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In this episode, we perceive the boundless generosity of a king, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 171, penned about the Velir King Pittankotran by the poet Kaaviripoompattinathu Kaari Kannanaar. Set in the category of ‘Paadaan Thinai’ or ‘Praise’, the verse mentions what a boon the king is, to those who come seeking to him.
இன்று செலினும் தருமே; சிறு வரை
நின்று செலினும் தருமே; பின்னும்,
‘முன்னே தந்தனென்’ என்னாது, துன்னி
வைகலும் செலினும், பொய்யலன் ஆகி,
யாம் வேண்டியாங்கு எம் வறுங் கலம் நிறைப்போன்;
தான் வேண்டியாங்குத் தன் இறை உவப்ப
அருந் தொழில் முடியரோ, திருந்து வேல் கொற்றன்;
இனம் மலி கதச் சேக் களனொடு வேண்டினும்,
களம் மலி நெல்லின் குப்பை வேண்டினும்,
அருங் கலம் களிற்றொடு வேண்டினும், பெருந்தகை
பிறர்க்கும் அன்ன அறத் தகையன்னே.
அன்னன் ஆகலின், எந்தை உள் அடி
முள்ளும் நோவ உறாற்கதில்ல!
ஈவோர் அரிய இவ் உலகத்து,
வாழ்வோர் வாழ, அவன் தாள் வாழியவே!
Another song by this poet praising this king, who was also a commander in the army of a Chera emperor. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“If we go today, he would give; If we wait for a little while and then go to him, he would still give; Then again, he would never say ‘I already gave you’. Even if we go to him day after day, he would unfailingly give, and as we wish, he would fill our empty vessels; Fulfilling his intentions, he would complete the hard tasks given to him by his leader- that Kotran, renowned for his well-etched spear. Even if he’s asked for an entire herd of high-bred bulls, huge mounds of paddy heaped in fields, or bull elephants adorned with precious ornaments, the great leader would render with justice equally to us and others too. As he is such a person, may my lord’s feet never be hurt even by a little thorn. In this world where there’s a scarcity of the generous, for supplicants to survive, may his fame live long!”
Let’s delve deeper into these words. The poet etches the generous nature of this king talking about how the patron would render no matter when a person sought from him. Not only that, he is not one to say, ‘Hey, I saw you in this line only yesterday and you are here again.’ Even if a supplicant goes seeking to him daily he would never say no, and would always fill the empty vessels of the seekers. He’s not only generous to supplicants but dutiful in fulfilling the tasks set by his superior. To further describe the king’s unending charity, the poet talks about how even if a supplicant asks the king to give herds of cattle or mounds of paddy or adorned war elephants, the king would give to one and all without any partiality. Because of these reasons, the poet says he wishes that not even a thorn should hurt his king and concludes by saying that a person like him was much needed in a world where the generous were hard to come by and wishes he lives long. These laurels about the king reveal the high sense of satisfaction in the minds of supplicants who have won the favour of this patron!
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