Sangam Lit

Nandini Karky
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Reflections on 2000 Year Old Tamil Poetry

  1. 10h ago

    Aganaanooru 286 – Ways of the noble

    In this episode, we perceive an insightful refusal to a request, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 286, penned by Orambokiyaar. The verse is situated amidst the sounds of pounding in the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and delves into abstractions about the actions of the noble. வெள்ளி விழுத் தொடி மென் கருப்பு உலக்கை, வள்ளி நுண் இடை வயின் வயின் நுடங்க; மீன் சினை அன்ன வெண் மணல் குவைஇ, காஞ்சி நீழல், தமர் வளம் பாடி, ஊர்க் குறுமகளிர் குறுவழி, விறந்த வராஅல் அருந்திய சிறு சிரல் மருதின் தாழ் சினை உறங்கும் தண் துறை ஊர! விழையா உள்ளம் விழையும் ஆயினும், என்றும், கேட்டவை தோட்டி ஆக மீட்டு, ஆங்கு, அறனும் பொருளும் வழாமை நாடி, தற் தகவு உடைமை நோக்கி, மற்று அதன் பின் ஆகும்மே, முன்னியது முடித்தல்; அனைய, பெரியோர் ஒழுக்கம்; அதனால், அரிய பெரியோர்த் தெரியுங்காலை, நும்மோர் அன்னோர் மாட்டும், இன்ன பொய்யொடு மிடைந்தவை தோன்றின், மெய் யாண்டு உளதோ, இவ் உலகத்தானே? In this trip to the farmlands, rather than the usual love-quarrels, we get to see a different dimension, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, when he informs her about his wish to part away from the lady, earn wealth, and then return to marry her: “With the soft, black sugarcane stems as the silver-capped pestles, swaying their dainty waists to and fro, akin to ‘valli’ vines, heaping white sand, akin to fish eggs, in the shade of the portia tree, as the young maiden of the town sing the praises of their kin, in tune with their pounding, a small kingfisher that has feasted on murrel fish sleeps on the low-hanging branch of the Arjuna tree in your cool river shores, O lord! Even if a heart, which tends not to desire unjust things, happens to desire some such thing, with sharp questions as the goad, they would rein it in. Only after delving on questions of justice and fairness, and establishing that one is worthy of something, do they work towards accomplishing that; This is the discipline of those who are noble. When we ponder on the actions of such noble people, if someone like you, who is considered as one such, shows falsehoods in your actions, then where is truth to be found in this world?” Time to take a walk through this town of complexity! The confidante starts by describing the town of the man, and to do that, she paints a picture of young girls, using a sugarcane as a pestle, and the river sand, which appears like fish eggs, as the grains, imitating the actions of their elders, they pound and play, in the shade of a portia tree, even as they sing the praises of their townsfolk. As they sing and pound, a kingfisher, with its tummy full of murrel fish, sleeps on a branch of a ‘Marutham’ tree nearby, in the lord’s lush river shores, the confidante adds. After that tangible depiction of the world around, the confidante jumps into abstractions, talking about how the nature of the noble was to seek only what they think is just and fair and even if their minds sometimes pull them in the other direction, they tame those wild elephants with the goad of their intellect. She also mentions how they would weigh their worth before wanting something and only when they find themselves worthy, they would work towards attaining that. The confidante thus presents a portrait of the noble and concludes by saying to the man, ‘You are considered to be one such noble person. But if your actions show falsifications of these laws, then where only can we find truth in this world?’ To understand these abstractions, we have to travel back to the time when the man took an oath to never part from the lady, which gave confidence to the confidante and the lady, about his sincerity. So, now when the man says he wants to leave, the confidante is talking about how he’s going back on his words and it appears as if he said all that only to win the lady, by any means possible. She tries to appeal to his better nature by asking him that seemingly cynical question about the fate of truth in this world. Perhaps, hearing this, the man would realise the mistake in his ways and try to seek the lady’s hand, instead of parting away. In the scene of the kingfisher that sleeps on, not minding the pounding of young maiden, the confidante places a metaphor for how the man had been intent only on his pleasures of trysting with the lady, unmindful of the slander that he has caused around town. Leaving aside all this heaviness, the aspect that lingers on pleasantly is the memory of those songs of praise, reverberating with the rhythm of the pounding in the river shores of that rich town!

