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In this episode, we are presented with an incomplete thought, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 244, penned by an anonymous poet. The verse is situated in the category of ‘Pothuviyal Thinai’ or ‘Common Themes’ and hints at the helplessness perceived by people.
பாணர் சென்னியும் வண்டு சென்று ஊதா;
விறலியர் முன்கையும் தொடியின் பொலியா;
இரவல் மாக்களும்… … … … … … … … … …
One of those verses that have failed to succeed in the test of time. Only a few words of this verse have been recovered and these can translated as:
“Bees buzz not on the heads of bards; Bangles glow not on the forearms of dancers; As for, supplicants…”
Although there is not much to delve into, let’s make do with what is there, and in the manner of detectives, try to understand where this could be leading us. The first thought is about bees not swarming around the heads of bards. This is followed by mention of bangles not glowing on the arms of dancers, and the next thought about supplicants has been left unsaid because it was not discovered.
Since there’s a specific remark about bees not buzzing any more, this implies that bees were expected to buzz around bards’ heads. So, when do bees normally buzz around something? When nectar or flowers are involved! So, we can surmise that for some reason, bards who normally adorn their heads with flower garlands are not doing so anymore; The next clue is about bangles not glowing on the hands of dancers. Why would this happen? Only because they have not received their usual remuneration of gold bangles for their artistic performances. So, from these two instances, we can understand that a trusted patron is no more, to bring wealth and joy to the people who come seeking to him. If we were to pattern match, then most probably the next line would talk about the bowls of these supplicants being empty or their smiles of content being missing!
Just a few words but we are able to understand the dependance of many different groups of people on one wealthy patron, indicating an uneven distribution of wealth, wherein the prosperity of many depended on the well-being of one! Interesting how even a few incomplete words, can make us muse on so many facets of life then and now, echoing aloud the power of poetry. This incomplete verse of a few words makes me whisper a silent prayer of gratitude to the universe for not condemning all the rest to this fate but preserving the majority of this precious literature from the past!
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