Puranaanooru 154 – What’s hard and what’s easy

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In this episode, we learn of a poet’s regard for a chieftain, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 154, penned about a local leader Konkaanam Kizhaan by the poet Mosi Keeranaar. The verse is situated in the category of ‘Paadaan Thinai’ and reveals the poet’s present state of mind.

திரை பொரு முந்நீர்க் கரை நணிச் செலினும்,
அறியுநர்க் காணின், வேட்கை நீக்கும்
சில் நீர் வினவுவர், மாந்தர்; அது போல்,
அரசர் உழையராகவும், புரை தபு
வள்ளியோர்ப் படர்குவர், புலவர்: அதனால்,
யானும், ‘பெற்றது ஊதியம்; பேறு யாது?’ என்னேன்;
உற்றனென் ஆதலின் உள்ளி வந்தனனே;
‘ஈ’ என இரத்தலோ அரிதே; நீ அது
நல்கினும், நல்காய் ஆயினும், வெல் போர்
எறி படைக்கு ஓடா ஆண்மை, அறுவைத்
தூ விரி கடுப்பத் துவன்றி மீமிசைத்
தண் பல இழிதரும் அருவி நின்
கொண் பெருங் கானம், பாடல் எனக்கு எளிதே.

So far, we have seen poems about kings and rulers, but now we get to meet a local chieftain of a region called Konkaanam. This poet is known to have found favour with one of the ancient Tamil emperors, the Chera king Irumporai, as we saw in Puranaanooru 50. Seeing this renowned poet in his region, this chieftain is delighted but worries that he has nothing worthy to give to a poet of his stature. Sensing the leader’s worry, the poet says these words:

“Even when people are close to the shore brimming with ocean waves, when they see knowledgeable people, they would ask for the way to find a few drops of water to quench their thirst. Akin to that, even when kings are there, poets seek out impeccable, generous others. And so, I won’t say, ‘This is what I got. What’s the use?’. As I’m impoverished, I came seeking your patronage. I find it hard to demand charity. Whether you render it or not, to sing, of your manliness that does not run away from murderous armies, and of your mountain land of Konkaanam, from where many cool cascades descend as if a pristine white cloth is spread over the land, is easy indeed for me!”

Time to take a deeper look at the poet’s words. He brings before us a relatable simile of how even when people are standing very close to a huge body of water, an ocean, they ask for a way to get a few drops of drinking water to those around. Like that, even though the poet knows of emperors, he has sought out the compassionate among the commoners like this leader, the poet implies. He assures the chieftain that he would never look down upon whatever is given unto him. He then talks about his impoverished state and still, how it’s hard for him to demand anything of his patrons. He concludes by saying whether the leader renders anything to the poet or not, it’s easy for him to sing about the greatness of the chieftain and his lush cascade-flowing region.

Curious contrast in the depiction of what’s hard and easy for the poet- Hard to ask for charity but easy to render praise! An apt simile connecting one’s seeking water amidst an ocean and seeking the good even when knowing the great! Finally, the poet’s statement about not belittling anything he is given holds a timeless lesson for us in savouring, without judgement, the gifts we’ve been given, be it from a person or life itself!