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In this episode, we listen to a man admonishing his heart, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 342, penned by Madurai Kanakkaayanaar. The verse is situated amidst the rocky clefts of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’ and describes the warring nature of the Pandya King.
ஒறுப்ப ஓவலை; நிறுப்ப நில்லலை;
புணர்ந்தோர் போலப் போற்றுமதி! நினக்கு யான்
கிளைஞன் அல்லெனோ? நெஞ்சே! தெனாஅது
வெல் போர்க் கவுரியர் நல் நாட்டு உள்ளதை
மண் கொள் புற்றத்து அருப்பு உழை திறப்பின்
ஆ கொள் மூதூர்க் கள்வர் பெருமகன்,
ஏவல் இளையர் தலைவன், மேவார்
அருங் குறும்பு எறிந்த ஆற்றலொடு, பருந்து படப்
பல் செருக் கடந்த செல் உறழ் தடக் கை,
கெடாஅ நல் இசைத் தென்னன் தொடாஅ
நீர் இழி மருங்கில் கல் அளைக் கரந்த அவ்
வரையரமகளிரின் அரியள்,
அவ் வரி அல்குல் அணையாக்காலே!
In this little trip to the hills, we get a glimpse of history, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, at a time when he’s unable to meet with the lady, during a planned tryst by night:
“Even when I scold you, you seem to mind it not; Even when I stop you, you seem not to let it go; Please pay heed to my words like one, who loves me; Am I not your kith and kin, O heart? In the south, in the fine country of the victorious Kauriyars, rules the king, who has undying fame and thick long arms. After breaking open jungle forts, akin to termite mud mounds, and stealing cattle, this lord of the bandits, who hails from an ancient town, the leader of many youngsters, seizes formidable forts of his enemies, and crosses many battlefields, where vultures rove the skies. In his domain, are those untouched spaces, filled with waterfalls, where heavenly mountain maiden hide in rock clefts. It’s harder to see my beloved than even those celestial maiden! Without understanding that, O heart, you behave so, when I don’t get to embrace her fine-lined waist!”
Let’s listen in on this intimate conversation and learn more! The man starts by expressing his annoyance at his heart, talking about how his heart does not seem to heed to his instructions, no matter how much he scolds it or asks it to stop. He then pleads to his heart to behave like a good friend, asking his heart to see him as its kith and kin! After that curious opening, the man goes on to talk about the Pandya King and his many exploits such as destroying mud forts as well as the strongly guarded enemy forts, stealing cattle, leading youth, winning many battles and hailing from an ancient town. He also talks about the king’s unceasing fame and his fine long arms. Then, leaving the king’s attributes, the man turns to focus on the king’s country, where there are unexplored spaces, filled with flowing waterfalls and having mountain clefts nearby, where celestial maiden were said to hide. Now, the man connects the rarity of seeing those maiden to the rarity of his meeting his beloved and concludes by talking about how his heart keeps going back to the lady, even though it’s clear it’s impossible to attain her!
Fascinating the way the man brings out how sometimes our inner selves are at such contradiction to how we want them to behave. Haven’t we all felt at times our heart seems to have a mind of its own? It’s this human attribute the man captures in these words, echoing his valiant attempts to handle his moment of disappointment!
