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In this episode, we listen to furious words uttered by a king, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 73, penned by the Chozha king Nalankilli. Set in the category of ‘Kaanji Thinai’ or ‘King’s oath’, the verse highlights a surprising priority in this king’s life.
மெல்ல வந்து, என் நல் அடி பொருந்தி,
‘ஈ’ என இரக்குவர் ஆயின், சீருடை
முரசு கெழு தாயத்து அரசோ தஞ்சம்;
இன் உயிர் ஆயினும் கொடுக்குவென், இந் நிலத்து
ஆற்றல் உடையோர் ஆற்றல் போற்றாது, என்
உள்ளம் எள்ளிய மடவோன், தெள்ளிதின்
துஞ்சு புலி இடறிய சிதடன் போல,
உய்ந்தனன் பெயர்தலோ அரிதே; மைந்துடைக்
கழை தின் யானைக் கால் அகப்பட்ட
வன் திணி நீள் முளை போல, சென்று, அவண்
வருந்தப் பொரேஎன்ஆயின், பொருந்திய
தீது இல் நெஞ்சத்துக் காதல் கொள்ளாப்
பல் இருங் கூந்தல் மகளிர்
ஒல்லா முயக்கிடைக் குழைக, என் தாரே!
Another song wherein a king swears to subdue his contemporary. Here, the king in question is the Chozha King Nalankilli, who becomes furious about another Chozha king Nedunkilli’s intention to battle with him. Usually it’s one of the three major rulers of that era – the Chozha, Chera or Pandya – warring against the other two. Here’s the unique case where two Chozha kings are battling against each other, the futility of which we discussed in Puranaanooru 45. Let’s hear what king Nalankilli has to say about this other warring Chozha:
“If they arrive softly and resting at my fine feet, plead to me, it’s easy for me to render unto them, my entire domain, symbolised by its unique drums; Why, I can even give unto them, my very life!
But when a foolish man, who does not appreciate the skill of my skilful council, laughs at my determination, akin to a blind man, who disturbed a tiger, which was clearly sleeping for all to see, he cannot escape with his life. I shall go and make him suffer, akin to a tall and strong shoot, stuck under the feet of a huge and tough, bamboo-eating elephant.
If I don’t fulfil this vow…
…may my garland crumple in an inharmonious embrace with maiden, having thick, dark tresses, who do not have the love that arises from a flawless heart!”
Now, for the nuances. The king starts by painting an alternate scenario wherein another person comes to him gently, and bowing before him, asks for his kingdom. If that were the case, I would grant them all my lands and the war drums that epitomise my reign, the king says. He further adds that not only that, he would even give his very life, if they were to so ask!
Clarifying that is the not the case now, the Chozha king Nalankilli talks about this foolish person, none other than the warring king Nedunkilli, and says when such a king laughs at him and disregards the strength of his army and wisdom of his court, that warring king cannot leave the battlefield with his life intact. To etch this thought, the king brings in a striking simile of a blind man inadvertently stepping on a sleeping tiger, thereby kindling its fury. Impossible for this visually challenged person to leave that spot with their life and similar will be the fate of Nedunkilli, the king implies. Bringing in another visually descriptive simile of an elephant crushing bamboo shoots under its feet, the king vows that’s how he would make Nedunkilli suffer.
Proceeding in the usual structure of an oath song, the king declares that if at all this were not to happen, then he invites upon himself the curse of being in a loveless embrace with thick-haired women! When we delve deeper into this curious curse, we will understand that what the king means is that he would lose the love of his beloved queen and be subject to a state where he has to be with common courtesans, who do not have a love from him, like his wife, the one with a flawless heart. Here is a king from an ancient era, a time when men seemed to have absolute power and also, exerted a high degree of control over women, expressing how the love of one woman was precious to him – something he cannot bear to have taken away. A verse that reinstates the unshakeable truth that no matter the space or time, true love is a priceless treasure!
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