In this episode, we perceive the communication of a hidden message, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 28, penned by the Pandya King Arivudai Nambi. The verse is situated amidst the millets fields and parrot sounds of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’ and persuades a person to choose the path of permanent happiness.

மெய்யின் தீரா மேவரு காமமொடு
எய்யாய் ஆயினும், உரைப்பல் தோழி!
கொய்யா முன்னும், குரல் வார்பு, தினையே
அருவி ஆன்ற பைங் கால் தோறும்
இருவி தோன்றின பலவே. நீயே,
முருகு முரண்கொள்ளும் தேம் பாய் கண்ணி,
பரியல் நாயொடு பல் மலைப் படரும்
வேட்டுவற் பெறலொடு அமைந்தனை; யாழ நின்
பூக் கெழு தொடலை நுடங்க, எழுந்து எழுந்து,
கிள்ளைத் தெள் விளி இடைஇடை பயிற்றி,
ஆங்கு ஆங்கு ஒழுகாய்ஆயின், அன்னை,
”சிறு கிளி கடிதல் தேற்றாள், இவள்” என,
பிறர்த் தந்து நிறுக்குவள்ஆயின்,
உறற்கு அரிது ஆகும், அவன் மலர்ந்த மார்பே.

A quaint little verse from the mountains, and here, we hear the confidante say these words to the lady, pretending not to notice the man, waiting by the hedge, but making sure he’s in earshot:

“Owing to your excessive passion that arises from a ceaseless union, you realise not the consequences, my friend, let me tell you about it! Even before the luxuriant stalks of millets have been harvested, from the green stems flourishing in cascade streams, grains are dropping down and stubbles have started popping up. As for you, all you care about is attaining that hunter, the one, wearing a honey-dripping garland, woven with many contrasting flowers, accompanied by speedy dogs, who walks about on hills many.  If you don’t stand up, again and again, and making your flower-filled garland sway, run around, here and there, and send out clear sounds of chasing away parrots, now and then, mother will think, ‘She’s no good at scaring away even those little parrots’ and bring someone else here to do this job. If that happens, impossible indeed it would be for you, to attain his flower-like, wide chest!”

Let’s walk through the fields of mountain millets, rustling many a laden stalk, and listen to these women talk! The confidante tells her friend that she’s losing sight of something important, because she’s lost in the pleasures of being with the man. To explain further, she points to how the millet crops are fully mature, and even though the harvesters have not started their work, those grains seemed to be dropping off their spots and stubbles growing up from the mud. Given this situation, if the lady continues to be thinking only about her man, who is described as a hunter, who strolls the hills wearing fragrant garlands, accompanied by speedy dogs, then there’s big trouble waiting for the lady, warns the confidante. The confidante says that if the lady does not walk, hither and thither, making noises as if she’s heartily chasing away the parrots, mother’s going to think this girl can’t do her work right and she’s going to bring someone else to chase away those parrots. The confidante concludes by telling the lady that if she doesn’t do as advised, it’s going to become really hard for her to tryst with the man and embrace his handsome chest.

It’s a quirky verse, where the confidante seems to be telling the lady, whether you work or not, you need to create the impression of working! Many a modern worker in the corporate world may identify with this ancient maiden’s statement! Joking apart, we have to understand that the confidante’s message is not for the lady but for the man, listening nearby, telling him, all your trysting is going to end soon, because the harvest is nearing, and the lady will not be found in these millet fields, so he better buck up and seek her hand in marriage. We can see how such a hidden message is effective in moving another to action, for then the idea to act becomes theirs and not because someone demands it of them. A lesson to take away to our situations of negotiation and persuasion today!