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In this episode, we perceive thoughtful words of consolation, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 253, penned by Nakeerar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse illustrates the fame of a leader in capturing cattle.
”வைகல்தோறும் பசலை பாய, என்
மெய்யும் பெரும்பிறிது ஆகின்று, ஒய்யென;
அன்னையும் அமரா முகத்தினள்; அலரே,
வாடாப் பூவின் கொங்கர் ஓட்டி,
நாடு பல தந்த பசும் பூட் பாண்டியன்
பொன் மலி நெடு நகர்க் கூடல் ஆடிய
இன் இசை ஆர்ப்பினும் பெரிதே; ஈங்கு யான்
சில நாள் உய்யலென் போன்ம்” எனப் பல நினைந்து,
ஆழல் வாழி, தோழி! வடாஅது,
ஆர் இருள் நடு நாள் ஏர் ஆ உய்ய,
பகை முனை அறுத்துப் பல் இனம் சாஅய்,
கணம்சால் கோவலர் நெடு விளிப் பயிர் அறிந்து,
இனம் தலைத் தரூஉம் துளங்கு இமில் நல் ஏற்றுத்
தழூஉப் பிணர் எருத்தம் தாழப் பூட்டிய
அம் தூம்பு அகல் அமைக் கமஞ்செலப் பெய்த
துறு காழ் வல்சியர் தொழு அறை வௌவி,
கன்றுடைப் பெரு நிரை மன்று நிறை தரூஉம்
நேரா வன் தோள் வடுகர் பெரு மகன்,
பேர் இசை எருமை நல் நாட்டு உள்ளதை
அயிரி யாறு இறந்தனர்ஆயினும், மயர் இறந்து
உள்ளுபதில்ல தாமே பணைத் தோள்,
குரும்பை மென் முலை, அரும்பிய சுணங்கின்,
நுசுப்பு அழித்து ஒலிவரும் தாழ் இருங் கூந்தல்,
மாக விசும்பின் திலகமொடு பதித்த
திங்கள் அன்ன நின் திரு முகத்து,
ஒண் சூட்டு அவிர் குழை மலைந்த நோக்கே.
In this long trip to the drylands, we get to see more of an event rather than the place, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady, when the man continues to remain parted away, having left in search of wealth:
“Saying, ‘As pallor spreads day after day, my body seems to be losing its life, little by little; As for mother, she has a troubled look on her face; As for slander, that resounds louder than the sweet-sounding uproar in the streets of ‘Koodal’, filled with gold-brimming, tall mansions, when its king Pasumpoon Pandiyan, who had conquered countries many, drove away the Kongars, clad in undying flowers of gold; It appears as if I shan’t live for more than a few days!’, thinking about too many things, cry not, my friend, may you live long!
In the north, capturing cattle in the deep darkness of midnight, ruining battlefronts many and causing groups to decline, the lord of the Vadugars, who has unparalleled, strong shoulders, known by the famous name of ‘Erumai’, would drive towards his town centre, sturdy oxen with radiant humps and coarse necks, which knowing the specific loud whistle of their many herders, would round up their herd, and bring them to the barns, built with the beautiful stems of wide bamboos, and filled with copious food, stealing them along with huge herd of cows with calves. In this leader’s fine country, flows the ‘Ayiri’ river. Even though the man has gone beyond this river, indeed he cannot help but reflect, beyond all his confusion, on your bamboo-like arms, your soft bosoms, akin to palm fruits, dotted with beauty spots, low-hanging, thick, long tresses that make the waist vanish, your exquisite face, akin to the moon, which is a radiant dot on the cloud-filled skies, adorned with shining heavy earrings, and most of all, your attacking eyes!”
Time to walk on through the drylands and learn more! The confidante starts by repeating the recent words of the lady, lamenting on her fading beauty, mother’s disturbance, and the slander that’s spreading in town, owing to all this. To describe the slander, a historic incident involving Pasumpoon Pandiyan’s routing of the Kongars and the resulting jubilation that arose in the city of Koodal is brought forth in comparison to the soaring gossip in town. This tells us that the parting between the man and lady had transpired before the man’s wedding to the lady and that’s why the slander has risen, owing to the changes in the young maiden. After repeating the lady’s anxious words, the confidante asks her friend not to cry thinking on these lines. Then the confidante launches into a long description of how a Sangam-era leader of the Vadugars, a chief who goes by the name ‘Erumai’, would capture bulls, cows and calves, stealing them from prosperous barns and bring them to his town centre. The exploits of this chieftain have been outlined to point out a river named ‘Ayiri’ that flows in his domain, and to say the man is presently travelling beyond this river. How does the confidante know of this? Has she put a tracker on the man? Kidding apart, the confidante after presenting the exact location of the man, then tells the lady that it would be impossible for the man to not think of the lady’s many beautiful attributes, and concludes with the confirmation that the man would return soon to the lady’s fold. Another assurance, another consolation, and we journey on, taking in the new sights of kings and captures in that era!
