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In this episode, we perceive the joyous mood in returning home, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 354, penned by Madurai Tamil Koothan Kaduvan Mallanaar. The verse is situated amidst the dance of calves and the song of flutes in the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and presents the happy turn of events and its far-reaching consequences.
மத வலி யானை மறலிய பாசறை,
இடி உமிழ் முரசம் பொரு களத்து இயம்ப,
வென்று கொடி எடுத்தனன், வேந்தனும்; கன்றொடு
கறவைப் புல்லினம் புறவுதொறு உகள,
குழல் வாய் வைத்தனர் கோவலர், வல் விரைந்து,
இளையர் ஏகுவனர் பரிய, விரி உளைக்
கடு நடைப் புரவி வழிவாய் ஓட,
வலவன் வள்பு வலி உறுப்ப, புலவர்
புகழ் குறி கொண்ட பொலந்தார் அகலத்து,
தண் கமழ் சாந்தம் நுண் துகள் அணிய,
வென்றி கொள் உவகையொடு புகுதல் வேண்டின்,
யாண்டு உறைவதுகொல் தானே மாண்ட
போது உறழ் கொண்ட உண்கண்
தீதிலாட்டி திரு நுதற் பசப்பே?
In this trip to these lush forest lands, we get to see a lot of frantic activity, as we listen to those around the man in the battle camp say these words to him, as he prepares to leave home to the lady:
“Rutting elephants having great strength trumpet in the battle-camp; Thunderous drums resound in the battlefield; The king raises the flag of victory; Along with their calves, cows leap about in the forest lands, and cowherds place the flutes on their mouths and play on; Helpers run about on their errands with much haste; Speeding horses with spreading manes rush on the paths, as the charioteer wields them with strong reins; For that garlanded chest of yours, having those famous scars, celebrated by poets, to be adorned with tiny specks of moist and fragrant sandalwood, with a victorious smile, you wish to enter your home. When you do, where will the pallor, resting atop the fine forehead of your flawless wife, having kohl-streaked eyes, akin to flowers, leave to and take residence?”
Let’s take in the fleeting sights of this speeding verse and learn more! The people in the camp turn to the man and point out the sounds around them, which include trumpeting elephants and thundering drums. All these are echoing aloud the news that the king has attained the victory he wished for. From the immediate surroundings, the minds of these people travel to the forest lands around where there’s much frolic happening between cows and calves and the cowherds too are sending sweet musical notes on their flutes, calling their herd. Then those people picture the man’s helpers buzzing around, finishing the tasks, and horses speeding homeward, in the expert hands of the charioteer. They visualise the battle-scarred chest of the man, celebrated by poets, being welcomed home and streaked with sandalwood and conclude by wondering where that poor pallor, which had been sitting so rightfully on the lady’s forehead, will run to, now! In short, they take us on an entire journey from where the man was to where he wants to be, painting all the joyous events, one after the other. A verse which gives us the feeling of watching a movie unfold scene by scene, from here to there, from him to her!
