Kalithogai 124 – An affliction that brims over

In this episode, we listen to the confidante’s thoughtful request, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 124, penned by Nallanthuvanaar. The verse is situated in the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal Landscape’ and relates the consequences of a man’s parting. ஞாலம் மூன்று அடித் தாய முதல்வற்கு முது முறைப்பால் அன்ன மேனியான் அணி பெறத் தைஇயநீல நீர் உடை போல, தகை பெற்ற வெண் திரைவால் எக்கர்வாய் சூழும் வயங்கு நீர்த் தண் சேர்ப்ப! ஊர் அலர் எடுத்து அரற்ற, உள்ளாய், நீ துறத்தலின்,கூரும் தன் எவ்வ நோய் என்னையும் மறைத்தாள்மன்காரிகை பெற்ற தன் கவின் வாடக் கலுழ்பு, ஆங்கே,பீர் அலர் அணி கொண்ட பிறை நுதல் அல்லாக்கால் இணைபு இவ் ஊர் அலர் தூற்ற, எய்யாய், நீ துறத்தலின்,புணை இல்லா எவ்வ நோய் என்னையும் மறைத்தாள்மன்துணையாருள் தகை பெற்ற தொல் நலம் இழந்து, இனி,அணி வனப்பு இழந்த தன் அணை மென் தோள் அல்லாக்கால் இன்று இவ் ஊர் அலர் தூற்ற, எய்யாய், நீ துறத்தலின்,நின்ற தன் எவ்வ நோய் என்னையும் மறைத்தாள்மன்வென்ற வேல் நுதி ஏய்க்கும் விறல் நலன் இழந்து, இனி,நின்று நீர் உகக் கலுழும் நெடும் பெருங் கண் அல்லாக்கால் அதனால்,பிரிவு இல்லாய் போல, நீ தெய்வத்தின் தெளித்தக்கால்,அரிது என்னாள், துணிந்தவள் ஆய் நலம் பெயர்தர,புரி உளைக் கலிமான் தேர் கடவுபுவிரி தண் தார் வியல் மார்ப! விரைக நின் செலவே. Another plea in the voice of a friend! The words can be translated as follows: “The Elder of the First One, who measured the world in three paces, is the Milk-complexioned One. Akin to the beautiful, blue-hued attire that adorns him, the exquisite white-waved blue sea surrounds the light sands, O lord of the radiant waters! When you abandoned her, thoughtlessly, and the town spread slander with raised voices, the piercing suffering of her affliction, she hid from me. I would have known nothing of it, had not her crescent moon forehead turned into the hue of ridge gourd flowers, as she cried making her esteemed beauty fade! When you abandoned her, inconsiderately, and the town spread slander joining together, her affliction that was drowning without a raft, she hid from me. I would have known nothing of it, had not her soft arms thinned away, as her beauty, much-celebrated among companions, began to fade! When you abandoned her, inconsiderately, and the town spread slander day after day, her affliction that stood relentlessly with her, she hid from me. I would have known nothing of it, had not her huge and wide eyes shed tears that were welling within, as her beauty, similar to the edge of a victorious spear, began to fade! And so, when you swore an oath before God saying, ‘There is never ever going to be a separation’, without considering that it’s impossible, she trusted you. To return to her that excellent beauty of hers, wield your chariot, tied with thick-maned, proud horses, O man with a wide chest, wearing a blooming, cool garland, and hasten your journey!” Let’s delve into the details. The verse is situated in the context of a man’s parting prior to marriage and here the confidante says these words to the man. She starts by bringing in a mythical reference to a personality, who has measured the world entire in three paces, interpreted by scholars, as referring to the avatar of God Vishnu. Although this figure is referenced, it’s the brother of this figure the verse focuses on, saying he has a skin in the hue of milk. Apparently, the favourite colour of this mythical figure was blue and that’s the attire he wore often. The white skin of this personality hemmed at the edges of that blue attire is placed in parallel to the waves of the blue sea surrounding the white sands, in the man’s domain! After that reference to the man’s land, the confidante goes on to talk about how the man had forsaken the lady, leaving her to be ripped apart by the slander in town. Even so, the lady seems to have carefully hid her suffering from her, the confidante says, and adds that if not for the changing hue on the lady’s forehead, her waning arms, and the falling tears from her exquisite eyes, the confidante would never have known about the pain within. She continues by reminding how the man swore an oath saying he would never, ever part from his maiden, and the lady too, without realising that that’s something that can never be fulfilled, believed the man and lost her beauty now. She concludes to the man that the only way to return to the lady, her past health and beauty, was to wield his chariot and horses, with much haste, to the lady’s abode! Here, we can note the nuanced negotiation skills of the confidante, who starts by saying what a worthy candidate the lady is, for she never gave up the man before others, hiding her own suffering and pain. Next, prior promises made are brought to the fore, and finally, the positive outcome expected and the only way to achieve that are presented clearly, making us hear the trotting of the horses, and see their manes flying in the air, as the man moved by these words, takes action to end the suffering of his beloved!