    6 min

  2. 1d ago

    Aganaanooru 285 – Words that chase away worry

    In this episode, we listen to the sharing of a happy news, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 285, penned by Kaaviripoompattinathu Karikannanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse sketches the dynamic scenes in this domain. ”ஒழியச் சென்மார், செல்ப” என்று, நாம் அழி படர் உழக்கும் அவல நெஞ்சத்து எவ்வம் இகந்து சேண் அகல, வை எயிற்று ஊன் நசைப் பிணவின் உறு பசி களைஇயர், காடு தேர் மடப் பிணை அலற, கலையின் ஓடு குறங்கு அறுத்த செந்நாய் ஏற்றை வெயில் புலந்து இளைக்கும் வெம்மைய, பயில் வரி இரும் புலி வேங்கைக் கருந் தோல் அன்ன கல் எடுத்து எறிந்த பல் கிழி உடுக்கை உலறு குடை வம்பலர் உயர் மரம் ஏறி, ஏறு வேட்டு எழுந்த இனம் தீர் எருவை ஆடு செவி நோக்கும் அத்தம், பணைத் தோள் குவளை உண்கண் இவளும் நம்மொடு வரூஉம் என்றனரே, காதலர்; வாராய் தோழி! முயங்குகம் பலவே. In this trip to the drylands, we take in scenes of vivid action, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady: “Thinking, ‘Leaving you to lament here, he will part away’, we were with angst-ridden hearts, languishing in suffering. Making that anxiety to part away afar, that lover of yours, who had been intending to leave to the drylands, where, wanting to allay the deep desire for flesh, in its sharp-toothed mate, a male red dog bites on the very thigh that the male deer uses to flee, leaving its naive female to search and scream in the jungle, and then suffers in the sweltering heat in this place, where having clothes tattered in many places, akin to the many-striped, radiant skin of the huge tiger, owing to the attack of highway robbers, wayfarers with dry umbrellas, climb on a high tree, and look up at the scene of a roving, lone vulture that has parted away from its flock, and rises high in search of a prey, has told me, ‘Let that maiden with bamboo-like arms and kohl-streaked, blue-lily-like eyes, come along with me!’ Come on, my friend! Let’s embrace over and over!” Time to tune in to the chat between these besties! The confidante starts by narrating the worry that had been plaguing them about the man’s imminent parting away from the lady. Then the confidante tells her friend that the man’s words had chased that worry far, far away. She then goes on to describe the drylands, and to do that, she sketches a montage of scenes. First, we see a female red dog languishing in hunger, and seeing the suffering of its mate, the male goes on a hunt, and it finds a huge male deer, and just as the deer is about to run away, the red dog delivers a fatal bite on the thigh of this deer, and brings it down. Next, the scene changes to echo the plight of the female deer, crying out for its mate in the forest. From these wild beings, the confidante turns to sketch the wild nature of robbers, who attack wayfarers and make their clothes torn and appear like the striped skin of the tiger. The confidante continues talking about how these wayfarers can be seen climbing on a tree, intending on saving themselves, and completes this portrait of the drylands, with the eyes of these wayfarers zooming in on a red-headed vulture, soaring in the skies above, in search of a prey. The confidante connects all this by saying this is where the man had intended to leave, and he had told the confidante that he plans to take the lady along. The confidante concludes by jumping in joy as she conveys this news and calls her dear friend so that they could hug and bid farewell to each other. Those vivid images of the conflict between the red dog and the deer in the drylands talk about the tug of war between being with love and leaving for wealth in a subtle manner. The highlight in this verse though is the closing image of the lady and the confidante hugging each other with tears, and preparing to part from each other. A tender bitter-sweet moment between friends!

