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In this episode, we listen to a refusal rendered to a heart’s nudge, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 353, penned by Madurai Alakkar Gnaazhalaar Makanaar Mallanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse contrasts the nature of this domain and that of a beloved.
ஆள்வினைப் பிரிதலும் உண்டோ? பிரியினும்,
கேள், இனி வாழிய, நெஞ்சே! நாளும்
கனவுக் கழிந்தனையவாகி, நனவின்
நாளது செலவும், மூப்பினது வரவும்,
அரிது பெறு சிறப்பின் காமத்து இயற்கையும்,
இந் நிலை அறியாய்ஆயினும், செந் நிலை
அமை ஆடு அம் கழை தீண்டி, கல்லென
ஞெமை இலை உதிர்த்த எரி வாய்க் கோடை
நெடு வெண் களரி நீறு முகந்து சுழல,
கடு வெயில் திருகிய வேனில் வெங் காட்டு,
உயங்கு நடை மடப் பிணை தழீஇய, வயங்கு பொறி,
அறு கோட்டு, எழிற் கலை அறுகயம் நோக்கி,
தெண் நீர் வேட்ட சிறுமையின், தழை மறந்து,
உண்நீர் இன்மையின், ஒல்குவன தளர,
மரம் நிழல் அற்ற இயவின் சுரன் இறந்து,
உள்ளுவை அல்லையோ மற்றே உள்ளிய
விருந்து ஒழிவு அறியாப் பெருந் தண் பந்தர்,
வருந்தி வருநர் ஓம்பி, தண்ணெனத்
தாது துகள் உதிர்த்த தாழை அம் கூந்தல்
வீழ் இதழ் அலரி மெல் அகம் சேர்த்தி,
மகிழ் அணி முறுவல் மாண்ட சேக்கை,
நம்மொடு நன் மொழி நவிலும்
பொம்மல் ஓதிப் புனையிழை குணனே?
In this trip to this formidable region, we get to see the usual scenes of barrenness, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, when instigated to part with the lady and go in search of wealth:
“Do you think that it’s possible to part away for seeking wealth? If so, listen to me now, long may you live, my heart! You seem not to understand the state of things, as you keep dreaming day after day, and how in reality, days pass so fast, ushering in old age soon, and the nature of love, which has a precious, fleeting quality! Caressing the etched, swaying, beautiful bamboos, shedding the axle-wood tree’s leaves resoundingly, as the burning summer winds gather dust in the wide, white saline soil and swirls around, in that scorching, barren scrub jungle in summer, embracing its naive mate with a fatigued gait, the handsome stag, with radiant specks and curving antlers, looks at the dried-up pond, and seeing the scarcity of clear water, forgets even to graze, and without water to quench its thirst, it stumbles with weakness. Walking on a path through such a drylands, bereft of the shade of trees, won’t you end up thinking about the good nature of that maiden with thick, long tresses, wearing well-etched ornaments, the one who with much effort, welcomes all those who arrive to that huge and cool pavilion, where festivities know not how to cease; the one, from whose beautiful tresses, cool pollen of the pandanus flowers drop down, and is tied with many flowers with flowing petals and soft cores, as she lies on the soft bed, shares a joyous smile and speaks good words with us?”
Time to traverse that harsh domain once again! The man starts by asking how the heart could even think of nudging him to part from the lady. He accuses it of not understanding reality as it was, the fleeting nature of youth and love, and the speedy arrival of old age, and that’s why it was repeatedly asking him to leave. Then he goes on into a description of the drylands, painting it with swirling hot winds, falling leaves, and fatigued deer. There would be not a drop of water or shade in that wretched land, the man describes. Then he concludes by predicting that even if his heart were to leave to the drylands, it would only end up thinking about the lady’s sweet qualities of welcoming strangers to their festive home, her lush tresses, adorned with flowers, her smile and her kind words. In short, the man says to his heart that now you want to leave her and go in search of wealth but once you do, you will then think of the lady and lament about why you came there. The contradictions in the human mind that seem to crop up timelessly are brought out in these words, rendered by a man to his heart!
