Afraid of my Father? – Ainkurunooru 261

This poem is the first one of series of 10 poems from Ainkurunooru with reference to wild boar. These poems  by Kapilar speak of love and separation.

ஐங்குறுநூறு 261, கபிலர், குறிஞ்சித் திணை – தோழிதலைவியிடம் சொன்னது, சிறைப்புறத்தானாக இருந்த தலைவன் கேட்கும்படி

மென்தினை மேய்ந்த தறுகண் பன்றி,
வன் கல் அடுக்கத்துத் துஞ்சும் நாடன்,
எந்தை அறிதல் அஞ்சிக் கொல்,
அதுவே மன்ற வாராமையே?

My man is from the land

Where fearless pig graze the tender millet

And doze off in strong rocks (on the mountain)

He did not meet me at our place,

Is he afraid that my father knows about us?

Poet: Kapilar

Translated by : Palaniappan Vairam Sarathy

Some background:  Thaliavan would be from a different village/hill. Thalaivan and Thalaivi have met and by context of this decade looks like they have had Iyarkai Punarchi. They meet every night secretly and suddenly he stops his visits or not makes it regularly.

The tender millet alludes to the virgin girl and grazing by the pig refers to the union between the lovers. Dozing off after grazing refers to Thalaivan not showing up.

On second thought , this poem being uttered by Thalaivi when Thalaivan was near by,it could also be a threat to make the guy marry her.

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Reference:

Ainkurunooru – Translation by P.Jyotimuthu

Learn Sangam Tamil

Tamil Lexicon – University of Madras

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மென்தினை மேய்ந்த தறுகண் பன்றி,

Soft/tender – millet- grazed – fearleass -pig

வன் கல் அடுக்கத்துத் துஞ்சும் நாடன்,
strong/hard/violent – stone/rock/boulder – near/in that place – sleeping – person of that country

எந்தை அறிதல் அஞ்சிக் கொல்,

My father – to know/understand/think of – fear – afflict

அதுவே மன்ற வாராமையே?

So that – certain/place of meeting – not coming