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In this episode, we listen to life advice from a pair of birds in love, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 243, penned by Kaamakkani Pasalaiyaar, a female poet from Sangam times. The verse is set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’ landscape and speaks in the voice of the lady, expressing her anguish at the man’s parting away in search of wealth.
தேம்படு சிலம்பில் தெள் அறல் தழீஇய
துறுகல் அயல தூ மணல் அடைகரை,
அலங்கு சினை பொதுளிய நறு வடி மாஅத்துப்
பொதும்பு தோறு அல்கும் பூங்கண் இருங்குயில்,
‘கவறு பெயர்த்தன்ன நில்லா வாழ்க்கை இட்டு
அகறல் ஓம்புமின் அறிவுடையீர்!’ எனக்
கையறத் துறப்போர்க் கழறுவ போல,
மெய்யுற இருந்து மேவர நுவல,
இன்னாது ஆகிய காலை பொருள்வயிற்
பிரியல் ஆடவர்க்கு இயல்பு எனின்,
அரிது மன்றம்ம, அறத்தினும் பொருளே.
The poem starts with the expression ‘தேம்படு சிலம்பில்’ meaning ‘honey-filled slopes’ and whisks us away to a crevice, where hangs a heavy honeycomb. The phrase ‘துறுகல் அயல தூ மணல்’ talks about ‘pure sand near a rock’ while ‘அலங்கு சினை’ makes the ‘branches of a tree dance’ before our eyes. The name of the said tree is revealed by the words ‘நறு வடி மாஅத்து’ meaning ‘mango tree with fragrant baby mangoes’. Note how the word for baby mango, ‘வடி மா’ has changed with time to ‘மா வடு’ or ‘வடு மாங்கா’, the ingredient used to make a well-known South Indian pickle. A mouth-watering memory to some, I’m sure! Following this description of the mango tree, we sight ‘பூங்கண் இருங்குயில்’ meaning ‘flower-eyed black cuckoos’. After this appears a Thirukkural-like pithy couplet starting with ‘கவறு பெயர்த்தன்ன’, which we will delve into, in a short while. Learnt that this word ‘கவறு’ refers to a rolling dice used in gambling. The verse ends with ‘அரிது மன்றம்ம, அறத்தினும் பொருளே’, meaning ‘Oh! So, earning wealth is more precious than being just, is it?’ Propelled by this powerful question, let’s explore more!
The man and lady had been leading a happy married life when the man parted away from her in search of wealth. The lady is distraught at this separation. In a moment of angst, she says, “From the mountain slopes with hanging honeycombs, flows the clear waters of the river. Near a rock that is embraced by the river, spreads the shore with pure sand. On this river shore, stands a mango tree with dancing branches, decked with fragrant baby mangoes. Embracing each other, a flower-eyed dark koel and its mate that live in this riverside grove, seem to say, ‘Do not part away and abandon living this unsteady life, which is like the roll of a dice, O wise!’ in an admonishing way to those who forsake and leave in search of wealth. If it’s true that it’s the nature of men to part in search of wealth in this suffering-filled season, does it mean that wealth is more precious than virtue?” With these words, the lady expresses her agony at how men seem to disregard the importance of being together with one’s beloved in their quest for wealth.
Now, for the expansive details! As mentioned earlier, the lady starts her words from a mountain slope with hanging honeycombs. A moment’s pause to imagine the taste of this mountain honey in our mouths. Moving on, the lady then points to the crystal clear waters flowing from these mountain slopes. The river that arises in these slopes, twists and turns, and reaches the plains. Near a rock that the river embraces and flows past, is a river bed, with the purest of sands. Herein, rises, nurtured by the rich river, a mango tree with dancing branches and fragrant, tender mangoes. There’s perennial water and delicious food – A veritable Eden! So, life will surely thrive and we see proof of this in a couple of cuckoos in a blissful embrace. The song of these cuckoos seems to speak with the wisdom of sages to the lady. They seem to say in a Thirukkural-like couplet ‘The wise will not abandon their loved ones and part away knowing that life is nothing more than a roll of dice’. Over the centuries, life has been compared with many different things. It’s the favourite theme of philosophers and poets. In this ancient reference from the Tamil land, we see how life has been called a roll of dice – something unpredictable, something that can change in a moment! Doesn’t it remind of you of something we have often said or heard in the words ‘life’s a lottery’?
Returning to the verse, the lady says that those joyous cuckoos seem to be chiding those who are seeking fading wealth and not living this rare life with their loved ones. Then, the lady, perhaps in response to consolation offered which say it’s the nature of men to go in search of wealth, wonders out aloud, if that is the case, then is searching for wealth more important than doing the rightful thing which is keeping the promise to one’s beloved of never parting away. In these few words, we see that although the masculine elements of ancient society were portrayed as interested in transient materialistic pursuits, the feminine elements signify the other side of seeking lasting meaning. A song that gives fodder for thought to ponder upon the balance of pursuit of wealth and purpose of life!
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