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In this episode, we perceive the majestic stride of a king into a battlefield, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 79, penned about the Pandya King Thalaiyaalankaanathu Cheruvendra Nedunchezhiyan by the poet Idaikundroor Kizhaar. Set in the category of ‘Vaagai Thinai’ or ‘King’s victory’, the verse mulls over the fate of enemy soldiers.
மூதூர் வாயில் பனிக் கயம் மண்ணி,
மன்ற வேம்பின் ஒண் குழை மலைந்து,
தெண் கிணை முன்னர்க் களிற்றின் இயலி,
வெம் போர்ச் செழியனும் வந்தனன்; எதிர்ந்த
வம்ப மள்ளரோ பலரே;
எஞ்சுவர் கொல்லோ, பகல் தவச் சிறிதே?
A crisp song outlining the image of confidence that this Pandya king projects. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“After taking a dip in the cool pond at the entrance of his ancient town, he wears the radiant leaves of the neem tree at his town centre, and as clear drums resound ahead of him, akin to an elephant, arrives the ferocious battle-spirited Chezhiyan; The number of enemy soldiers are many; Will there be a few standing, considering the day that remains is so less?”
Let’s delve into the details herein. The poet starts by detailing how the king takes a refreshing dip in the cool waters of the pond at the entrance of the Pandya king’s town. Here, the poet stresses on the fact that it’s an ancient town. It always makes me smile to see the word ‘ancient’ in these verses from two thousand years ago. After the dip, the king strides to pluck the leaves of a neem tree, growing right at their town centre, possibly considered sacred by the people of the town, and he adorns his head with those leaves. Then, as drums proclaim that he’s on the way, he walks like a strong elephant, the poet details.
Turning from the king, the poet now looks at enemy soldiers and as we have been given to understand multiple times, there are numerous soldiers, because it’s not one or two but seven armies combined together. Seeing them, the poet wonders if a few will escape with their lives, and he makes it clear it’s not because he doubts the prowess of the Pandya king or is awed by the might of the enemy, but only because the hours of daylight left for the fight were few. In that statement, is an innovative way of praising the fierceness of this king, by implying that there’s no way even one enemy soldier would survive if the king had all day. Why even now, it’s only a wondering question which the Pandya king might have answered in the negative at the end of those few hours. All praise and glory apart, why fight and why kill, no matter what’s the story? When will history manage to teach the world that we are all on the same side?
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