    5 min

  3. 2d ago

    Aganaanooru 284 – Hamlet that beckons the heart

    In this episode, we perceive the eagerness to be back with a beloved, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 284, penned by Idaikaadanaar. The verse is situated amidst the leaping hares of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and paints a portrait of this domain and its denizens. சிறியிலை நெல்லிக் காய் கண்டன்ன குறு விழிக் கண்ண கூரல் அம் குறு முயல் முடந்தை வரகின் வீங்கு பீள் அருந்துபு, குடந்தை அம் செவிய கோட் பவர் ஒடுங்கி, இன் துயில் எழுந்து, துணையொடு போகி, முன்றில் சிறு நிறை நீர் கண்டு உண்ணும் புன் புலம் தழீஇய பொறைமுதல் சிறு குடி, தினைக் கள் உண்ட தெறி கோல் மறவர், விசைத்த வில்லர், வேட்டம் போகி, முல்லைப் படப்பைப் புல்வாய் கெண்டும் காமர் புறவினதுவே காமம் நம்மினும் தான் தலைமயங்கிய அம் மா அரிவை உறைவு இன் ஊரே. In this trip to these pleasing lands, we observe spirited beings in action, as we listen to the man say these words to his charioteer, at a time when he is returning after completing his mission: “Having small eyes, akin to fruits of the small-leaved gooseberry, are those beautiful little hares with sharp fur. After munching on thick clusters of curved millet crops, these creatures with prominent ears, leap inside the vines. Then, rising from their sweet sleep, along with their mates, they drink up water, placed in brimming vessels, in the front yard of homes in hamlets, surrounding these forest lands near the hills. Here, after drinking up millet toddy, brave men with sharp arrows and tautly tied bows, leave on a hunt, and bringing back deer, they feed on it, in the jasmine-covered forest lands. Near this picturesque forest, is the village, where that beautiful, dark-skinned maiden, throbbing with even more passion than me, lives!” Let’s hop along with those hares and learn more! The man starts by focusing on this very creature and he associates the hare’s eyes with gooseberry fruits. After that picture-perfect plant-animal simile, he talks about how these hares feed on millet crops, rest under bushes, and then rising from sleep, go on to drink the water placed in pots, in front of homes in those little hamlets. Then he talks about the people living there, the hunters who bring back their catch of deer, and about how, spreading on those red lands, they cut and feast on their game. The man concludes by saying his beloved lives in a village near this beautiful forest, talking about how she would be brimming over with more yearning and love, than even him.  In these words, we can infer the subtle notes of the man’s eagerness to see the lady’s lovely town and be back in her company again. Like the happy hare, the man too intends to rest and rejoice with his beloved and drink from their together cup of joy!

    4 min

  4. 3d ago

    Aganaanooru 283 – A friend’s wish

    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!

