Come fast! before my brothers! – Kurunthokai 123

I really didn’t want to write a blog till the excitement of the 99 flower blog cools down. Even after two weeks its still running hot. But I could resist writing for long. So here comes a interesting love situation from Kurunthokai.

Situation: The Thalaivan and Thalaivi have fallen in love. The have secret tryst with the help of the Thalaivi’s friend (panki). Since this is a neythal poem , it has sea side settings. So the lovers decide to meet in the beaches near the punnai grooves. The Thalaivan comes to the place early and decides to hide in the grooves and watch the reaction of the Thalaivi. Thalaivi has seen Thalaivan hiding and utters this poem to panki in a loud voice so that Thalaivan can hear it.

123. நெய்தல்

இருள் திணிந்தன்ன ஈர்ந் தண் கொழு நிழல்,

நிலவுக் குவித்தன்ன வெண் மணல் ஒரு சிறை,

கருங் கோட்டுப் புன்னைப் பூம் பொழில் புலம்ப,

இன்னும் வாரார்; வரூஉம்,

பல் மீன் வேட்டத்து என்னையர் திமிலே,

– ஐயூர் முடவன்

Kurunthokai 123

The sands are like heaped up moonlight.

Right next to it stands all by itself,

as if all night were crammed into it ,

the cool dense shade of a flowering grove

of the black punnai.

Our man has not come back.

Only our brothers’ fishing boats

will return from their hunt

of many kinds of fish.

Poet:Aiyur Mutavan

Translated by A.K.Ramanujan

Though to a observer this may just look like heroine is describing the sight of the beach and arrival of her brothers, it has some intended meanings to it. The sands are heaped up moonlight could well mean that the Thalaivan who is so handsome is visible to the Thalaivai even if he intends to hide. ‘as if all night were crammed into it ‘ signifies that the Thalaivi is keeping all the sadness within her and which could not be understood by other people. The intended meaning here is even though the Thalaivan is hiding the Thalivi is able to spot him but the Thalaivan cannot understand the deep sorrow of the thaliavi because  he has not come to meet her. She also says, I am expecting Thalaivan , so better he come soon and meet me , else my brothers who went to fishing will be back to escort me home. She is sending message to thalaivan better hurry up and meet before my brothers come or you cannot meet me at all today . 

A complete teaser by the Thalaivan and replied with equally good teaser by the Thalaivi. After all ,the Sangam landscape has so many beautiful love situations explored by the poets.

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Reference:

Kurunthokai commentry U.V.Swaminathan Iyer

Interior Landscape by A.K.Ramanujan

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