In this episode, we listen to a passionate plea, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 44, penned by Kabilar. The verse is situated in the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountains landscape’ and etches the virtue of the lady.

கதிர் விரி கனை சுடர்க் கவின் கொண்ட நனஞ் சாரல்
எதிரெதிர் ஓங்கிய மால் வரை அடுக்கத்து,
அதிர் இசை அருவி தன் அம் சினை மிசை வீழ,
முதிர்இணர் ஊழ் கொண்ட முழவுத்தாள் எரிவேங்கை,
வரி நுதல் எழில் வேழம் பூ நீர் மேல் சொரிதர,
புரி நெகிழ் தாமரை மலர் அம் கண் வீறு எய்தி
திரு நயந்து இருந்தன்ன தேம் கமழ் விறல் வெற்ப!

தன் எவ்வம் கூரினும், நீ செய்த அருள் இன்மை
என்னையும் மறைத்தாள், என் தோழி அது கேட்டு,
நின்னை யான் பிறர் முன்னர்ப் பழி கூறல் தான் நாணி,

கூரும் நோய் சிறப்பவும் நீ செய்த அருள் இன்மை
சேரியும் மறைத்தாள், என் தோழி அது கேட்டாங்கு,
‘ஓரும் நீ நிலையலை’ எனக் கூறல் தான் நாணி

நோய் அட வருந்தியும், நீ செய்த அருள் இன்மை
ஆயமும் மறைத்தாள், என் தோழி அது கேட்டு,
மாய நின் பண்பு இன்மை பிறர் கூறல் தான் நாணி,

என ஆங்கு
இனையன தீமை நினைவனள் காத்தாங்கு
அனை அரும் பண்பினான் நின் தீமை காத்தவள்
அரும் துயர் ஆர் அஞர் தீர்க்கும்
மருந்து ஆகிச் செல்கம், பெரும! நாம் விரைந்தே

We’re back to the three-step format of Kalithogai seen in many previous verses. The words can be translated as follows:

“Basking with beauty in the dense, spreading rays of the sun, are the wide slopes, surrounded by soaring peaks on all sides. From these peaks, descend the resounding cascades and these fall atop beautiful branches with mature, flower clusters of the flame-like ‘Kino’ tree with a drum-like trunk. As handsome elephants with lined foreheads shower water on the flowers, lotuses blooming from the buds, appear with the exquisite greatness in the image of wealth and prosperity in the honey-fragrant, victorious mountain of yours, O lord!

Even though her suffering soared, my friend hid your lack of grace from me, feeling shame worrying that if I heard of that, I would say words blaming you in front of others.

Even though her affliction peaked, my friend hid your lack of grace from the neighbours, feeling shame worrying that if they heard of that, they would say that you don’t have a clear and stable mind.

Even though she was pained by this affliction, my friend hid your lack of grace from her playmates, feeling shame worrying that if they heard of that, they would say that you lack virtue and truth.

And so, she is such a person, who thought of all these ills that would befall you, and owing to her precious virtue, protected you from censure and blame. O lord, becoming the cure for her deep sorrow and immense suffering, we must go to her with haste!”

Let’s delve into the details. The verse is situated in the context of a man’s love relationship with his lady, prior to marriage, and these words are uttered by the confidante to the man. The confidante starts with a glowing description of the man’s country, where the sun’s rays blanket the slopes with a pleasant warmth amidst the soaring peaks on all sides, and here, stands a ‘Kino’ tree by a cascade, whose water splashes on the flowers blooming on the tree. Nearby, elephants spray water on these golden, fire-like flowers, and a lotus flower too blooms, endowing the entire place with an image of exuberant wealth. Such is the man’s mountain, the confidante says. From the man’s country, she shifts her focus to the lady’s situation and talks about how even though the lady suffers immensely with her love affliction, she hides it from her close friend, the confidante, the neighbours around and her dear playmates, worrying that if the man’s lack of grace is known, the confidante would blame him for his lack of responsibility, the neighbours would censure him for his lack of stability and the friends would mock his lack of truth. Saying this, the confidante insists that the man should understand such a noble virtue of the lady, who disguises her pain so that no insult shall come the man’s way, and concludes by asking him to become the cure for the lady’s suffering.

As the man had been interested only in trysting with the lady and had not taken any steps towards their marriage, the confidante conveys the lady’s pain and nudges him to choose the permanent path of happiness by seeking the lady’s hand. It’s yet another song of ‘marry her, marry her’ but one in which we take in a picturesque scene in the mountains and perceive a persuasive argument that appeals to a person’s emotions and points them in the right direction!