Kalithogai 99 – Caring for the near and dear

Sangam Lit

In this episode, we hear a passionate speech in support of another, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 99, penned by Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. The verse is situated in the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and puts forth a plea to a king.

நறவினை வரைந்தார்க்கும் வரையார்க்கும், அவை எடுத்து,
அற வினை இன்புறூஉம் அந்தணர் இருவரும்
திறம் வேறு செய்தியின் நூல் நெறி பிழையாது,
குழவியைப் பார்த்து உறூஉம் தாய் போல், உலகத்து
மழை சுரந்து அளித்து ஓம்பும் நல் ஊழி யாவர்க்கும்
பிழையாது வருதல் நின் செம்மையின் தர, வாய்ந்த
இழை அணி கொடித் திண் தேர், இன மணி யானையாய்!

அறன் நிழல் எனக் கொண்டாய், ஆய் குடை; அக் குடைப்
புற நிழற்கீழ்ப் பட்டாளோ, இவள்? இவண் காண்டிகா
பிறை நுதல் பசப்பு ஊரப் பெரு விதுப்பு உற்றாளை!

பொய்யாமை நுவலும், நின் செங்கோல்; அச் செங்கோலின்
செய் தொழில் கீழ்ப் பட்டாளோ, இவள்? இவண் காண்டிகா
காம நோய் கடைக்கூட்ட வாழும் நாள் முனிந்தாளை!

ஏமம் என்று இரங்கும், நின் எறி முரசம்; அம் முரசின்
ஏமத்து இகந்தாளோ, இவள்? இவண் காண்டிகா
வேய் நலம் இழந்த தோள் கவின் வாட இழப்பாளை!

ஆங்கு
நெடிது சேண் இகந்தவை காணினும், தான் உற்ற
வடுக் காட்ட கண் காணாதற்றாக, என் தோழி
தொடி கொட்ப நீத்த கொடுமையைக்
கடிது என உணராமை கடிந்ததோ நினக்கே?

Moving away from those imaginative love quarrels, we step into a new domain of pleading for a person! The words can be translated as follows:

“To those who abstained from toddy and to those who did not, showing the path of righteousness are the two high priests. Never swerving from the truth to do something different from what is penned in the book by these two, akin to a mother who delights in her child, the good fate of having rains at the right time has been accorded because of your goodness, O lord with an adorned sturdy chariot, fluttering with a flag, and having elephants, resounding with many, many bells!

Your umbrella stands as a beautiful shade of justice; Is she standing outside that shade? Won’t you look at her, as pallor spreads on her crescent-moon forehead and she suffers tremendously?

Your sceptre speaks declaring truth; Does she not deserve a space in its domain? Won’t you look at her, as her love affliction exceeds and makes her detest her days of life?

Your drum resounds proclaiming protection; Has she regressed to a state where she cannot claim its protection? Won’t you look at her as her arms lose their bamboo-like beauty and leave her in ruin?

And so, akin to how the eyes can see very far but cannot see the scars inflicted on them, you are unable to see the harsh cruelty that makes her bangles loosen. How can you be rebuked for this ignorance?”

Let’s explore the details. The verse is situated in the context of a love that exceeds its bounds and suffers anguish. As it addresses a king, it seems to contains elements of ‘Puram’ or ‘outer life’. However, the namelessness of the ruler leaves it in the domain of ‘Aham’ or ‘inner life’ literature. The words are spoken by the lady’s confidante to the man, who happens to be the king of the land. The confidante starts by talking about the flawless rule of this king, who never swerves from the prescribed code in the book of ethics, penned by priests, who remain the guide to all people, regardless of who they are, and how owing to this, the rains pour without fail in the land, according much prosperity. She also describes the king as the owner of sturdy chariots and adorned elephants.

Then, applying the three-step format of Kalithogai, the confidante talks about how the king’s umbrella, sceptre and drum proclaim justice, truth and protection to all his people and she asks if the lady was someone who was outside the domain of these aspects of rule. She pleads to the king to pay attention to the lady’s state of ruin. The confidante talks about how the eyes can see even far away but when a wound happens to the eyes themselves, they are unable to see that, and connects this truth to the king’s attitude of protecting his entire land but not paying attention to the pain of his own lady and concludes wondering how to make the king realise this ignorance of his! Looking at the verse from the lens of the present, we can see that the core truth talks about the case of a person, who may be wise, patient and knowledgeable in their chosen line of work, but may not have those estimable qualities in their personal lives. A nudge from the past to bring out the best in us not only in the wider sphere of work but also in the intimate world of our love and family!