In this episode, we perceive a lady’s change of stance, portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 112, penned by Chozhan Nalluruthiran. The verse is situated in the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest Landscape’ and etches the determined pursuit of a man.

தலைவி
யார் இவன், என்னை விலக்குவான்? ‘நீர்உளர்
பூந்தாமரைப் போது தந்த விரவுத் தார்க்
கல்லாப் பொதுவனை நீ மாறு நின்னொடு
சொல்லல் ஓம்பு’ என்றார் எமர்.

தலைவன்
எல்லா! ‘கடாஅய கண்ணால் கலைஇய நோய் செய்யும்
நடாஅக் கரும்பு அமன்ற தோளாரைக் காணின்
விடாஅல் ஓம்பு’ என்றார் எமர்.

தலைவி
கடாஅயார் நல்லாரைக் காணின் விலக்கி நயந்து அவர்
பல்லிதழ் உண்கண்ணும் தோளும் புகழ் பாட
நல்லது கற்பித்தார் மன்ற நுமர், பெரிதும்
வல்லர் எமர் கண் செயல்.

தலைவன்
ஓஒ வழங்காப் பொழுது நீ கன்று மேய்ப்பாய் போல்
வழங்கல் அறிவார் உரையாரேல் எம்மை
இகழ்ந்தாரே அன்றோ எமர்?

தலைவி
ஒக்கும் அறிவல் யான் எல்லா, விடு;

தலைவன்
விடேன் யான்; என் நீ குறித்தது இருங்கூந்தால்
நின்னை என் முன் நின்று
சொல்லல் ஓம்பு என்றமை அன்றி அவனை நீ
புல்லல் ஓம்பு என்றது உடையரோ, மெல்ல
முயங்கு நின் முள் எயிறு உண்கும்

தலைவி (தன் நெஞ்சிடம்)
எவன் கொலோ?
மாயப் பொதுவன் உரைத்த உரை எல்லாம்
வாயாவது ஆயின், தலைப்பட்டாம்; பொய்யாயின்,
சாயல் இன் மார்பில் கமழ்தார் குழைத்த நின்
ஆயிதழ் உண்கண் பசப்பத் தட மென்தோள்
சாயினும் ஏஎர் உடைத்து.

Another one in the light conversational format! The words can be translated as follows:

“Lady
Who is he, the one stopping me? ‘Do not talk to that unwise herder man wearing a garland of mixed flowers, the one, who gave those lotus flowers blooming in the water!’ – So said, my kin!

Man
Hey dear! ‘Do not let go if you see the one with bewitching eyes, she who disturbs and renders an affliction, the one with sugarcane painted, beautiful arms!’ – So said, my kin!

Lady
The kin of yours have taught you well indeed, saying if you see those with bewitching eyes, stop them, and flatter their many-petalled, kohl-streaked eyes with songs many! If they are so capable, why don’t they approach my kin?

Man
Oh! If my kin know that you will take the calves grazing in this place at a time when no-one is about and then don’t tell me about that, wouldn’t that mean they don’t care about me?

Lady
That sounds about right. I know all about it! Let me go now!

Man
I won’t! O maiden with thick tresses, what did you just tell me now? Your kin said ‘Do not stand before him and talk to him’. Did they say, ‘Do not embrace him!’? So, hug me gently so that I can savour the nectar of your sharp teeth!

Lady (To her heart)
What shall I do? If the words rendered by this deceptive herder becomes true, I will be saved; But if it were to become false, the beautiful petaled, kohl-streaked eyes that has now decided to crush the garland worn on the sweet chest, would become coated with pallor, and these curving soft arms would thin away. Even so, they would remain beautiful!”

Let’s delve into the details. The verse is situated in the context of forbidden love between a man and a lady. The words are exchanged between a herder girl and a herder man. The lady opens the scene by wondering who was this chap, who was blocking her path, and then she says, ‘Isn’t he the one my folks have asked me not to talk to?’. Hearing this, the man says, ‘Is that what your folks have said to you? Do you know what mine have said to me? Never let go if I see someone as beautiful as you are, cross my path’. To this, she responds with scorn, ‘Oh! They have taught you well to sing and praise the beautiful maiden who cross your path. They seem very wise. Why don’t they come and talk to my kin?’. The man answers this tangentially saying, ‘Only if they don’t advise me so, I’d think they care not about me at all!’ The lady dismisses his words and prepares to leave but the man refuses to let her go saying, ‘Hey listen! All your folks said was don’t talk to me. Did they say don’t embrace me? Come on then, what’s stopping you from coming close to me?’. The lady is now resigned to her fate and concludes saying to her heart, ‘If the love and promise the chap gives me is to come true, then I’ll be saved. If he’s going to deceive me and vanish away, then my eyes will be filled with pallor and my arms will thin away. But even then, they will still be beautiful!’. This last line reveals to us that the lady is ready to take the risk of furthering her relationship with this man, who has relentlessly pursued her. A verse which reveals to us how the perceptions and opinions of a family in Sangam times, affect two people in love!