In this episode, we listen to the words of a man in love, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 56, penned by Kabilar. The verse is situated in the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountains landscape’ and expresses admiration for a lady.

ஊர்க்கால் நிவந்த பொதும்பருள், நீர்க் கால்,
கொழு நிழல் ஞாழல் முதிர் இணர் கொண்டு,
கழும முடித்து, கண் கூடு கூழை
சுவல்மிசைத் தாதொடு தாழ, அகல் மதி
தீம் கதிர் விட்டது போல, முகன் அமர்ந்து,
ஈங்கே வருவாள் இவள் யார் கொல்? ஆங்கே, ஓர்
வல்லவன் தைஇய பாவைகொல்? நல்லார்
உறுப்பு எலாம் கொண்டு இயற்றியாள்கொல்? வெறுப்பினால்,
வேண்டு உருவம் கொண்டதோர் கூற்றம்கொல்? ஆண்டார்,
கடிது, இவளைக் காவார் விடுதல்: கொடி இயல்,
பல் கலை, சில் பூங் கலிங்கத்தள் ஈங்கு, இது ஓர்
நல்கூர்ந்தார் செல்வ மகள்!
இவளைச் சொல்லாடிக் காண்பேன், தகைத்து
நல்லாய்! கேள்:

ஆய் தூவி அனம் என, அணி மயில் பெடை என,
தூது உண் அம் புறவு என, துதைந்த நின் எழில் நலம்
மாதர் கொள் மான் நோக்கின் மட நல்லாய்! நிற் கண்டார்ப்
பேதுறூஉம் என்பதை அறிதியோ? அறியாயோ?

நுணங்கு அமைத் திரள் என, நுண் இழை அணை என,
முழங்கு நீர்ப் புணை என, அமைந்த நின் தட மென் தோள்
வணங்கு இறை, வால் எயிற்று, அம் நல்லாய்! நிற் கண்டார்க்கு
அணங்காகும் என்பதை அறிதியோ? அறியாயோ?

முதிர் கோங்கின் முகை என, முகம் செய்த குரும்பை என,
பெயல் துளி முகிழ் என, பெருத்த நின் இள முலை
மயிர் வார்ந்த வரி முன்கை மட நல்லாய்! நிற் கண்டார்
உயிர் வாங்கும் என்பதை உணர்தியோ? உணராயோ?

என ஆங்கு,
பேதுற்றாய் போலப் பிறர் எவ்வம் நீ அறியாய்,
யாது ஒன்றும் வாய்வாளாது இறந்தீவாய்! கேள், இனி:
நீயும் தவறு இலை; நின்னைப் புறங்கடைப்
போதர விட்ட நுமரும் தவறு இலர்;
நிறை அழி கொல் யானை நீர்க்கு விட்டாங்கு,
‘பறை அறைந்தல்லது செல்லற்க!’ என்னா
இறையே தவறு உடையான்.

Ending the long standing domination of the confidante and lady, the man speaks out his heart in this verse. The words can be translated as follows:

“Plucking mature flower clusters of the tigerclaw tree that renders a thick shade, fed by streams, in the groves of the town, and tying them tightly on the strands of the hair, letting the tresses hang upon the shoulders, scattering flower pollen around, the maiden, with a face akin to the full moon spreading its rays, comes here. Who might she be? Is she a statue carved by a skilled sculptor? Was she crafted with the features of the best and the beautiful? Or is she the God of Death who has taken on this desirable form, out of hate for me? Isn’t it terrible that her parents have left her go freely without restraining her at home. On her waist, akin to a vine, she wears a well-crafted attire with a floral design. She must be the precious daughter of a wealthy couple, who sought the boon of a child for long. Let me stop her and win her over with my words!

O beautiful maiden, listen:

Akin to a swan with white feathers, akin to a pretty peahen, akin to an alluring pigeon that feeds on pollen, is your brimming beauty; With desirable eyes like that of a deer, you are, O naive and beautiful maiden! Do you know or not that these can befuddle those who see you?

Akin to an intricate bamboo cluster, akin to a soft pillow, akin to a raft in the roaring waters, are your thick, soft arms; With curving wrists and shining teeth, you are, O alluring and beautiful maiden! Do you know or not that these can terrorise those who see you?

Akin to the mature flower of the buttercup, akin to a fresh, blooming palm fruit, akin to a bubble amidst the pouring rain, has blossomed your young bosom; With soft hair and gentle lines on your forearm, you are, O naive and beautiful maiden! Do you know or not that these can usurp the lives of those who see you?

And so, akin to someone confused, without understanding the suffering of others, without saying anything in response, you move away. Listen now! The mistake is not yours; The mistake is not with your kin, who let you go outside, either; The one at fault is the king of this land, who has not sent out a messenger before you, drumming, akin to how he announces the arrival of a mad and murderous battle elephant to the townsfolk, when it’s taken for a bath in the river!”

Let’s explore the details. The verse is situated in the context of a man’s love relationship with a lady, prior to marriage and speaks in the voice of the man to the lady. Initially, the man talks to himself describing the lady before him, talking about her flower-clad tresses, full-moon face and wondering whether she’s real or a statue carved by a skilful artisan and whether all the best things in the most beautiful women were chosen to be part of her. In a tangent, he wonders if this female form of the lady before him could be Death himself, who has taken that bewitching form out of hatred for the man! Then he chides the lady’s parents for letting her out of the house, and remarks she seems like a much-adored daughter of an affluent couple.

Instead of just muttering to himself, the man decides to stop the lady and express his love in words. So, he calls out to her, and in that three-step Kalithogai format, talks about her beauty that seems like that of a swan, a peahen and a pigeon; her arms that are like a bamboo cluster, a comforting pillow and a saving raft amidst the resounding waves; and her bosom that are like a buttercup flower, palm fruit and a bubble in a downpour. He mentions other assorted aspects of her beauty like deer-like eyes, shining teeth and alluring forearms, and asks her whether the lady was aware that she had the power to bewilder, to terrorise and even take away the lives of those, who glanced at her! And even though he says these words, the maiden seemed to have turned to walk away and the man declares that she has no understanding of the pain she causes in others. However, the fault was not that of hers or her parents. Rather the fault lies with an entirely different person, and he is the king of the land, for like the way this king announces the arrival of a mad elephant, when it’s taken for a bath in the river, he has not taken steps to announce the danger of this enchanting woman to those who see her, the man concludes.

If you think about it, the man is calling the lady, a wild elephant! Such a comparison may not be looked at favourably today and the man may find himself lifted by a metaphorical elephant trunk and thrown into the dumpster of unrequited love. Joking apart, in essence, this verse is an ecstatic outpouring of a man, who puts his beloved on a sky-high pedestal, extolling her beauty, and trying to win her heart with his words of admiration!