Kalithogai 91 – Sarcasm and Surrender

Sangam Lit

In this episode, we listen to a conflict-ridden conversation, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 91, penned by Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. The verse is situated in the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and traces how the lady’s words turn from scoffing to submission.

தலைவி
அரி நீர் அவிழ் நீலம், அல்லி, அனிச்சம்,
புரி நெகிழ் முல்லை, நறவோடு அமைந்த
தெரி மலர்க் கண்ணியும் தாரும் நயந்தார்
பொரு முரண் சீறச் சிதைந்து, நெருநையின்
இன்று நன்று என்னை அணி

தலைவன்
அணை மென் தோளாய்! செய்யாத சொல்லிச் சினவுவது ஈங்கு எவன்,
ஐயத்தால் என்னைக் கதியாதி; தீது இன்மை
தெய்வத்தான் கண்டீ தெளிக்கு

தலைவி
மற்றது, அறிவல், யான் நின் சூள்; அனைத்தாக நல்லார்
செறி தொடி உற்ற வடுவும், குறி பொய்த்தார்
கூர் உகிர் சாடிய மார்பும், குழைந்த நின்
தாரும், ததர் பட்ட சாந்தமும், சேரி
அரி மதர் உண் கண்ணார் ஆராக் கவவின்,
பரிசு அழிந்து யாழ நின் மேனி கண்டு, யானும்
செரு ஒழிந்தேன்; சென்றீ, இனி

தலைவன்
தெரியிழாய்! தேற்றாய் சிவந்தனை காண்பாய், நீ தீது இன்மை
ஆற்றின் நிறுப்பல் பணிந்து

தலைவி
அன்னதேல், ஆற்றல் காண்:
வேறுபட்டாங்கே கலுழ்தி; அகப்படின்,
மாறுபட்டாங்கே மயங்குதி; யாது ஒன்றும்
கூறி உணர்த்தலும் வேண்டாது; மற்று நீ
மாணா செயினும், மறுத்து, ஆங்கே நின்வயின்
காணின் நெகிழும் என் நெஞ்சு ஆயின், என் உற்றாய்,
பேணாய் நீ பெட்பச் செயல்?

Another verse depicting the lady’s fury and the man’s denial. The words can be translated as follows:

“Lady:

With blue lotuses that had bloomed in the beautiful pond, lilies, red pimpernels, fully blossomed wild jasmines and lavanga flowers, the strands of your garlands, which were woven in striking hues, after encountering the great fury of those who desire you has now become ruined, and yet, adorns you so much better than yesterday!

Man:

O maiden with soft arms! Why do you say things I’ve not done and then get furious with me? Do not vent your anger because of your suspicions! I will show you that I’m faultless by swearing before God.

Lady:

I know very well about your oaths! I can see clearly the marks made by the bangles of those beautiful women, the scratches of sharp nails, made in anger, by those with whom you missed your trysts, your crumpled garlands and smeared sandalwood, because of the endless embraces of those maiden, with flower-like, kohl-streaked eyes in the neighbourhood. When I take in your form that has lost its previous state, I too lose my anger utterly. Go on then!

Man:

O maiden with well-etched ornaments! You are reddened with fury, not understanding. Until you believe, I will show you that I’m faultless with absolute humility.

Lady:

If you can do that, you are talented indeed! When I oppose you, you cry; When I believe you, you immediately hanker after those others; You don’t have to say anything to make me understand. For even when you do wrong unto me, ignoring it, my heart melts the moment it sees you. So, what is the need for you to act with so humility to appease me?”

Time to delve into the details. The verse is situated in the category of a love quarrel between a man and a lady, owing to the man’s seeking of courtesans. The words here are rendered by the lady and the man to each other. The lady starts by listing flowers such as blue lotuses, lilies, red pimpernels, wild jasmines and lavanga flowers to talk about the constituents of the man’s garland. Then she says that exquisite garland has become ruined by the fury of those, who desired the man, and was jilted by him. Still, it was making him look so handsome, the lady adds sarcastically. To this, the man replies that the lady seemed to be getting angry with him for no reason. He asks her not to vent her anger because of mere doubts, and declares he would swear an oath before God to prove his innocence. The lady replies with scorn that she knows all about his great oaths. When she can clearly see the marks of the bangles of other maiden, the scratches of their nails in anger, when he missed trysting with them, the tattered garland and smudged sandalwood, right way, her anger was put off and she was all at ease, she adds, and asks him to leave to where he came from.

To this, the man says the lady simply doesn’t understand and now he has no other go but to beg and plead with her to prove that he has done nothing wrong. The lady responds saying when she opposes him, he starts pleading, but the moment she accepts him, the man’s heart seems to forget her and go seeking after other women. She concludes with a sigh that no matter what wrong things the man does to her, the moment her heart sees him, it seems to melt away and run to his side, and if that’s the case, why should the man ever beg to her!

In this verse, the sarcastic words of the lady are full of fire in the beginning, but then in the end, yet again, we see an instance of the lady’s aversion to the man debasing himself before her. No matter what wrong he does, she doesn’t seem to want to see him lowered before her! As for the man, his weapons to appease his lady are swearing oaths and saying that he would fall at her feet. Beyond these inferences in the dynamics of this relationship, the one striking aspect is the line about how a loving heart seems to melt when seeing a beloved even if they been wronged by the other. A subtle sketch of the inexplicable power of love to forgive and forget!