In this episode, we listen to a lady’s lament, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 67, penned by Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. The verse is situated in the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and echoes a feeling of betrayal in the lady.

கார் முற்றி, இணர் ஊழ்த்த கமழ் தோட்ட மலர் வேய்ந்து,
சீர் முற்றி, புலவர் வாய்ச் சிறப்பு எய்தி, இரு நிலம்
தார் முற்றியது போல, தகை பூத்த வையை தன்
நீர் முற்றி, மதில் பொரூஉம் பகை அல்லால் நேராதார்
போர் முற்று ஒன்று அறியாத புரிசை சூழ் புனல் ஊரன்

நலத்தகை எழில் உண்கண் நல்லார் தம் கோதையால்
அலைத்த புண் வடு காட்டி அன்பு இன்றி வரின் எல்லா!
புலப்பென் யான் என்பேன்மன்? அந் நிலையே, அவற் காணின்,
கலப்பென் என்னும், இக் கையறு நெஞ்சே

கோடு எழில் அகல் அல்குற் கொடி அன்னார் முலை மூழ்கி,
பாடு அழி சாந்தினன், பண்பு இன்றி வரின் எல்லா!
ஊடுவென் என்பேன்மன்? அந் நிலையே, அவற் காணின்,
கூடுவென் என்னும், இக் கொள்கை இல் நெஞ்சே

இனிப் புணர்ந்த எழில் நல்லார் இலங்கு எயிறு உறாஅலின்,
நனிச் சிவந்த வடுக் காட்டி, நாண் இன்றி வரின் எல்லா!
துனிப்பென் யான் என்பேன்மன்? அந் நிலையே, அவற் காணின்,
தனித்தே தாழும், இத் தனி இல் நெஞ்சே

என ஆங்கு,
பிறை புரை ஏர் நுதால்! தாம் எண்ணியவை எல்லாம்
துறைபோதல் ஒல்லுமோ தூ ஆகாது ஆங்கே
அறை போகும் நெஞ்சு உடையார்க்கு?

Here, we hear the lady’s thoughts about her distressful situation! The words can be translated as follows:

“In the peak of the rainy season, when flower clusters have fallen down and adorned with fragrance, the Vaigai river attains its full splendour, making poets pen praises, and appears as if it’s garlanding the huge land. When its waters brim over, it attacks the walls. Other than this enmity, that fort knows not what it means to be in a siege. Such is the town of the lord, surrounded by streams!

If he were to come here, without love, showing imprints of garlands, worn by beautiful maiden with exquisite kohl-streaked eyes, my friend, I thought that I should fight with him. However, when it sees him, this helpless heart of mine nudges me to unite with him!

If he were to come here, without graciousness, with the sandalwood on his chest wiped away in embracing the bosom of maiden with a vine-like waist and wide loins, my friend, I thought I should sulk with him. However, when it sees him, this unprincipled heart of mine nudges me to become one with him!

If he were to come here, without shame, showing the deep red scars, made by the shining teeth of those beautiful maiden that he united with desire, my friend, I thought that I should hate him. However, when it sees him, this heart of mine which lacks individuality, stoops low to embrace him!

And so, O maiden with a beautiful, crescent-like forehead, is it possible for those to achieve what they want if they have a heart that stands not firm and abandons them so?”

Let’s explore the details. The verse is situated in the context of a love-quarrel situation between the man and the lady, because of the man’s seeking courtesans. These words are rendered by the lady to the confidante. Apparently, the man had returned from the courtesans and though the lady refused entry many times, he made it back to his home and then left from there. At this time, the confidante scolds the lady for not keeping him away because of his conduct. In response, the lady conveys her point of view. She starts by describing the Vaigai river in the rainy season when it’s adorned by the fallen flowers. She describes how the gush and flow of the river makes poets pen their verses with gusto, and sketches the way the river garlands the spread of that land. To talk about the copious waters, she mentions how the waves rise and strike against the fort walls. Other than this surge, that fort has never seen the siege of another army, she continues, talking about the power and strength of that town, which is the one ruled by her man.

Then, in the usual three-step format of Kalithogai verses, the lady talks about how she had decided to quarrel, sulk and be mad at the man, if he returned home showing signs of being with the courtesans such as the imprints of their garlands, wiped-out sandalwood on his chest or scars of their teeth on his skin. They do sound a bit like Lady-Draculas! Joking apart, we see the lady saying how all her decisions to be angry and aloof with the man failed miserably because, the moment it saw the man, her heart made her want to unite with him. She concludes by asking the confidante how can those who want to do certain things be able to accomplish them if they have hearts that fail them so, at the crucial moment. A verse which depicts the very relatable feeling of how no matter how much our minds command and dictate about things in life, be it in keeping away from certain foods, gadgets or even relationships, at times, we find ourselves unable to hold strong, because the heart does seem to sway to a different tune!