In this episode, we perceive a mother’s shock, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 105, penned by Thaayankannanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse depicts the unlikely journey of a young girl through a challenging terrain.

அகல் அறை மலர்ந்த அரும்பு முதிர் வேங்கை
ஒள் இலைத் தொடலை தைஇ, மெல்லென
நல் வரை நாடன் தற்பாராட்ட
யாங்கு வல்லுநள்கொல் தானே தேம் பெய்து,
மணி செய் மண்டை தீம் பால் ஏந்தி,
ஈனாத் தாயர் மடுப்பவும் உண்ணாள்,
நிழற் கயத்தன்ன நீள் நகர் வரைப்பின்
எம்முடைச் செல்வமும் உள்ளாள், பொய்ம் மருண்டு,
பந்து புடைப்பன்ன பாணிப் பல் அடிச்
சில் பரிக் குதிரை, பல் வேல் எழினி
கெடல் அருந் துப்பின் விடுதொழில் முடிமார்,
கனை எரி நடந்த கல் காய் கானத்து
வினை வல் அம்பின் விழுத் தொடை மறவர்
தேம் பிழி நறுங் கள் மகிழின், முனை கடந்து,
வீங்கு மென் சுரைய ஏற்றினம் தரூஉம்
முகை தலை திறந்த வேனிற்
பகை தலைமணந்த பல் அதர்ச் செலவே?

In this trip to the drylands, it’s the lady’s mother we get to meet and hear her say these words, when she learns that her daughter has eloped away with the man:

“Listening to the praises of the man from the fine mountains, who wears a garland with shining leaves and blooming flowers of the ‘Indian Kino tree’, which grows by a wide rock, she went away with him. She was one, who would refuse to drink the honey-infused, sweet milk, brought to her in a bowl, studded with precious gems, by her foster mother. Without giving a thought to the wealth and comfort in our tall mansion, which is akin to a pond in a shade, listening to his lies, she has left to the drylands, where intending to finish the mission, assigned to them by the many-speared Ezhini, who wields horses, which trot in the style of a ball bouncing on land, warriors with indestructible strength, holding well-etched, strong bows and arrows that miss not their mark, delight in the sweet and fragrant toddy, amidst the burning rocks of the scrub jungle, after winning in the battle, and capturing herds of cattle with soft and bulging udders. To traverse the many paths of such a place, filled with conflicts, in the harsh summer, which can burst open even the rocks, how did she find the strength?”

Time to follow the man and lady into the searing drylands! Mother starts by describing the man as a lord of the mountains, who wears Kino garlands. She says this man must have showered praises on her daughter, whom she describes as we have so often heard, as a fussy eater, who would refuse even milk and honey, offered in a gem-studded bowl by a foster mother.

A moment to pause and reflect on the phrase ‘Eena Thaayar’ used here! The word literally translates as ‘the mother who has not given birth’, implying that the lady’s mother had other women, who took care of the child entirely. Here’s a reference to a nanny in Sangam times, underlining the affluence in those households. This nanny was not someone, who just did her job and got paid for it. In many instances, we see this foster mother as being mother-like in all respects, that it’s hard to differentiate, whether it’s the birth mother or the foster mother speaking. It’s in rare verses like this, which by the direct mention of the mother, who raises the child, informs us about these interesting facts on child care in the Sangam era.

Returning to the flow, we find mother lamenting how the lady did not seem to care about how much wealth and comfort was there in their home, which she then places in parallel to not only a cool pond, but one that is under a sweet shade. What a pleasant place that would be and so is their abode, mother describes! The lady had left all this to go to the drylands. To describe this place, mother brings in the scene of the brave warriors, who following the command of their leader Ezhini, had gone to battle and captured fine herds of cattle and were now delighting uproariously in drinking sweet toddy, sitting by the paths of that dreary land. Mother concludes by wondering from where her gentle girl could have got the strength to cross such a terrible land, wrought with dangers, that too in the middle of a summer that could make even rocks burst out in the heat! Yet again, we witness how a child remains the delicate one, needing protection, in the mother’s eyes. A timeless testimony to the parents’ surprise at the delicate little being they once held in their hands, having grown into an independent human, with a bold mind of their own!