Puranaanooru 72 – Value of a poet’s praise

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‘நகுதக்கனரே, நாடு மீக்கூறுநர்;
இளையன் இவன்’ என உளையக் கூறி,
‘படு மணி இரட்டும் பா அடிப் பணைத் தாள்
நெடு நல் யானையும், தேரும், மாவும்,
படை அமை மறவரும், உடையம் யாம்’ என்று
உறு துப்பு அஞ்சாது, உடல் சினம் செருக்கி,
சிறு சொல் சொல்லிய சினம் கெழு வேந்தரை
அருஞ் சமம் சிதையத் தாக்கி, முரசமொடு
ஒருங்கு அகப்படேஎன் ஆயின் பொருந்திய

என் நிழல் வாழ்நர் செல் நிழல் காணாது,
‘கொடியன் எம் இறை’ எனக் கண்ணீர் பரப்பி,
குடி பழி தூற்றும் கோலேன் ஆகுக;

ஓங்கிய சிறப்பின் உயர்ந்த கேள்வி
மாங்குடி மருதன் தலைவன் ஆக,
உலகமொடு நிலைஇய பலர் புகழ் சிறப்பின்
புலவர் பாடாது வரைக, என் நிலவரை;

புரப்போர் புன்கண் கூர,
இரப்போர்க்கு ஈயா இன்மை யான் உறவே.

In earlier Puranaanooru verses, we have seen how this Pandya King Nedunchezhiyan defeats the armies of seven kings and establishes his fame at the battlefield of Thalaiyalankaanam. In this particular verse, we rewind to the point where this king hears the news that these seven kings had joined hands to wage war against him. The king’s words can be translated as follows:

“Making me infuriated, they say, ‘Laughable are they who praise excessively about his country; He is a mere youngster’. Further adding, ‘We own tall and huge elephants, adorned with resounding bells and having thick legs and huge feet, and also, chariots, horses, warriors skilled in battle’, those raging kings speak petty words without fearing my great strength and cause my form to seethe with anger. I shall attack them in the battlefield, ruin them utterly, and seize their war drums.

If I do not fulfil this vow…

..may those who live in my shade not find any refuge here, and let them declare with tears in their eyes, ‘Our king is a terrible ruler’, branding me as a monarch with a despicable sceptre.

..may the poets, who reinstate long-lasting fame for people in this world, and the leader among them, Maangudi Maruthan, renowned for his vast knowledge, not sing of my domain and rule;

…may I be damned with a poverty that prevents me from rendering charity to supplicants, thereby sharpening the pain of their kith and kin!”

As in the previous verse, the structure here too includes a description of enemy kings, a vow from the protagonist and what would happen if he were to fail at it. Let’s explore the specifics in this verse. The king starts by narrating how the advancing enemy kings seem to look at him with condescension, calling him a young fellow, and they declare that the poets who praise the king are simply exaggerating. He continues saying how they boast about their huge army of elephants, chariots, horses, and most importantly, skilled soldiers. In response, the king proclaims that he will destroy these proud kings in the battlefield and steal their war drums as well. Now comes that if at all clause, where the king says that if that doesn’t happen, then let his people go about telling everyone that their king is no good. This is followed by the next negative scenario wherein poets and the most prominent among them, Maangudi Maruthan, no longer sing the praises of this king’s land and his reign. And finally, how he is to be cursed with a lack of wealth, making it impossible for him to give to those who come seeking to him. 

In this pledge to rout the enemy, we can infer what a Sangam king deemed as his duties. The first is to be a just ruler, whom his subjects find strength and protection in. Next is in living such a life that poets sing about the king. And, to cap it all, be able to render wealth to supplicants in the king’s court. ‘Justice, Fame, Charity’ seems to be the motto of these Sangam kings! While we have seen in verse after verse how it was routine for poets to sing praises of a king, here, a king praises a poet and singles him out, making us infer the respect and admiration that the poet Maangudi Maruthan commanded in that era! To sum it up – an insightful peek into the mind of an ancient king!