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In this episode, we relish the naughtiness of the confidante, as portrayed in Sangam literary work, Natrinai 307, penned by Ammoovanaar. The verse is set in the coastal regions of ‘Neythal’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, conveying an idea to play a prank on the man, who was delaying his arrival to the trysting spot.
கவர் பரி நெடுந் தேர் மணியும் இசைக்கும்;
பெயர் பட இயங்கிய இளையரும் ஒலிப்பர்;
கடல் ஆடு வியல் இடைப் பேர் அணிப் பொலிந்த
திதலை அல்குல் நலம் பாராட்டிய
வருமே-தோழி!-வார் மணற் சேர்ப்பன்:
இற் பட வாங்கிய முழவுமுதற் புன்னை
மா அரை மறைகம் வம்மதி-பானாள்,
பூ விரி கானல், புணர் குறி வந்து, நம்
மெல் இணர் நறும் பொழில் காணா
அல்லல் அரும் படர் காண்கம் நாம், சிறிதே.
As we step into the poem, we hear loud sounds, first in ‘கவர் பரி நெடுந் தேர் மணியும் இசைக்கும்’ meaning ‘the bells of the tall chariot, pulled by those entrancing horses, resounds’ and then in ‘இளையரும் ஒலிப்பர்’ meaning ‘the servants too, speak aloud’. Then, there is conviction in the words ‘வருமே-தோழி!-வார் மணற் சேர்ப்பன்’ meaning ‘He will come, my friend, the lord of the sandy shores’. The adorable tree of the coastal landscape smiles at us in ‘முழவுமுதற் புன்னை’ meaning ‘the laurel wood tree with a trunk akin to a drum’. The phrase ‘காணா அல்லல்’ talks about the ‘suffering of not seeing’ that anyone, who has ever been in love, can attest. The verse ends with ‘காண்கம் நாம், சிறிதே’ meaning ‘let us see, a little’ and intrigues our curiosity!
The man and lady had been leading a love relationship and the man had been trysting with the lady by day, in the orchard by the sea. As was the unspoken custom then, the man would delay his arrival to the marked trysting spot, so as to test the lady’s love. One such day, not seeing him, the lady languishes. The confidante, the sharp thing she is, hears the sounds of the man arriving. She turns to the lady and says, “The sounds of the alluring horses and tall chariot bells are resounding. The young servants who walk along can be heard too. The lord of the spreading shores is indeed coming here to the wide spaces by the sea to celebrate your speckled loins, my friend! Come, let us go towards the ‘punnai’, with a trunk like a drum, standing near our home, and hide behind that huge trunk! Let him come here in the middle of the day to this flower-spread orchard, filled with gentle and fragrant flower clusters, to the marked trysting spot, and not seeing you, let him suffer and feel sad. Why don’t we stand by and see that, a little?” With these words, the confidante persuades the lady to play a trick on the man, by not being there at the trysting spot, as expected by the man, making him suffer a little!
What an imp, the lady’s friend is! The confidante starts her words to the lady as a consolation and as she’s talking she suddenly hears the sounds of the man’s imminent arrival. What could these sounds of someone arriving be? Today, it would be the unique way the wheels of a car sound when it enters the street where one lives. It wasn’t all that different two thousand years ago. Simply ‘find and replace’ cars with chariots! The confidante mentions how the bell sounds in the man’s tall chariot, pulled by those charming horses, can be heard. Note how she uses the adjective ‘charming’ for the man’s horses! When you like someone, doesn’t all they have and all they do seem endearing? That’s the timeless and universal feeling this woman is echoing! Apparently, the men, who came to visit young ladies, were accompanied by a crowd of servants, for the confidante mentions that she can hear them chattering aloud too. The confidante conveys with complete trust that the man was indeed coming to that trysting spot to enjoy the lady’s company.
Problem solved, everything’s fine, the lady would be happy that the man is on his way to meet with her and everyone can go home happy. But, the confidante is having none of that. With a twinkle in her eyes, she points to the ‘punnai’ tree growing at a little distance and beckons the lady to go there with her. Really? After a long time, the lady is meeting with a man but here is the confidante not letting it happen. What does she have in her mind? The confidante reveals that they should hide there and watch the man, as he comes to that spot, look all around, and not seeing the lady, stand there, feeling sad and lost. Not for long, just for a little bit, she tells the lady, with a wink, I guess! The confidante knows that the man would have a taste of his own medicine and be filled with yearning for the lady, owing to this little prank of hers. Yet again, I’m filled with admiration for this little woman, the lady’s confidante, who takes on the roles of a wise counsellor, a thoughtful consoler and at rare times like this, a playful companion. But, whatever be the case, the confidante is someone who has only the lady’s best interests at her heart. How can she be, without a bit of envy for the lady and always be that person who puts the lady’s welfare even before her own? Is it even possible for a person like this to exist today? Even if someone only has shades of this confidante’s nature, lucky is the person who gets to call them ‘a friend’!
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