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In this episode, we listen to a firm refusal, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 226, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated in the fertile fields of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and portrays a historical moment from the era.
உணர்குவென் அல்லென்; உரையல் நின் மாயம்;
நாண் இலை மன்ற யாணர் ஊர!
அகலுள் ஆங்கண், அம் பகை மடிவை,
குறுந் தொடி மகளிர் குரூஉப் புனல் முனையின்,
பழனப் பைஞ் சாய் கொழுதி, கழனிக்
கரந்தை அம் செறுவின் வெண் குருகு ஓப்பும்,
வல் வில் எறுழ்த் தோள், பரதவர் கோமான்,
பல் வேல் மத்தி, கழாஅர் முன்துறை,
நெடு வெண் மருதொடு வஞ்சி சாஅய,
விடியல் வந்த பெரு நீர்க் காவிரி,
தொடி அணி முன்கை நீ வெய்யோளொடு
முன் நாள் ஆடிய கவ்வை, இந் நாள்,
வலி மிகும் முன்பின் பாணனொடு, மலி தார்த்
தித்தன் வெளியன் உறந்தை நாள் அவைப்
பாடு இன் தெண் கிணைப் பாடு கேட்டு அஞ்சி,
போர் அடு தானைக் கட்டி
பொராஅது ஓடிய ஆர்ப்பினும் பெரிதே.
In this trip to the farmlands, we venture to the source of the town’s fertility, the river shore, as we listen to the lady’s confidante say these words to the man, when he seeks entry into the lady’s house, after leaving to be in the company of a courtesan:
“I shall not accept it as truth! Speak not your words of trickery; You don’t have any shame, O lord of the prosperous town! In wide spaces therein, clad in leaf garments with contrasting patterns, maiden wearing small bangles, after they tire of playing in the gushing streams, take to plucking new reeds from ponds, and chasing white birds from picturesque fields, filled with globe thistles, in the river shore of Kazhaar, ruled by the many-speared ‘Maththi’, the king of the fisherfolk, having strong shoulders bearing a sturdy bow, where in the early hours of dawn, the new flood of Kaveri gushes, felling the tall, white Arjuna tree, along with the Portia tree. Here, along with that maiden you desire, wearing bangles on her forearm, you had been frolicking yesterday. The slander that arose today owing to that, is resounding louder than the uproar heard, when along with Paanan, having skilful strength, Katti, who had come with a huge army to attack Uranthai, ruled by the garland-clad Thiththan Veliyan, upon hearing the sweet music of the clear ‘Kinai’ drums from the king’s assembly, fearfully abandoned his mission and ran away!”
Let’s listen to the familiar beats of a love quarrel in this land of plenty! The confidante comes straight to the point and refuses to accept the man’s words, calling them as lies and declaring that the man was shameless. When we ask her the reason for this emphatic statement, she launches into a description of the town of Kazhaar, ruled by the great Maththi, renowned for his spears, called as the ‘King of fishermen’, and apparently one who had strong shoulders to bear bows. The chap seems to be handling both spears and arrows, a multi-faceted warrior, seems like!
Anyway, returning to the river shore of Kazhaar, here we find young maiden, wearing stylish leaf garments in striking designs and playing in the stream. After a while, tired of the exertion, they walk on to the ponds, where reeds are blooming, pluck those, and then run about chasing the white birds from the fertile fields, which not only have crops, but also colourful globe thistles growing therein. After laying out a day in the life of these carefree maiden, the confidante talks about how in these very river shores of Kazhaar, the river Kaveri had gushed with much force, felling two great trees in its stride, and it was right here, where the man had been having fun with another maiden he desired, a day previous. And because of that, continues the confidante, a booming slander had risen in town, which was louder than the uproar that erupted at the moment, when a ruler named Katti, having come with another ruler named Paanan to attack the town of ‘Uranthai’, ruled by Thiththan Veliyan, just after hearing the sound of Thiththan’s Kinai drums, abandoned his idea and ran away from Uranthai!
Why would an attacking ruler abandon his mission just after hearing drum beats of the enemy king? A curious story, no doubt told to extol the prowess and aura of King ‘Thiththan Veliyan’! Anyway, good to see that the confidante is not fooled by the man’s deception, calls a spade a spade, and makes the lady’s dignity reverberate like those ‘Kinai’ drums of Uranthai!
