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In this episode, we relish a scene in an ancient Tamil household, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 269, penned by Eyinanthai Magan Ilankeeranaar. The verse is set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’ landscape and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the man, in an attempt to dissuade him from parting with the lady.
குரும்பை மணிப் பூண் பெருஞ் செங் கிண்கிணிப்
பால் ஆர் துவர் வாய்ப் பைம் பூட் புதல்வன்,
மாலைக் கட்டில், மார்பு ஊர்பு இழிய,
அவ் எயிறு ஒழுகிய அவ் வாய் மாண் நகைச்
செயிர் தீர் கொள்கை நம் உயிர் வெங் காதலி
திருமுகத்து அலமரும் கண் இணைந்து அல்கலும்,
பெரும! வள்ளியின் பிணிக்கும் என்னார்,
சிறு பல் குன்றம் இறப்போர்;
அறிவார் யார், அவர் முன்னியவ்வே?
Opening with ‘குரும்பை மணிப் பூண்’, the poem ties nature with jewellery for it means ‘wearing gems akin to young palm fruits’. This reflects the red hue of the jewel and sure enough, we see it in the words ‘செங் கிண்கிணி’ meaning ‘red tinkling anklets’. Note the nuance in a piece of jewellery meant for a child. It’s bright red in colour, to catch one’s attention, no matter where the child plays, and also with tinkling sounds to warn elders of the child’s whereabouts. We get an idea about the probable age of the child when we see ‘பால் ஆர் துவர் வாய்’ meaning ‘a red mouth, fresh from suckling milk’. The phrase ‘வாய் மாண் நகை’ greets us with a flash of ‘a proud smile’. Instantly, the mood changes with ‘திருமுகத்து அலமரும்’ meaning ‘a face that will suffer’. We turn to nature again with ‘வள்ளியின் பிணிக்கும்’ which talks about a vine commonly known as ‘fiveleaf yam’ and how it ‘tightens around trees’. The verse ends with a pithy question ‘அறிவார் யார், அவர் முன்னியவ்வே’ meaning ‘who knows what he thinks’ and invites us to learn more!
The man and lady had been leading a happy, married life, when the man decides to leave her on a mission. Knowing of his intention to part away from the lady, the confidante says to him, “Wearing thick, red anklets with gems akin to palm fruits, your son, who is adorned with new jewels and who has a red mouth, fresh from suckling milk, climbed up and down your garlanded chest, O lord! Seeing this, the lady shed a proud smile with her neatly set, fine teeth. She is a lady of impeccable principles. Without considering that this desirable lover, akin to life, will be in angst, with her fine face suffering, her eyes troubled and without thinking that this will tighten around your heart, akin to a vine that ties down a huge tree, you intend to leave away to a land with many, little peaks! Who can know, what lies in the mind of such a person?” With these words, the confidante is describing to the man the pain his parting will cause in the lady and subtly persuades him to give up his intention to part away.
Now, for the details hidden in the verse! The confidante starts her exchange with the man by relating a scene that happened in the man’s household. She paints a portrait of a little boy, decked with newly glowing jewels. This boy is said to be one with a red mouth, fresh from suckling milk. We do not know how long Sangam mothers fed their kids breast milk but from this verse, we understand that it’s at least till the boy has enough mobility to climb on his father’s garlanded chest and slide down. An adorable toddler, he does sound like! A scene that will make anyone smile with a warm glow in the heart and the mother, more so! The lady gives out a beautiful smile, that also reflects her pride in her son and her love for her man. The confidante then goes on to give a glowing description of the lady, calling her one of flawless character and someone who is akin to life to the man. Then, the confidante places an accusation at the man telling her he seems to not think about the suffering that will fall on the lady’s fine face and how tears will streak down from her eyes. Without considering how these thoughts of her will tighten around his heart like a creeper, the man seems desirous of parting away to some far-off land in a treacherous journey through peaks many. Pretending to give up in dejection, the confidante finishes with the thought who can even say what is going on through such a man’s mind!
Let’s take a moment to dwell on the reference to the vine and the tree. The confidante intends to highlight that the lady, like a vine that spreads around a tree, is dependant on the steady strength and presence of the man. She seems to ask what might happen to the vine if the tree decides to walk away? The last line of the verse sounds like a modern thought. I can almost see the confidante say with a shrug of her shoulders, ‘Who knows what goes on, in that head of his?’ Recollecting an endearing scene at home, relating the virtues of the lady and subtly remonstrating the man for his seemingly thoughtless intention, the confidante recommends that the man give up his decision to part away. Intriguing how so much seems to hang in a man’s simple decision to part away as part of his work. Apparently, that is no modern-day office trip that can happen on a moment’s notice today!
Nice one 😊