    5 min

  5. 5d ago

    Aganaanooru 282 – Treasures that lie in wait

    In this episode, we listen to a unique attempt at persuasion, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 282, penned by Thol Kabilar. The verse is situated amidst the soaring Kino and Jackfruit trees of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’ and paints the prosperity of this domain. பெரு மலைச் சிலம்பின் வேட்டம் போகிய, செறி மடை அம்பின், வல் வில் கானவன் பொருது தொலை யானை வெண் கோடு கொண்டு, நீர் திகழ் சிலம்பின் நன் பொன் அகழ்வோன், கண் பொருது இமைக்கும் திண் மணி கிளர்ப்ப, வைந் நுதி வால் மருப்பு ஒடிய உக்க தெண் நீர் ஆலி கடுக்கும் முத்தமொடு, மூவேறு தாரமும் ஒருங்குடன் கொண்டு, சாந்தம் பொறைமரம் ஆக, நறை நார் வேங்கைக் கண்ணியன் இழிதரும் நாடற்கு இன் தீம் பலவின் ஏர் கெழு செல்வத்து எந்தையும் எதிர்ந்தனன், கொடையே; அலர் வாய் அம்பல் ஊரும் அவனொடு மொழியும்; சாய் இறைத் திரண்ட தோள் பாராட்டி, யாயும், ‘அவனே’ என்னும்; யாமும், ‘வல்லே வருக, வரைந்த நாள்!’ என, நல் இறை மெல் விரல் கூப்பி, இல் உறை கடவுட்கு ஆக்குதும் பலியே! In this trip to the highlands, we get to witness fascinating scenes, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady, pretending not to notice the man listening nearby but making sure he’s in earshot: “Going for a hunt in the slopes of the huge mountains, a hunter carrying well-fitted arrows and a sturdy bow, pulls out the white tusk of an elephant that he battled with and killed. He then uses that tusk to dig out fine gold in those water-filled slopes. As he does that, hitting upon dense gems that twinkle and dazzle one’s eyes, the sharp tip of the tusk breaks apart, and the pearls in the tusk drop out, appearing akin to hailstones, made of clear water. Bundling these three different goods together on a bed of sandalwood sticks, he ties them with strong twines, and wearing Kino flower head garlands, that hunter descends down in the mountain country of the lord. Our father, who too has the great wealth and prosperity of soaring, sweet jackfruit trees, has decided to offer your hand to him; As for the gossiping mouths of this slanderous town, they link him with you. Hearing all this, appreciating your thick arms with beautiful wrists, mother too has decided that ‘He’s the one’. As for us, wishing ‘Oh! Let the day of wedding arrive with much speed’, bringing our soft fingers with lovely knuckles together, let’s offer a sacrifice to the god, who resides in our home!” Time to venture out on a mountain hunt! The confidante starts by zooming on to a hunter in the man’s domain, and following him step by step. First, we see this worthy denizen carrying strong bows and arrows. Then, he fells an elephant and pulls out its tusk. But his trip does not end there! He then goes on a solo mission to excavate some gold in those water-flowing slopes. He sure does find that, but in addition, he hits upon some precious blue stones, which happens to break the tip of the tusk. Nothing to worry about, for pearls rain down from that tusk. Now, the hunter picks the gold, the gems and the pearls, bundles them on a sandalwood bed, and comes happily walking down, with the scent of his Kino flower garlands wafting in the mountain breeze.  After that picture-perfect description of the man’s land, the confidante talks about how the lady’s father, a wealthy man himself, with jackfruit orchards many, had decided to give his girl in marriage to the man. While the town continued gossiping, the lady’s mother had accepted her daughter’s choice in a partner, the confidante adds. She concludes by declaring all that remains was for them to pray to the god at home, and offer a sacrifice with folded hands so that the day of wedding arrives promptly. If we think about it, the confidante is not praying to the god at home but the one listening nearby, who has the real power to make things happen. The scene of the hunter returning with unexpected treasures is a metaphor for how a future of permanent happiness with the lady awaits the man, with the blessing of her family and the townsfolk. By presenting the positive views of the lady’s relatives, the confidante seems to be putting that pertinent question to the listening man, ‘What are you waiting for?’!

    6 min

  6. 6d ago

    Aganaanooru 281 – Bearing the burden of slander

    In this episode, we listen to the lady’s angst, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 281, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse mentions historical facts to etch this story of separation. செய்வது தெரிந்திசின் தோழி! அல்கலும், அகலுள் ஆண்மை அச்சு அறக் கூறிய சொல் பழுது ஆகும் என்றும் அஞ்சாது, ஒல்கு இயல் மட மயில் ஒழித்த பீலி, வான் போழ் வல் வில் சுற்றி, நோன் சிலை அவ் வார் விளிம்பிற்கு அமைந்த நொவ்வு இயல் கனை குரல் இசைக்கும் விரை செலல் கடுங் கணை முரண் மிகு வடுகர் முன்னுற, மோரியர் தென் திசை மாதிரம் முன்னிய வரவிற்கு விண்ணுற ஓங்கிய பனி இருங் குன்றத்து, ஒண் கதிர்த் திகிரி உருளிய குறைத்த அறை இறந்து, அவரோ சென்றனர் பறை அறைந்தன்ன அலர் நமக்கு ஒழித்தே. In this trip to the drylands, we go a history detour, as we listen to the lady say these words to her confidante, when the man continues to remain parted away, having left in search of wealth: “Analyse and tell me what I should do, my friend! Day after day, staying right here, he spoke words many to remove my fears utterly. Not worrying that those words would become false now, he has left beyond those boulders, broken apart by the Mauryas, wanting to seize the lands to the south, when they marched on and tunnelled through the sky-soaring, dark, dew-covered peaks, so as to make their white-rayed wheels roll on, led by the belligerent Vadugars, who, picking up the feathers dropped by a naive peacock, with a swaying gait, tied those long stems around the sturdy bows, fitted with taut straps, from which with a deep sound, speeding arrows rush ahead. He has left beyond those boulders, leaving us to shoulder all alone, this slander, that resounds akin to the roar of drums!” Time to tread upon those stony surfaces and explore on! The lady starts by asking her confidante what she should do, now that the man had falsified his promises of never parting from her and had left to the drylands. She describes the place where the man’s at by mentioning the rocks that were cut across to make way for the chariots of the northern Mauryas, when they came south, intending to conquer these lands, in the company of the Vadugars, who wield sturdy bows and speedy arrows. The lady concludes by lamenting how the man had left to this place, leaving her all alone to face the slander in town, which seems to echo aloud like a thundering drum. That slander is on the rise is indication that the separation has happened before marriage between the man and the lady. The verse renders a history lesson about the incursion of northern rulers into the southern region of India, two thousand years ago. At the core is a heart, disappointed by broken promises. Hope it heals with the return of the man, speeding back to the lady, like the arrows of those Vadugars!

