Kalithogai 112 – Risk and Reward

In this episode, we perceive a lady’s change of stance, portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 112, penned by Chozhan Nalluruthiran. The verse is situated in the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest Landscape’ and etches the determined pursuit of a man. தலைவியார் இவன், என்னை விலக்குவான்? ‘நீர்உளர்பூந்தாமரைப் போது தந்த விரவுத் தார்க்கல்லாப் பொதுவனை நீ மாறு நின்னொடுசொல்லல் ஓம்பு’ என்றார் எமர். தலைவன்எல்லா! ‘கடாஅய கண்ணால் கலைஇய நோய் செய்யும்நடாஅக் கரும்பு அமன்ற தோளாரைக் காணின்விடாஅல் ஓம்பு’ என்றார் எமர். தலைவிகடாஅயார் நல்லாரைக் காணின் விலக்கி நயந்து அவர்பல்லிதழ் உண்கண்ணும் தோளும் புகழ் பாடநல்லது கற்பித்தார் மன்ற நுமர், பெரிதும்வல்லர் எமர் கண் செயல். தலைவன்ஓஒ வழங்காப் பொழுது நீ கன்று மேய்ப்பாய் போல்வழங்கல் அறிவார் உரையாரேல் எம்மைஇகழ்ந்தாரே அன்றோ எமர்? தலைவிஒக்கும் அறிவல் யான் எல்லா, விடு; தலைவன்விடேன் யான்; என் நீ குறித்தது இருங்கூந்தால்நின்னை என் முன் நின்றுசொல்லல் ஓம்பு என்றமை அன்றி அவனை நீபுல்லல் ஓம்பு என்றது உடையரோ, மெல்லமுயங்கு நின் முள் எயிறு உண்கும் தலைவி (தன் நெஞ்சிடம்)எவன் கொலோ?மாயப் பொதுவன் உரைத்த உரை எல்லாம்வாயாவது ஆயின், தலைப்பட்டாம்; பொய்யாயின்,சாயல் இன் மார்பில் கமழ்தார் குழைத்த நின்ஆயிதழ் உண்கண் பசப்பத் தட மென்தோள்சாயினும் ஏஎர் உடைத்து. Another one in the light conversational format! The words can be translated as follows: “LadyWho is he, the one stopping me? ‘Do not talk to that unwise herder man wearing a garland of mixed flowers, the one, who gave those lotus flowers blooming in the water!’ – So said, my kin! ManHey dear! ‘Do not let go if you see the one with bewitching eyes, she who disturbs and renders an affliction, the one with sugarcane painted, beautiful arms!’ – So said, my kin! LadyThe kin of yours have taught you well indeed, saying if you see those with bewitching eyes, stop them, and flatter their many-petalled, kohl-streaked eyes with songs many! If they are so capable, why don’t they approach my kin? ManOh! If my kin know that you will take the calves grazing in this place at a time when no-one is about and then don’t tell me about that, wouldn’t that mean they don’t care about me? LadyThat sounds about right. I know all about it! Let me go now! ManI won’t! O maiden with thick tresses, what did you just tell me now? Your kin said ‘Do not stand before him and talk to him’. Did they say, ‘Do not embrace him!’? So, hug me gently so that I can savour the nectar of your sharp teeth! Lady (To her heart)What shall I do? If the words rendered by this deceptive herder becomes true, I will be saved; But if it were to become false, the beautiful petaled, kohl-streaked eyes that has now decided to crush the garland worn on the sweet chest, would become coated with pallor, and these curving soft arms would thin away. Even so, they would remain beautiful!” Let’s delve into the details. The verse is situated in the context of forbidden love between a man and a lady. The words are exchanged between a herder girl and a herder man. The lady opens the scene by wondering who was this chap, who was blocking her path, and then she says, ‘Isn’t he the one my folks have asked me not to talk to?’. Hearing this, the man says, ‘Is that what your folks have said to you? Do you know what mine have said to me? Never let go if I see someone as beautiful as you are, cross my path’. To this, she responds with scorn, ‘Oh! They have taught you well to sing and praise the beautiful maiden who cross your path. They seem very wise. Why don’t they come and talk to my kin?’. The man answers this tangentially saying, ‘Only if they don’t advise me so, I’d think they care not about me at all!’ The lady dismisses his words and prepares to leave but the man refuses to let her go saying, ‘Hey listen! All your folks said was don’t talk to me. Did they say don’t embrace me? Come on then, what’s stopping you from coming close to me?’. The lady is now resigned to her fate and concludes saying to her heart, ‘If the love and promise the chap gives me is to come true, then I’ll be saved. If he’s going to deceive me and vanish away, then my eyes will be filled with pallor and my arms will thin away. But even then, they will still be beautiful!’. This last line reveals to us that the lady is ready to take the risk of furthering her relationship with this man, who has relentlessly pursued her. A verse which reveals to us how the perceptions and opinions of a family in Sangam times, affect two people in love!