In this episode, we perceive a subtle technique of persuasion, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 72, penned by Erumai Veliyanaar Makanaar Kadalanaar. Set amidst the resounding hills of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’, the verse sketches the life in this land on one rainy night.

இருள் கிழிப்பது போல் மின்னி, வானம்
துளி தலைக்கொண்ட நளி பெயல் நடுநாள்,
மின்மினி மொய்த்த முரவு வாய்ப் புற்றம்
பொன் எறி பிதிரின் சுடர வாங்கி,
குரும்பி கெண்டும் பெருங்கை ஏற்றை
இரும்பு செய் கொல் எனத் தோன்றும் ஆங்கண்,
ஆறே அரு மரபினவே; யாறே
சுட்டுநர்ப் பனிக்கும் சூருடை முதலைய;
கழை மாய் நீத்தம் கல் பொருது இரங்க,
”அஞ்சுவம் தமியம்” என்னாது, மஞ்சு சுமந்து,
ஆடுகழை நரலும் அணங்குடைக் கவாஅன்,
ஈர் உயிர்ப் பிணவின் வயவுப் பசி களைஇய,
இருங் களிறு அட்ட பெருஞ் சின உழுவை
நாம நல்லராக் கதிர்பட உமிழ்ந்த
மேய் மணி விளக்கின் புலர ஈர்க்கும்
வாள் நடந்தன்ன வழக்கு அருங் கவலை,
உள்ளுநர் உட்கும் கல் அடர்ச் சிறு நெறி,
அருள் புரி நெஞ்சமொடு எஃகு துணையாக
வந்தோன் கொடியனும் அல்லன்; தந்த
நீ தவறு உடையையும் அல்லை; நின்வயின்
ஆனா அரும் படர் செய்த
யானே, தோழி! தவறு உடையேனே.

It’s a thrilling ride through the hills this time, and we hear these words said by the lady to her confidante, pretending not to see the man, as he listens nearby, but making sure he’s in earshot:

“As if tearing the darkness, the sky flashes and brings down a heavy downpour during the midnight hour. Fireflies swarm around a termite mound with a broken mouth, akin to sparks scattering about, when hot iron is welded. As a male bear with huge hands, hunts for the ants’ comb within, it appears akin to an ironsmith, working on his wares. In such a place, the path is hard to traverse; As for the river, it is filled with fearsome crocodiles that make those who even ponder about them quiver in fear; Floods gush on, submerging bamboo oars and dash against rocks and roar; Enveloped by clouds, swaying bamboos resound in those fear-evoking mountain slopes, where, to end the hunger of its mate that has just given birth, a huge and furious male tiger, having felled a huge boar, drags the blood-covered corpse, in the light of a sparkling sapphire, spit out by a cobra, in that formidable path. This small mountain path, rendering a feeling of walking on swords, is one that makes those who think about it tremble. Without thinking ‘I’m alone and I should be afraid’, with only a spear for company, the one who came walking down such a path to grace me is not the one who is at fault. You, who brought him to this trysting spot, is not to be blamed either; Indeed, it’s me, the one who has given a lot of trouble to you, who’s in the wrong!”

Time for a mountain jungle safari and that too amidst a downpour in the dark! The lady starts by giving a vivid account of the path that the man takes to meet with her. First, it’s time for a weather report, and as can be expected in these high places, rains are pelting down and lightning flashes in the midnight sky. Next, from the sky, as we fly to the earth, we land near a termite mound, and around this we see some sparks flying off welded iron, and find out that those are actually fireflies. Extending the iron-smithery simile, the blacksmith is also seen hitting the rods, and on closer inspection, we find it’s an Indian Sloth bear that’s putting its huge hands inside the termite mounds to get its favourite food of ants and termites’ mush! For us, watching from the safe distance of a few thousand years, might be fascinating, but to the one travelling the path, this is something fear-evoking, the lady reminds us. 

From the bear in the mountain path, we move on to crocodiles in the gushing river, no doubt, full of floods, because of the pouring rain. Any attempt at sailing is routed by the ferocity of the river that buries bamboo poles and roars as it dashes against rocks many. Adding to the menacing sounds, are the tall bamboos swaying in the gusty winds, enveloped by dense clouds. As if the weather was not trouble enough, here a tiger, determined to end the hunger of its mate, which has just given birth to its cub, drags a wild boar that it has killed. This happens in the light of a sapphire, spit out by a cobra, the lady says, echoing the Sangam belief that snakes spit out gems. In short, this is a terrifying place to be walking about, one which feels as if walking on swords, and the mere thought of which sends tremors in the mind, the lady explains. Here, without any fear, the man comes walking with just a spear, because he wants to render his grace to the lady. She says he cannot be the one who can be called cruel or made to feel he’s at fault. Neither is the confidante, who coordinated the trysting between the man, and but it’s she herself to be blamed for all the trouble she has given her friend, the lady concludes. 

By removing the blame from the man’s side and assuming all responsibility, the lady gently makes the man understand her deep angst, fearing for his safety, and nudges him to give up this terrifying, temporary trysting and instead take steps towards a peaceful and permanent union. Looking beyond the ‘Marry me, Marry me’ theme, we can cherish how these words from the ancient past gave us an immersive experience of being in the wild and seeing the dynamic life, teeming in a mountainside!