    4 min

  7. Jul 2

    Aganaanooru 280 – All for the maiden’s hand

    In this episode, we listen to the plea in a man’s heart, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 280, penned by Ammoovanaar. The verse is situated amidst the blooming flowers and scuttling crabs of the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal Landscape’ and echoes the yearning to attain a beloved. பொன் அடர்ந்தன்ன ஒள் இணர்ச் செருந்திப் பல் மலர் வேய்ந்த நலம் பெறு கோதையள், திணி மணல் அடை கரை அலவன் ஆட்டி அசையினள் இருந்த ஆய் தொடிக் குறுமகள், நலம்சால் விழுப் பொருள் கலம் நிறை கொடுப்பினும், பெறல் அருங்குரையள்ஆயின், அறம் தெரிந்து, நாம் உறை தேஎம் மரூஉப் பெயர்ந்து, அவனொடு இரு நீர்ச் சேர்ப்பின் உப்புடன் உழுதும், பெரு நீர்க் குட்டம் புணையொடு புக்கும், படுத்தனம், பணிந்தனம், அடுத்தனம், இருப்பின், தருகுவன்கொல்லோ தானே விரி திரைக் கண் திரள் முத்தம் கொண்டு, ஞாங்கர்த் தேன் இமிர் அகன் கரைப் பகுக்கும் கானல் அம் பெருந் துறைப் பரதவன் எமக்கே? In this trip to the shore, we perceive scenes of play, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, when he’s returning home, after a tryst with the lady: “Wearing many woven, radiant flowers of the champak, appearing akin to thick clusters of gold, on her exquisite tresses, chasing crabs on the heaped sands of the seashore, that young maiden wearing beautiful bangles, tires out and rests there. Even if the best of earned wealth, filled to the brim of a vessel, is rendered, it would be hard to attain her. If I were to migrate from the country I live in, and along with him, if I toil on the salt fields of this huge and vast shore, and sail along in his boat into the huge seas, and if I submit, surrender and stoop in humility before him, would that lord of the huge shores, filled with groves, the one who gathers picturesque pearls from the deep seas himself and renders unto others in those bee-swarming wide shores, realise it’s the just thing to do and offer his beautiful daughter to me?” Let’s follow along on the shore and listen to the man pour his heart out! The man starts by describing the lingering beauty of the lady he had just met and left, and to do that, he mentions the yellow flowers of the champak tree that adorns his beloved’s head like thick golden ornaments. He talks about how she used to run about chasing crabs on the seashore. Then, with a sigh, remarks that even if he were to heap gold sky high, it would not suffice as ‘bride price’ for that maiden, and that it would be impossible to attain her. Thinking in another direction, the man concludes by wondering if he decides to leave his land, come live here and toil in the salt pans and fish in the great seas along with the lady’s father, and utterly bow low before him, then would that lord of the seas, who seems to gather pearls and distribute to his kith and kin on the flower-filled shores, decide the right thing to do would be to offer his daughter’s hand to this wonderful man? For the man, who is a lord of some land himself to decide to bow low before another man, is the surest indicator of the extent he is willing to go to become united with the one he loves. It proclaims aloud how deeply he feels love in his heart for the lady and his determination to leave no stone unturned in making her his own. A verse that made me smile thinking about the man’s attempts to charm his future father-in-law!

