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In this episode, we listen to a nuanced rendition of one’s state of mind, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 298, penned by Madurai Panda Vaanikan Ilanthevanaar. The verse is situated amidst the blooming flowers of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’ and sketches the man’s domain and his journey to his beloved in vivid detail.
பயம் கெழு திருவின் பல் கதிர் ஞாயிறு
வயங்கு தொழில் தரீஇயர், வலன் ஏர்பு விளங்கி,
மல்கு கடல் தோன்றியாங்கு, மல்கு பட,
மணி மருள் மாலை, மலர்ந்த வேங்கை
ஒண் தளிர் அவிர் வரும் ஒலி கெழு பெருஞ் சினைத்
தண் துளி அசைவளி தைவரும் நாட!
கொன்று சினம் தணியாது, வென்று முரண் சாம்பாது,
இரும் பிடித் தொழுதியின் இனம் தலைமயங்காது,
பெரும் பெயற் கடாஅம் செருக்கி, வள மலை
இருங் களிறு இயல்வரும் பெருங் காட்டு இயவின்,
ஆர் இருள் துமிய வெள் வேல் ஏந்தி,
தாழ் பூங் கோதை ஊது வண்டு இரீஇ,
மென் பிணி அவிழ்ந்த அரை நாள் இரவு, இவண்
நீ வந்ததனினும், இனிது ஆகின்றே
தூவல் கள்ளின் துனை தேர் எந்தை
கடியுடை வியல் நகர் ஓம்பினள் உறையும்
யாய் அறிவுறுதல் அஞ்சி, பானாள்,
காவல் நெஞ்சமொடு காமம் செப்பேன்,
யான் நின் கொடுமை கூற, நினைபு ஆங்கு,
‘இனையல் வாழி, தோழி! நத் துறந்தவர்
நீடலர் ஆகி வருவர், வல்லென’
கங்குல் உயவுத் துணை ஆகிய
துஞ்சாது உறைவி இவள் உவந்ததுவே!
In this trip to the hills, we get to see plenty of this fertile landscape, as we listen to the lady say these words to the man, when he arrives for his nightly tryst with her:
“Akin to the many-rayed sun, which renders fertile wealth to the world, one which, in order to perform its radiant duty, climbs on the right, shining upon those brimming seas, in that sapphire-hued evening hour, the brimming clusters of the Kino flowers appear, opening their petals upon the resplendent sprouts that shoot up on the luxuriant, huge branch, shedding cool drops of dew, as the breeze blows through, in your mountain country, O lord!
With a rage that subsides not even after killing, with an enmity that recedes not even after conquering, wanting not to mingle with a herd of dark female elephants, with musth flowing like a huge downpour, a humungous male elephant roves in the wide jungles of the fertile mountains. In those paths, bearing a white spear, which slices through the deep darkness, chasing away buzzing bees, upon your low-hanging, flower garland, which has opened its buds, in that midnight hour, that you arrive, is something sweet.
In the guarded, wide mansion of my father, who showers copious toddy and wields fast chariots, lives mother, taking care of me. Fearing that she would come to know, in that midnight hour, with a restrained heart, without speaking of my passion, I only spoke of your cruelty. At that time, understanding what I meant, she said to me, ‘Worry not, my friend! May you live long! The one who has parted from you shan’t delay any further. He shall return promptly!’. What is sweeter than your coming here, is the joy this caring companion of the night, the one who stayed beside me sleepless, feels now that you are here!”
Let’s take that mountain trek and climb the hills of this relationship’s dynamics! The lady starts by describing the man’s mountain country, and to do that, she starts talking about the sun and the way it shines so radiantly upon the sapphire seas, only to connect its appearance to the golden Kino flowers on a branch, shedding dew drops in the breeze. After that pleasant and vibrant image to mark the man’s land, the lady moves on to talk about the way the man arrives in the midnight hour, with a spear for company, walking those very paths, where a huge male elephant roves madly, with its anger no way down, even after killing its enemy, most probably a tiger, without even thinking of joining in a herd of female elephants and relaxing, with its musth fluids pouring down like rain. That denotes the danger the man braves to come meet the lady!
Moving on from the man’s situation, the lady talks about her own state, as she lives under the care of her mother in her father’s well-protected, rich mansion. She mentions how she feared that mother would learn of the passion in her for the man, and discreetly spoke to her confidante, mentioning how cruel he must be, for not coming there. The lady continues by saying the friend understood what the lady actually meant, seeing the love brimming over in her heart, and promised the lady that the man would soon be there. The lady concludes by saying to the man, ‘Yes. It’s sweet that you have come here now. But what is even sweeter is the joy of my friend, who stayed near me, sleepless through the night, when she sees you arriving her, fulfilling those words she said to me!’.
The lady talks about the dangers in the man’s path, the trouble in her own home and heart, and brings out the need for the man to give up these risky ventures and choose the safe path of marriage. Without saying these exact words, she instead praises the goodness of her friend who stood by her, in that hour of need, hoping to bring out the transformation in the man’s heart. Instead of fighting and accusing, with good words about a friend’s kindness, this lady paves the path to change her life, and shows us, her descendants, that it’s possible to influence someone, without even the slightest hint of force, just with that feather-like weapon of positivity!
