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In this episode, we gather intriguing facets in the life of people from a drylands domain, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 325, penned by the poet Uraiyoor Muthukannan Saathanaar. Set in the category of ‘Vaagai Thinai’ or ‘Victory’, the verse talks about a leader’s courage and compassion.
களிறு நீறு ஆடிய விடு நில மருங்கின்,
வம்பப் பெரும் பெயல் வரைந்து சொரிந்து இறந்தென,
குழி கொள் சில் நீர் குராஅல் உண்டலின்,
சேறு கிளைத்திட்ட கலுழ் கண் ஊறல்
முறையின் உண்ணும் நிறையா வாழ்க்கை,
முளவு மாத் தொலைச்சிய முழுச்சொல் ஆடவர்
உடும்பு இழுது அறுத்த ஒடுங் காழ்ப் படலைச்
சீறில் முன்றில் கூறுசெய்திடுமார்,
கொள்ளி வைத்த கொழு நிண நாற்றம்
மறுகுடன் கமழும் மதுகை மன்றத்து,
அலந்தலை இரத்தி அலங்குபடு நீழல்,
கயந் தலைச் சிறாஅர் கணை விளையாடும்
அரு மிளை இருக்கையதுவே வென் வேல்
வேந்து தலைவரினும் தாங்கும்,
தாங்கா ஈகை, நெடுந்தகை ஊரே.
What is unique about this verse is the detailed description of a town and its people mentioned so as to celebrate the leader of that place. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“In the dry lands domain, wherein boars have played in the mud, upon which huge clouds have poured rains and departed away, in the many pits, scanty water fills up. When done grazing the grass near by, cows drink up this little water. After all the muddying up by these beasts, the sparse water that’s to be found, is fetched in lines by the people who live there. Such is the impoverished lives of these people, whose men are known for their word, who hunt down porcupines. In the front yard of their little huts made of ‘odu’ tree wood, they chop up the meat of monitor lizards, so as to share. The fragrance of the fleshy meat touched by a firebrand spreads in the streets and reaches the strong town centre. Under the swaying shade of the ‘Irathi’ tree in that vast area, children having huge heads play with their bows in that domain with many protected forests. This is the town of the great leader, who can stop the onward march of kings with white spears, and has unstoppable generosity!”
Let’s explore the nuances. The poet starts by talking about how boars have rolled in the dust and played in a particular place. After this, rains pour down there and quickly take their leave. Cows come there to graze on the grass around and then drink up this water. With all this muddying up, one can imagine the state of the water there – scanty and soiled. But, people come there and stand in a line to fetch this water for their homes, the poet adds, saying such is their impoverished lives, stressing on how this is no land of riches where everything is taken for granted. A moment to meander and mention that this exact image I happened to witness in the closing frames of a 2021 Tamil movie ‘Koozhangal’ or ‘Pebbles’, depicting contemporary people living in a dry region in the south of Tamil nadu, trying to collect water patiently from a little puddle. I was stunned by the similarity of this scene in a poem from two thousand years ago and from this twenty-first century movie.
Returning to the verse, we are provided with other details about their lives as in how the men who are known to abide by their word, and who hunt porcupines and monitor lizards, are seen bringing the meat to the front yard of their homes, which are built with the wood of the ‘umbrella thorn tree’. Here, they chop the meat up, so as to share with all the homes around and then roast the meat with a firebrand. That smell spreads to the town centre, adds this poet. Next, he turns the focus to young children, who imitating their fathers are seen playing with bows in the shade of the ‘jujube tree’. Finally, the poet ends with the words that this is the town of the great lord, who can stop the attack of any king, no matter how powerful, and a leader, who is also known to have limitless generosity. When we connect this facet of the leader’s town with the fact that it’s not a naturally prosperous region, we can understand the implicit wonder in the poet’s voice. Thus, in a song which is again about a leader’s 2Cs, to employ a modern way of saying things, his ‘Courage and Compassion’, we are given the generous treasure chest of knowledge containing so many intricate details about the lives of people then.
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