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In this episode, we see the victory and vindication in a poet’s stance, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 162, penned to a Velir King’s brother Ilavelimaan by the poet Perunchithiranaar. The verse is situated in the category of ‘Paadaan Thinai’ or ‘King’s praise’ and illustrates how the poet forgives not a lack of generosity.
இரவலர் புரவலை நீயும் அல்லை;
புரவலர் இரவலர்க்கு இல்லையும் அல்லர்;
இரவலர் உண்மையும் காண், இனி; இரவலர்க்கு
ஈவோர் உண்மையும் காண், இனி; நின் ஊர்க்
கடிமரம் வருந்தத் தந்து யாம் பிணித்த
நெடு நல் யானை எம் பரிசில்;
கடுமான் தோன்றல்! செல்வல் யானே.
A little song with a red chilly bite! Here, the situation is the real king. It so happened that this poet had gone seeking wealth to a king Velimaan renowned for his charity. However, that king was unwell, nearing his end and unable to attend to this poet. So, he requests his brother Ilavelimaan to do all necessary for the poet. However, not possessing the generous nature of his elder brother, this person seems to have granted very little to the poet. Offended by the meagre gifts, the poet leaves the town in fury. As we saw in the previous verse, he manages to win the favour of King Kumanan. When he returns from Kumanan’s court, instead of heading straight home, the poet makes a detour to visit Ilavelimaan. His words to this royal can be translated as follows:
“You are no patron to a supplicant; And, it’s not true that there are no other patrons for supplicants; Now, see for yourself the truth that there are supplicants, and also, that there are patrons who render with generosity to those supplicants; Wounding the sacred tree in your town, I have leashed a tall and fine elephant to it – a gift given to me; O lord with speedy horses, I bid you goodbye!”
Let’s take a closer look at the words said. The poet starts with an accusation at Ilavelimaan saying that he does not have the heart to be a patron to supplicants. He then tells the royal’s brother that he is not the only person in the world to give to supplicants and declares that there were others who render with kindness to those who seek. Now, from abstract words, the poet turns to tangible evidence and mentions that he has tied an elephant granted as a gift unto him by one such generous patron around a sacred tree in this Ilavelimaan’s town. With those words, he bids bye and sets off to his home with the flag of triumph fluttering high in his heart!
Apparently, the act of tying an elephant to a sacred tree was a declaration of superiority of one king over the other and was something that used to happen in battles of then. So, through this symbolic act, the poet is implying his victory over Ilavelimaan. Wait a minute, didn’t the poet say he wanted to ride on that elephant and impress his wife? Why is he leaving behind his precious gift in this king’s country? Reflecting on it, the poet must have prioritised the need to teach this petty king a lesson in the etiquette of giving!
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