In this episode, we listen to a friend’s encouraging words, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 61, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape”, the verse highlights some historic personalities and their renowned towns.

“நோற்றோர்மன்ற தாமே கூற்றம்
கோளுற விளியார், பிறர் கொள விளிந்தோர்” எனத்
தாள் வலம்படுப்பச் சேட் புலம் படர்ந்தோர்
நாள் இழை நெடுஞ் சுவர் நோக்கி, நோய் உழந்து
ஆழல் வாழி, தோழி! தாழாது,
உரும் எனச் சிலைக்கும் ஊக்கமொடு பைங் கால்
வரி மாண் நோன் ஞாண் வன் சிலைக் கொளீஇ,
அரு நிறத்து அழுத்திய அம்பினர் பலருடன்
அண்ணல் யானை வெண் கோடு கொண்டு,
நறவு நொடை நெல்லின் நாள் மகிழ் அயரும்
கழல் புனை திருந்துஅடிக் கள்வர் கோமான்
மழ புலம் வணக்கிய மா வண் புல்லி
விழவுடை விழுச் சீர் வேங்கடம் பெறினும்,
பழகுவர்ஆதலோ அரிதே முனாஅது
முழவு உறழ் திணி தோள் நெடு வேள் ஆவி
பொன்னுடை நெடு நகர்ப் பொதினி அன்ன நின்
ஒண் கேழ் வன முலைப் பொலிந்த
நுண் பூண் ஆகம் பொருந்துதல் மறந்தே.

This trip to the drylands takes us in the presence of a lady, who is parted away from her man, and we get to hear these words of the lady’s confidante to her friend:

“Saying, ‘Blessed are those, who do not lose their lives to the God of Death for no reason, but instead to others in battle’, he left to a faraway land to bring home victory, with his determined efforts. Seeing the marks of the days he has been away on the tall wall, do not cry, wallowing in a deep suffering, my friend, may you live long!

With unceasing thunderous roars, holding on to the green-edged, striped strong bows with fine threads, having an army of men capable of showering arrows on the chests of foes, possessing white tusks of esteemed elephants, bartering toddy for paddy, the great leader of the robbers, the strong and mighty Pulli, wearing well-etched, perfect warrior anklets, the one, who defeated the clan of Mazhavars, spends happy days many, in the festivities-filled, fertile land of Venkatam. Your bosom, decked with fine jewels many, is akin to the huge, gold-filled town of Pothini, ruled by the famous Neduvel Aavi, who has arms akin to strong drums. Even if your man were to attain all of Pulli’s Venkatam, it would be hard for him to stay away, forgetting your shining bosom!”

Let’s walk along with the man through those barren lands and understand his mission! The confidante starts by remembering the words of the man, who seems to think that dying by natural causes was not as noble as dying in the battlefield. With those words, he had left to some faraway land, determined to return with victory. If someone leaves with such words, it may fill them with the fiery confidence needed to face the battle, but what about the one at home? No doubt this makes the lady suffer deeply with anxiety, wondering when the man will return and if he will return. As she sits at home, looking at the wall with the marks of the days he has spent away from her, her confidante does what all good friends do, which is to comfort the other. This blessed soul asks the lady to imagine that the man were to attain a town as prosperous as Venkatam, ruled by the famous leader of the robbers, Pulli, known for his army of men, well-versed in archery, and for his possession of white tusks, barter of toddy for paddy, and one who spends happy days in that fertile town in his domain. The confidante concludes by saying even if such a thing were to happen, it would be impossible for the man to stay away from the lady’s bosoms, which she places in parallel to another gold-rich town of Pothini, ruled by Aavi, who is said to have arms as thick as drums!

In essence, the confidante says to the lady that no matter how much wealth the man attains, it would surely not be more precious to him than the lady’s beauty. A verse which reiterates that though wealth and duty were prime concerns, love and beauty were no less important in the minds of these ancient folks, and most of their dilemmas seemed to revolve around the conflict of these two timeless pursuits of humans!