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In this episode, we hear praises addressed to a leader’s domain, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 156, penned about the leader Konkaanam Kizhaan by the poet Mosi Keeranaar. Set in the category of ‘Paadaan Thinai’, the verse explains the unique greatness of the region.
ஒன்று நன்கு உடைய பிறர் குன்றம்; என்றும்
இரண்டு நன்கு உடைத்தே கொண் பெருங் கானம்;
நச்சிச் சென்ற இரவலர்ச் சுட்டித்
தொடுத்து உணக் கிடப்பினும் கிடக்கும்; அஃதான்று
நிறை அருந் தானை வேந்தரைத்
திறை கொண்டு பெயர்க்கும் செம்மலும் உடைத்தே.
A short song with a crisp message about the local leader of Konkaanam. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“The peaks of others have but one benefit, whereas Konkaanam has two benefits always. For supplicants who go thither with desire, it will always be filled with food and wealth that they point to and claim for themselves; Not only that, it has the pride of seeing kings with abundant and formidable armies render taxes and return!”
Let’s take a closer look at the verse. The poet starts with a generic statement about the peaks of others, and by this, we can understand that leaders and chieftains established their domain around a hilly region and their capital was denoted by the tallest point of these hills. The generic statement the poet makes is that those other peaks would have only one great thing about them but when it comes to Konkaanam, two are its virtues. One is having mounds and mounds of food and wealth such that each supplicant, who comes there could point to what he wants and have it to his heart’s content too, the poet explains. He concludes with the words about the other fame the peak has, talking about how it has the ability to subdue even kings with terrifying armies and make them pay taxes to this leader before they retreat.
In a nutshell, the poet is saying this peak abounds both in wealth and valour, which according to him is a rare occurrence. Although he says this is rare, haven’t we seen in song after song about how kings many are exemplary both in compassion and courage? From the repeated occurrence of these elements, we can conclude that the ancient Tamils thought the two indispensable duties of a leader was to render to those who came seeking to him and to repel those who came opposing him!
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