Old Tamil Poetry

Puranaanooru – 349

Wiping sweat off his brow with a spear,
the ruler speaks harshly; without fear
her dad too uses strong words, will not bow.
This is their stance; this girl with dusky glow,
sharp teeth and red streaked eyes,
is like the chisel’s spark that burns a log down,
for her native town.

நுதிவேல் கொண்டு நுதல்வியர் துடையாக்
கடிய கூறும் வேந்தே தந்தையும்
நெடிய வல்லது பணிந்துமொழி யலனே
இஃதிவர் படிவ மாயின் வையெயிற்
றரிமதர் மழைக்க ணம்மா வரிவை
மரம்படு சிறுதீப் போல
அணங்கா யினடான் பிறந்த வூர்க்கே

A famous clan leader in the town of Sikkal (called the same today too) near Thanjavur, had a beautiful daughter. The King wanted to marry her. Her father thought that the King wasn’t worthy of his daughter. So the King marched to her town and threatened to raze it to the ground. Her father refuses to be cowed down. The bard knows that the small town cannot withstand the might of the ruler. Hence he says, like a spark that jumps from the chisel when a log is shaped and burns down the log from where it was born, this girl will be the end of this town.

The simile – chisel’s spark that burns the log from where it was born – is the highlight of this poem. Also the character sketches in few words – wiping sweat  with a spear – make this a memorable poem.

Purananooru – 300

“Give me a shield, a shield” you shout; with the shield,
hiding behind a rock might save you in the battle field;
Brother of the man you killed yesterday,
his eyes rolling like crab’s eye seeds in a vessel,
is searching for you, like a man searches the house
for a jug to partake town’s hot toddy.

‘தோல் தா; தோல் தா’ என்றி; தோலொடு
துறுகல் மறையினும் உய்குவை போலாய்;
நெருநல் எல்லை நீ எறிந்தோன் தம்பி,
அகல் பெய் குன்றியின் சுழலும் கண்ணன்,
பேர் ஊர் அட்ட கள்ளிற்கு
ஓர் இல் கோயில் தேருமால் நின்னே.

Purananooru – 300. A battlefield scene. A soldier provokes his fellow soldier (in order to motivate him) saying “a shield won’t save you, go and hide behind a rock. Brother of the man whom you killed yesterday is searching for you. His eyes roll in anger like crab’s eye seeds roll around in a vessel. He searches for you like a drunkard searches for a jug to go and drink toddy”. Nothing can stop a drunkard in search of a drink. Like that this man won’t stop till he finds you.

Puranaanooru – 194

Funeral drums sound in a house, pleasant
ceremonial drums are played in another,
those in carnal pleasure wear flowers,
those away from their lovers shed tears,
such inequality he created, the unjust one!
This world is full of pain;
those who realize its nature, see its charm.

ஓர் இல் நெய்தல் கறங்க, ஓர் இல்
ஈர்ந் தண் முழவின் பாணி ததும்ப,
புணர்ந்தோர் பூ அணி அணிய, பிரிந்தோர்
பைதல் உண்கண் பனி வார்பு உறைப்ப,
படைத்தோன் மன்ற, அப் பண்பிலாளன்!
இன்னாது அம்ம, இவ் உலகம்;
இனிய காண்க, இதன் இயல்பு உணர்ந்தோரே.

Puranaanooru 194. While some people suffer, some people are happy. One can call this an unfair creation of the creator. However, if we accept that there will be pain in this world, and that is its nature, then we can see the beauty in the world too. The last line can also be interpreted as “those who realize its nature, do good deeds to see good in afterlife”. Both are given as meanings by U Ve Sa. I prefer to go with the “those who realize, see its charm”

Purananooru – 134

Āy is not a trader in virtue who thinks
‘Generosity in this life for bliss in next’;
Virtue of wise men who preceded him
guides his benevolence.

இம்மைச் செய்தது மறுமைக்கு ஆம்’ எனும்
அற விலை வணிகன் ஆஅய் அல்லன்;
பிறரும் சான்றோர் சென்ற நெறி என,
ஆங்குப் பட்டன்று, அவன் கைவண்மையே.

Āy (ஆய்)is one of the 7 generous kings praised in Sangam literature. I like this poem for the phrase ‘trader in virtue’ (அற விலை வணிகன்). If you do a good deed expecting some good karma points in afterlife, you are just a trader in virtue. An act of generosity ceases to be if it is in exchange of something else.