In this episode, we perceive the portrayal of shared pain, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 73, penned by Erumai Veliyanaar. The verse is situated in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’ and renders a message of hope to the lady.

பின்னொடு முடித்த மண்ணா முச்சி
நெய் கனி வீழ் குழல் அகப்படத் தைஇ;
வெருகு இருள் நோக்கியன்ன கதிர் விடுபு
ஒரு காழ் முத்தம் இடைமுலை விளங்க,
வணங்குறு கற்பொடு மடம் கொளச் சாஅய்,
நின் நோய்த் தலையையும் அல்லை; தெறுவர
‘என் ஆகுவள்கொல், அளியள்தான்?’ என,
என் அழிபு இரங்கும் நின்னொடு யானும்
ஆறு அன்று என்னா வேறு அல் காட்சி
இருவேம் நம் படர் தீர வருவது
காணிய வம்மோ காதல்அம் தோழி!
கொடி பிணங்கு அரில இருள் கொள் நாகம்
மடி பதம் பார்க்கும், வயமான் துப்பின்,
ஏனல் அம் சிறுதினைச் சேணோன் கையதைப்
பிடிக் கை அமைந்த கனல் வாய்க் கொள்ளி
விடு பொறிச் சுடரின் மின்னி, அவர்
சென்ற தேஎத்து நின்றதால், மழையே.

We are back in the drylands but there’s no sign of this barren region, for the action is focussed on the lady and the confidante back home, and we hear the confidante saying these words to the lady:

“O maiden, with an undecorated hair knot behind, bundling together your oiled, falling tresses carelessly; wearing a pearl necklace, which emits a  glow, akin to a wild cat staring in the dark, shining between your bosoms; having a goddess-like, fierce chastity, and a naive nature, you have lost your health; Your worry is not only on your account; But you are confused greatly thinking, ‘What will happen to her? Isn’t she pitiable indeed?’ and feel sorrowful for my pain. What we both are feeling isn’t any different! However that’s not the way to be! Let’s now go and see how both our suffering is about to end, my loveable friend! With the alertness of a tiger that bides its time for the moment when a dark and huge elephant, striding amidst the twining vines and bushes, feels fatigue, a guard protecting the little millets from a loft in the field, would shake the burning firebrand, held in his hand, with a handle. Akin to the sparks of this firebrand, flashing with lightning, rain clouds have gathered together in that faraway country he is in!”

As a surprise, this verse takes us into the desolate drylands in the hearts of those separated and not the physical space. The confidante starts by penning a portrait of the lady and first she calls attention to the her long hair that has been tied in a knot behind without much thought or care. This is to highlight the fact that Sangam women cared not about their appearance when their men were separated from them. To recollect, we have seen instances wherein the lady wouldn’t even wash her hair when her beloved was away, possibly making a statement that her beauty existed solely for the man to savour. However, the lady seems to be wearing a pearl necklace and the confidante equates the glow of the pearls on the lady’s black skin to the eyes of a wild cat, glimmering in the dark.

From outer appearances, the confidante moves on to the lady’s personality and glorifies her chastity and naivety, saying that has however led to the lady losing her health, owing to the man’s absence. The confidante declares that it’s not only about her own state the lady is worried about, but about the sorrow of the confidante, who is anxious about the lady. It’s a vicious cycle of worrying about the other, worrying about the other! They both are the same, the confidante declares, and says this is not the path they should take but instead focus on how their great sorrow is about to end. Rather cryptically, the confidante talks about the way a tiger would wait for the time an elephant tires out and loses its guard amidst the bushes, and equates that to the alertness of a forester, watching guard over a field of little millets, and then zooms on to the firebrand in the guard’s hands, and the sparks that fly out as he shakes the same at some meandering animal. She concludes by equating those sparks to the flashes of lightning in the sky, announcing the arrival of the rains in the land the man is traversing.

In essence, the confidante is saying the man is going to perceive the rainclouds and recollect his promise to the lady to be back at this time. When he does that, he will rush back to you, ending your sorrow, and with that, mine too, the confidante implies. The beauty of this verse is the portrait of pain shared between these two epitomes of friendship, demonstrating empathy and its therapy!