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In this episode, we listen to a loving wish, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 283, penned by Madurai Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse describes the transformation of a dreary place into a delightful one.
நல் நெடுங் கதுப்பொடு பெருந் தோள் நீவி,
நின் இவண் ஒழிதல் அஞ்சிய என்னினும்,
செலவு தலைக்கொண்ட பெரு விதுப்பு உறுவி
பல் கவர் மருப்பின் முது மான் போக்கி,
சில் உணாத் தந்த சீறூர்ப் பெண்டிர்
திரிவயின் தெவுட்டும் சேண் புலக் குடிஞைப்
பைதல் மென் குரல் ஐது வந்து இசைத்தொறும்,
போகுநர் புலம்பும் ஆறே ஏகுதற்கு
அரிய ஆகும் என்னாமை, கரி மரம்
கண் அகை இளங் குழை கால்முதல் கவினி,
விசும்புடன் இருண்டு, வெம்மை நீங்க,
பசுங் கண் வானம் பாய் தளி பொழிந்தென,
புல் நுகும்பு எடுத்த நல் நெடுங் கானத்து,
ஊட்டுறு பஞ்சிப் பிசிர் பரந்தன்ன
வண்ண மூதாய் தண் நிலம் வரிப்ப,
இனிய ஆகுக தணிந்தே
இன்னா நீப்பின் நின்னொடு செலற்கே.
In this trip to the drylands, we observe how this formidable land changes colours, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, conveying the lady’s acceptance to elope away with him:
“I was fearing about how she would remain here, without you, the one, who caresses her fine, long tresses, and thick arms. But she’s gone a step ahead and is anxious to leave on a journey with you, to paths, where chasing old deer with branching antlers, womenfolk from small hamlets gather meagre grains, and as they rove around, an owl’s sorrow-filled, soft voice arrives to torment tenderly, making wayfarers to lament as they walk on. So that these paths are not difficult for her to traverse, let those scorched trees bloom with tender sprouts on the many nodes of their trunks, with much beauty. For the heat to recede, may the skies darken, and may those guardians of fertility shower drops beneath, making blades of grass raise their heads in the fine, vast jungle, and akin to dyed cotton specks that spread around, let the bright-hued, red velvet mites decorate the moist lands. Let it all become cool and pleasant during this sorrow-endowing journey of hers, with you!”
Time to walk on through the angst-ridden domain! The confidante starts by revealing her worry about the lady remaining there, if her loving man were to leave. But, her friend had decided something else and was intent on eloping with the man, she says, and then goes on to describe those places, where womenfolk on the lookout for anything to bring for their families, chase away grazing deer, and collect whatever little grains they can find in the scrub jungle. At this time, an owl hooting in soft voice would fall on their ears and would fill all wayfarers with much sorrow, the confidante details. Then, she makes a heartfelt wish so that the path the gentle lady was planning to traverse was not so impossible for her, seeking that the scorched trees should start blooming, the skies should start raining, blades of grass should start sprouting, and the entire spread of the land should be covered in red velvet mites, which come to the surface, only to greet the rains. The confidante concludes by saying indeed the lady’s parting away was going to bring much sadness to her and the lady’s family, but even so, she wishes the lady must have a pleasant time on her journey with the man.
What a wonderful creature is this confidante, who only wishes well for her beloved friend! If there was ever a soul, who only lives for the welfare of another, I’m sure it’s this character etched in verse after verse in Sangam Literature. An eternal epitome of friendship, whose personality we can try to emulate in our own relationships with others, for a better and more positive world!
