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In this first episode for 2024, we perceive subtle values upheld in the battlefield, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 301, penned by the poet Aavoor Moolankizhaar. Set in the category of ‘Thumbai Thinai’ or ‘Battle of two kings’, the verse etches the principles of a king, when facing the enemy.
பல் சான்றீரே! பல் சான்றீரே!
குமரி மகளிர் கூந்தல் புரைய,
அமரின் இட்ட அரு முள் வேலிக்
கல்லென் பாசறைப் பல் சான்றீரே!
முரசு முழங்கு தானை நும் அரசும் ஓம்புமின்;
ஒளிறு ஏந்து மருப்பின் நும் களிறும் போற்றுமின்;
எனை நாள் தங்கும் நும் போரே, அனை நாள்
எறியார் எறிதல் யாவணது? எறிந்தோர்
எதிர் சென்று எறிதலும்செல்லான்; அதனால்
அறிந்தோர் யார், அவன் கண்ணிய பொருளே?
‘பலம்’ என்று இகழ்தல் ஓம்புமின்; உதுக் காண்
நிலன் அளப்பன்ன நில்லாக் குறு நெறி,
வண் பரிப் புரவிப் பண்பு பாராட்டி,
எல்லிடைப் படர்தந்தோனே; கல்லென
வேந்து ஊர் யானைக்கு அல்லது,
ஏந்துவன் போலான், தன் இலங்கு இலை வேலே.
We are still in the world of war in our Sangam explorations, and here, the poet talks about the valour and strength of a king. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“O noble men! O noble men, belonging to the resounding encampment, around which thorny bushes have been laid akin to the tresses of unmarried, young women! Protect your king, who has a clamorous army accompanied by battle drums; Guard your elephants with their radiant and raised tusks!
No matter how many days the battle may go on, can there ever be a case of counter-attacking when there has been no attack? If they are not worthy to be fought, our king shall not attack those who stand against him. Given that, who can surmise the calculations of his mind!
Thinking you are many and have great strength, do not look down upon us; Just see how, as if measuring the land beneath, riding ceaselessly even on narrow paths, celebrating his strong and speedy horse, he has retired to his camp at the end of the day; Other than the uproarious elephant, upon which the enemy king sits mounted, he shall not raise against anyone else, his shining, leaf-tipped spear!”
Let’s take the time to delve into the details. The poet begins in the voice of a soldier addressing assembled soldiers in an enemy encampment, which he says, is surrounded by well-laid, thorny bushes, appearing like the tresses of young, unmarried girls. This is probably to say these are thick and dense. Perhaps it was true even then that there was hair loss after marriage and childbirth, whereas as a young and mature girl, her health was probably at its prime, as reflected in those abundant tresses. Returning to the verse, the soldier now requests his counterparts to guard their king and their elephants. After those somewhat ominous words, the soldier turns to abstractions talking about how there can be no fighting if the enemy does not dare to stand against their opponents. Then, he talks about how their king would never fight someone who was not his equal in the battlefield and then wonders what might be going on in the king’s mind, given this situation!
The soldier turns again to the enemy army and asks them not to underestimate them thinking that the enemy were more in number. Talking about the speed and strength of his king’s horse, which pauses not even in tricky, narrow paths, and leaps as if it intends to measure the earth entire, the soldier adds that upon this horse, his king has retired to his encampment at day’s end. He concludes with the vehement declaration that this king’s fine and sharp spear shall not be raised against anyone else other than the enemy king and the elephant he rides!
What we can infer from these words is that the enemy king had abstained from the battle and had chosen to stay in the safety of his encampment. Rattled by this attitude of the enemy, a messenger is sent to proclaim the values of this king. It’s a rare occurrence but we have already seen in another Puranaanooru verse how when a king refuses to face the battlefront, he is looked down upon and his cowardice is considered a shame upon the realm. Perhaps it’s the same situation here. Or it could be overconfidence on part of the enemy king, thinking his huge army could finish the work for him. This messenger comes to dispel that notion saying his king would fight only with his equal and not anyone else. Through this, we gather the norms and values in the battlefronts of this society, two thousand years ago. All these nuances apart, I wonder why wars were considered as a given then? Didn’t anyone oppose these events? Were there voices that spoke about the futility of wars in this past? It would be fascinating to find out. In another note, although wars still go on, glad we have at least arrived at a time when there are diverse voices speaking the truth from many perspectives and dependable ways to record this diversity of thought for future generations!
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