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In this episode, we perceive a portrait of a fertile town, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 351, penned by the poet Madurai Padaimanga Manniyaar. Set in the category of ‘Kaanji Thinai’ or ‘Defence’, the verse talks about the sea of troubles arriving at the town’s shores.
படு மணி மருங்கின பணைத் தாள் யானையும்,
கொடி நுடங்கு மிசைய தேரும், மாவும்,
படை அமை மறவரொடு, துவன்றிக் கல்லென,
கடல் கண்டன்ன கண் அகன் தானை
வென்று எறி முரசின் வேந்தர், என்றும்,
வண் கை எயினன் வாகை அன்ன
இவள் நலம் தாராது அமைகுவர் அல்லர்;
என் ஆவதுகொல் தானே தெண் நீர்ப்
பொய்கை மேய்ந்த செவ் வரி நாரை
தேங் கொள் மருதின் பூஞ் சினை முனையின்,
காமரு காஞ்சித் துஞ்சும்
ஏமம்சால் சிறப்பின், இப் பணை நல் ஊரே?
Another town, another maiden, but the same talk of war for her. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“With bells resounding, arrive elephants with palm-like legs, chariots with flags fluttering, horses, and an army filled with soldiers. As they come close with an uproar, the vast army of these kings with drums echoing their victories, appears like a roaring sea. Akin to the city of ‘Vaagai’ ruled by the generous Eyinan is her beauty. Those kings, who come will not rest until they attain her! What is to become of this fine, farmland town, with such fame, where a red-streaked stork that drinks the clear waters of the pond, and then if it so dislikes the flower-filled branches of the nectar-filled ‘Marutham’ tree, it will instead seek with desire the ‘Kaanji tree’ and rest there joyfully?”
Let’s delve deeper into these words. The poet details how elephants are arriving with bells resounding, as are the chariots with flags flying high, and also those battle-ready soldiers. The vastness of this army and the uproar in the air seems as if a sea has suddenly appeared there, says the poet. He then explains they come to claim the beauty of that maiden, which is like that of the town of ‘Vaagai’ ruled by a generous king call ‘Eyinan’- Another instance of the place-beauty comparisons that Sangam poets are known to indulge in. He further declares they are not going to return in peace and calm, unless they claim this maiden. So now, he wonders what is about to befall that rich and fertile farmland town, where a red-striped stork drinks deeply from a clear pond, and then if at all it’s bored of sleeping in the towering ‘Arjuna tree’ by the shore, it would go and seek a ‘Portia’ tree and rest joyfully. He thus, concludes by implying the variety of resources available in that maiden’s town.
The continuous repetition of this theme makes me wonder if the poets were commissioned in the Sangam era to write on a particular theme and somehow different poets had to show their expertise and originality within the same template. In this verse, we can take away that peaceful image of a content bird sleeping on the tree of its choice and delight in the natural wealth of the places of the past.
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