Aganaanooru 84 – Sundered by a siege

In this episode, we listen to an anguished heart, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 84, penned by Madurai Ezhuththaalan. The verse is situated in the fragrant forests of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and compares the abodes of two parted lovers. மலைமிசைக் குலைஇய உரு கெழு திருவில்பணை முழங்கு எழிலி பௌவம் வாங்கி,தாழ் பெயற் பெரு நீர், வலன் ஏர்பு, வளைஇ,மாதிரம் புதைப்பப் பொழிதலின், காண்வரஇரு நிலம் கவினிய ஏமுறுகாலைநெருப்பின் அன்ன சிறு கட் பன்றி,அயிர்க்கட் படாஅர்த் துஞ்சு, புறம் புதைய,நறு வீ முல்லை நாள் மலர் உதிரும்புறவு அடைந்திருந்த அரு முனை இயவின்சீறூரோளே, ஒண்ணுதல்! யாமே,எரி புரை பல் மலர் பிறழ வாங்கி,அரிஞர் யாத்த அலங்கு தலைப் பெருஞ் சூடுகள் ஆர் வினைஞர் களம்தொறும் மறுகும்தண்ணடை தழீஇய கொடி நுடங்கு ஆர் எயில்அருந் திறை கொடுப்பவும் கொள்ளான், சினம் சிறந்து,வினைவயின் பெயர்க்கும் தானை,புனைதார் வேந்தன் பாசறையேமே! We are back in the earthy forest domain, and here, we get to hear these words from the man: “Painting above the hills, a colourful and captivating rainbow, the clouds, roaring like drums, shower down the great waters they had gathered at the ocean, by climbing on the right, and encircling, burying everything with a downpour, making the land look exquisite to the eyes. In this delightful time, when a wild boar, with small eyes, akin to fire, sleeps on the fine sand, amidst a little drizzle, covering its rear, fragrant flowers of the wild jasmine fall down in the forest, winding through which a road leads to the little hamlet, where resides my beloved, the maiden with a radiant forehead! Cutting down many flowers, akin to flames, grain harvesters, who delight in fine toddy, tie huge heaps of paddy, and leave them swaying in many fields, in the moist farmlands. Ruling over this rich land, stands a well-guarded fort, fluttering with flags, and even though rich tributes are offered by them, refusing them, with his fury fuming, the garlanded king puts his army to work, and at his battle encampment is where I am!” Let’s relish the rich rain of this region and learn more! The man renders a poetic view of the actions of a raincloud, as it seems to paint the hills with the radiant hues of a rainbow, and pour down the water it had collected from the ocean, by climbing high and surrounding the region. At this time, the land looks so captivating to the eyes, remarks the man, and then zooms on to a wild boar sleeping peacefully in these woods, even as the falling flowers of the wild jasmine hide its back. The man has mentioned these details to say this is where his lady lives, in a little hamlet, near the forest. Then, he comes to his own situation and talks about a fertile farmland village, and the scene of paddy harvesters heaping bundles of paddy by the side of their fields, something mentioned to talk about how fertile and prosperous this farmland region is.As can be expected, around such rich farmlands, there’s a fort and a king to rule over the fort. Even though this king extends a peace flag and promises to give a rich tribute, for some reason, his enemy king, the one wearing garlands on his chest, refuses to heed to their appeasement, and remains intent on launching war, the man describes, and concludes by connecting that’s where he is, right now, in the encampment of the raging enemy king!  In a nutshell, the man is complaining about his separation from his beloved, even after the promised season of return, simply because his king sees no reason to end the war. Yet another vivid illustration of how war brings misery to the good-hearted, and if you ask me, be it then or now, shouldn’t that be reason enough to shun war and bring hearts together?