    5 min

  8. Jul 1

    Aganaanooru 279 – How can she bear this parting?

    In this episode, we perceive a heart that beats for another, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 279, penned by Irunkon Ollaiyaayan Chenkannanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands Landscape’, the verse presents the core reasons for venturing out in search of wealth. ‘நட்டோர் இன்மையும், கேளிர் துன்பமும், ஒட்டாது உறையுநர் பெருக்கமும் காணூஉ, ஒரு பதி வாழ்தல் ஆற்றுபதில்ல பொன் அவிர் சுணங்கொடு செறிய வீங்கிய மென் முலை முற்றம் கடவாதோர்’ என, நள்ளென் கங்குலும் பகலும், இயைந்து இயைந்து உள்ளம் பொத்திய உரம் சுடு கூர் எரி ஆள்வினை மாரியின் அவியா நாளும் கடறு உழந்து இவணம் ஆக, படர் உழந்து யாங்கு ஆகுவள்கொல் தானே தீம் தொடை விளரி நரம்பின் நயவரு சீறியாழ் மலி பூம் பொங்கர் மகிழ் குரற் குயிலொடு புணர் துயில் எடுப்பும் புனல் தெளி காலையும் நம்முடை மதுகையள் ஆகி, அணி நடை அன்ன மாண் பெடையின் மென்மெல இயலி, கையறு நெஞ்சினள், அடைதரும் மை ஈர் ஓதி மாஅயோளே? In this trip to the drylands, we experience more of an abstract journey, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, in the middle of his travels to earn wealth: “Thinking, ‘Those who cannot venture beyond the borders of the soft and dense bosoms with gold-like pallor spots have to live and accept the state of lack in friends, sorrow in relatives and prosperity in foes’, as the sharp and fierce flames blazed bright in my heart, be it in the middle of the night or the day, pouring my effort as the rain shower, day after day, I suffer here, apart from her. As for her, who is languishing with a deep sorrow, what will become of her now? Back then, when sweet sounds of the ‘vilari’ tune resounds from the strings of a small lute, along with the ecstatic voices of a cuckoo in the flower-filled groves, and wakes her up from a deep sleep in that morning hour, as water is sprinkled to cleanse the ground, seeking me as her only pillar of strength, with a gentle gait akin to a picturesque swan, she would walk slowly with a helpless heart and come embrace me!” Time to walk on through that familiar space and learn more! The man starts by talking about what pushed him to tread these spaces, and mentions how a spark of thought appeared in his mind about how those who did not want to move away from the pleasure of being with their beloved would have to live with their friends’ poverty, their kin’s sorrow and their enemies’ rise to prosperity. This spark of thought burst into wild flames in his heart and he decided to quench that with the rain of his hard work and so he left the lady and was suffering there in the drylands. After narrating his state, the man’s mind shifts to that of his beloved, whom he had left behind and reminisces about one morning he had spent in her company. Even when she was right next to him, in the early hours of the morning, when she would wake up hearing the sweet notes of the small lute and the voice of the cuckoo in the grove, as water was being sprinkled on the courtyard, she would immediately miss the man, seek him out with her slow, swan-like walk and embrace him tight, the man recollects, and he concludes by wondering how she would be able to bear with a separation now. Here’s an exquisite moment when a person, who is in deep suffering themselves, thinks beyond them about the state of the one they love. A highlight here is the imagery of the rain of hard work quenching the flames of angst in a heart. Yet another nuance to be relished is what used to wake a person in the early morning hours, in the place of our modern screeching alarm clocks. To wake up to the strings of a lute and the songs of a cuckoo sounds like heaven indeed. A verse which goes on to show how music and nature was an inseparable part of the lives of these ancients!

    5 min
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About

Reflections on 2000 Year Old Tamil Poetry

Information

  • Creator
    Nandini Karky
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    319
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Nandini Karky
  • Show Website
    Sangam Lit

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