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In this episode, we listen to words of assurance, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 201, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse reveals aspects of Pandya and Chozha kingdoms.
அம்ம, வாழி தோழி! ‘பொன்னின்
அவிர் எழில் நுடங்கும் அணி கிளர் ஓடை
வினை நவில் யானை விறற் போர்ப் பாண்டியன்
புகழ் மலி சிறப்பின் கொற்கை முன்துறை,
அவிர்கதிர் முத்தமொடு வலம்புரி சொரிந்து,
தழை அணிப் பொலிந்த கோடு ஏந்து அல்குல்
பழையர் மகளிர் பனித் துறைப் பரவ,
பகலோன் மறைந்த அந்தி ஆர் இடை,
உரு கெழு பெருங் கடல் உவவுக் கிளர்ந்தாங்கு,
அலரும் மன்று பட்டன்றே; அன்னையும்
பொருந்தாக் கண்ணள், வெய்ய உயிர்க்கும்’ என்று
எவன் கையற்றனை, இகுளை? சோழர்
வெண்ணெல் வைப்பின் நல் நாடு பெறினும்,
ஆண்டு அமைந்து உறைநர்அல்லர் முனாஅது
வான் புகு தலைய குன்றத்துக் கவாஅன்,
பெருங் கை எண்கின் பேழ்வாய் ஏற்றை
இருள் துணிந்தன்ன குவவு மயிர்க் குருளைத்
தோல் முலைப் பிணவொடு திளைக்கும்
வேனில் நீடிய சுரன் இறந்தோரே.
In this trip to the drylands, we take a detour to the Pandya and Chozha country, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady, when the man continues to remain parted away, having left to earn wealth to claim the lady’s hand in marriage:
“Listen my friend, may you live long! You say to me, ‘Wearing well-etched head ornaments made of gold that glow resplendently, battle elephants of the victorious Pandya king stand proudly, near the shores of Korkai, celebrated for its immense fame, as daughters of pearl-divers, wearing leaf attires around their radiant, striped uplifted waists, spread sparkling pearls and right-whorled conch shells on those cool shores, at that precious time when the sun sets. Akin to how the formidable, huge ocean there would rise high with a roar, slander does soar around town. Hearing this, with sleepless eyes, mother keeps sighing loudly’. Worrying so, don’t feel so helpless, my dearest!
Even if he were to attain the fine country of the Chozhas, which yield unceasing mounds of white paddy, he is not someone who will stay there, content. Indeed the one, who has left to the drylands with a prolonged summer, near the slopes of the mountains with sky-soaring peaks, where a male sloth bear with huge hands and a fierce mouth, frolics with its coarse-haired cub, which looks like a bundle of darkness, and its mate with skinny breasts, will not stay away for anything!”
Time to explore the scorching drylands path! The confidante starts by inviting the lady’s attention and repeating the worry running through the lady’s mind. To do that, she zooms on to ornamented battle elephants belonging to the Pandya kings, victorious in war, as they stand near the shore of the famous town of Korkai. Here, the daughters of pearl divers are performing a special ceremony, by spreading pearls and conch-shells, possibly a festival of gratitude for the king’s victories in the battlefield. This happens at dusk, and at this time, the seas nearby would rise high and roar, the confidante details, and connects it to the slander that was similarly soaring in town about the lady’s relationship with the man. The lady was worried because Mother had heard these rumours and was lying sleepless, sighing ceaselessly. Now, the confidante asks her friend not to feel so anxious and helpless and she promises that the man who had left to the drylands, would not stay there, even if he were to be given the country of the Chozhas, known for its unceasing yield of paddy. The confidante concludes with a description of the place, where the man has left, talking about how in that scorched domain, where summer does not want to part, a male sloth bear finds the means to frolic with its cub and mate!
In the scene of the sloth bear family, the confidante places a metaphor for how the man would soon return and rejoice with his beloved. Yet again, the message we recently encountered, about how no amount of wealth would keep away a man from the lady he loves, echoes aloud. But here, the context differs, and we are presented with a bonus gift of intriguing images that echo the glory and prosperity of ancient Tamil kingdoms!
