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In this episode, we perceive scenes from a tragic battlefield, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 62, penned about the Chera King Kudakko Neduncheralathan and Chozha king Verpahradakkai Peruviral Killi by the poet Kazhaathalaiyaar. The verse is situated in the category of ‘Thumbai Thinai’ or ‘battle of two kings’ and relates scenes of pain and loss in a battlefield.
வரு தார் தாங்கி, அமர் மிகல் யாவது?
பொருது ஆண்டு ஒழிந்த மைந்தர் புண் தொட்டு,
குருதி செங் கைக் கூந்தல் தீட்டி,
நிறம் கிளர் உருவின் பேஎய்ப் பெண்டிர்
எடுத்து எறி அனந்தல் பறைச் சீர் தூங்க,
பருந்து அருந்துற்ற தானையொடு, செரு முனிந்து,
அறத்தின் மண்டிய மறப் போர் வேந்தர்
தாம் மாய்ந்தனரே; குடை துளங்கினவே;
உரைசால் சிறப்பின் முரைசு ஒழிந்தனவே;
பல் நூறு அடுக்கிய வேறு படு பைஞ் ஞிலம்
இடம் கெட ஈண்டிய வியன் கண் பாசறை,
களம் கொளற்கு உரியோர் இன்றி, தெறுவர,
உடன் வீழ்ந்தன்றால், அமரே; பெண்டிரும்
பாசடகு மிசையார், பனி நீர் மூழ்கார்,
மார்பகம் பொருந்தி ஆங்கு அமைந்தனரே;
வாடாப் பூவின், இமையா நாட்டத்து,
நாற்ற உணவினோரும் ஆற்ற
அரும் பெறல் உலகம் நிறைய
விருந்து பெற்றனரால்; பொலிக, நும் புகழே!
This is our first encounter with this category that details the situation wherein two kings decide on a date to battle each other. The poet arrives at the battlefield at the end of that war and says these words:
“How are they to attain victory amidst the roaring march of opposing armies? Touching wounds of fallen soldiers who died battling therein, bright and colourful demonesses streak their hair with their blood-stained fingers and sway to the dull sounds of war-drums. For vultures to feed, along with their army, the two kings met on the battlefield and waged war with bravery for the sake of justice, but they lie dead now, with their white umbrellas drooping low. The drums that proclaim their fame have ceased to resound too.
As the war ended suddenly, the wide fields of the battle encampments where many hundreds of soldiers stood together lies barren with no one to claim victory. The women too, without chewing green leaves and without bathing in cold water, clinging to their husbands’ chests, they lie on the battlefield. Now, those who wear unfading garlands, have unblinking eyes and eat fragrant food, will welcome visitors to their hard-to-obtain world. And so, long shall live your fame!”
Let us delve deeper into the scenes of war depicted! The poet begins with a rhetorical question about how can these kings expect to win against each other by triumphing over the advancing armies from either side. He then steps into the realm of the surreal and talks about how the demonesses of the dead soak their hands in the wounds of soldiers and then streak that blood-red hue on their tresses and dance away to the muffled sounds of drums, still echoing in the air. From that gruesome dance of death, the poet returns to the real and points to vultures roving in the sky, waiting to feed on fallen soldiers. The poet points out to how those wide lands were brimming with hundreds of soldiers on both sides and now it lies barren, for they all are dead. The armies of both kings have fallen, the poet indicates, even as war-drums turn silent. From these male members portrayed, the poet turns to the women, the widowed wives of these warriors and talks about how without chewing on green leaves and bathing in cold water, they too lie there on the battlefield, clinging to the chests of their fallen men. This could mean that not wanting to live a life of widowhood with those particular formalities, these women have chosen to die along with their men. Indeed, one of those moments that leave us with a culture shock about the past!
From these scenes of misery, the poet travels to a place, seeming out of this world, where the dwellers wear garlands that never fade, and they seem to have eyes that do not blink. This could only mean heaven, and these people should be the immortal beings therein. The poet concludes by saying those immortals would delight that they have new arrivals at their celestial world, meaning these two kings and their soldiers, who battled for the sake of justice. This details a belief in Sangam times about a place in heaven reserved for those, who die on the battlefield. And that’s how humans have been justifying this insanity that is war, in many a culture, across space and time!
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