி நுடங்கும்
வியன் தானை விறல் வேந்தே!
நீ, உடன்று நோக்கும்வாய் எரி தவழ,
நீ, நயந்து நோக்கும்வாய் பொன் பூப்ப,
செஞ் ஞாயிற்று நிலவு வேண்டினும்,
வெண் திங்களுள் வெயில் வேண்டினும்,
வேண்டியது விளைக்கும் ஆற்றலைஆகலின்,
நின் நிழல் பிறந்து, நின் நிழல் வளர்ந்த,
எம் அளவு எவனோ மற்றே? ‘இன் நிலைப்
பொலம் பூங் காவின் நல் நாட்டோரும்
செய் வினை மருங்கின் எய்தல் அல்லதை,
உடையோர் ஈதலும் இல்லோர் இரத்தலும்
கடவது அன்மையின், கையறவு உடைத்து’ என,
ஆண்டுச் செய் நுகர்ச்சி ஈண்டும் கூடலின்,
நின் நாடு உள்ளுவர், பரிசிலர்
ஒன்னார் தேஎத்தும், நின்னுடைத்து எனவே.
A song celebrating the famous Chozha king from Sangam times, Killivalavan. When the king asks the poet where he lives and which country he is from, the poet is said to have responded with these words, which can be translated as follows:
“Atop a young male elephant, akin to a mountain, with fluttering many-hued flags that seem to brush against the sky, you appear with a huge army behind you, O powerful king!
When you gaze with rage, flames burst forth, and when you gaze with grace, gold blooms therein. Even if you were to wish for the cool moon within the red hot sun or for blazing heat within the white cool moon, you have the ability to make what you wish flourish.
I was born in your shadow and grew up in your shadow. What else is there to say about me? For those who have the sweet situation of living in that good country, where gold flowers bloom in their groves, they live according to the fruit of their good deeds. And here, there is no possibility of those who have, giving to those who don’t, and those who don’t, seeking from those who have. That same experience is to be found here too. And so, even those supplicants, who live in enemy nations, think only about your land, because of who you are!”
Time to delve into the nuances herein! The poet conjures a striking image of the king, sitting on a young but strong elephant, having the appearance of a mountain. Flags of many different hues are seen fluttering as if they are touching the very sky and in the background, stand rows and rows of soldiers and battle animals of the king’s army.
From this image of the king on the battlefield, the poet turns to the abilities of the king and says, wherever the king turns with anger, fire would rain upon that land, and wherever he does so with affection, gold shall sprout up there. Beyond that, if the king so wishes, he could have a moon in the sun and a sun in the moon, the poet declares!
Now he responds to the king’s question saying that he is someone who was born in the shadow of the king and grew in his shadow in that Chozha land. And then, he moves on to mention a world of unending joy, where flowers that bloom are golden. Perhaps, the poet is imagining a spiritual place after life where people live based on the good they performed – a heaven, in other words. The poet adds that in such a place there is no possibility of charity for there are no people who seek from those who have and no people who have to give to others who don’t have. Then, he turns to the king and concludes that such a state is not only there in the heavenly world but even in this Chozha king’s country. And so, that leaves only the supplicants, who live in enemy nations, to think with yearning about this king’s land because of all these magnificent attributes of the king, the poet concludes.
I was intrigued by the definition of heaven as a place where gold blooms as flowers. Without the scent and sight of flowers in nature, birds and bees frolicking around these blossoms, how can any place, however soaked in gold, be called a heaven? However, I totally agree with the other aspect of heaven being a place where there is no need for begging or charity because all are equal in that land. That is the utopia the world dreams of. Will this living world attain that heavenly state of equality in any millennia? Whether it remains a dream or becomes a reality, lies in the hands of Time and Humanity!
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