In this episode, we listen to a persuasive request, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 112, penned by Neythal Saaithuitha Aavoor Kizhaar. The verse is situated amidst the roving bears and roaring tigers in the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’ and attempts at changing a person’s path.

கூனல் எண்கின் குறு நடைத் தொழுதி
சிதலை செய்த செந் நிலைப் புற்றின்
மண் புனை நெடுங் கோடு உடைய வாங்கி,
இரை நசைஇப் பரிக்கும் அரைநாட் கங்குல்
ஈன்று அணி வயவுப் பிணப் பசித்தென, மறப் புலி
ஒளிறு ஏந்து மருப்பின் களிறு அட்டுக் குழுமும்
பனி இருஞ் சோலை, ‘எமியம்’ என்னாய்,
தீங்கு செய்தனையே, ஈங்கு வந்தோயே;
நாள் இடைப்படின், என் தோழி வாழாள்;
தோளிடை முயக்கம் நீயும் வெய்யை;
கழியக் காதலர்ஆயினும், சான்றோர்
பழியொடு வரூஉம் இன்பம் வெஃகார்;
வரையின் எவனோ? வான் தோய் வெற்ப!

கணக் கலை இகுக்கும் கறி இவர் சிலம்பின்
மணப்பு அருங் காமம் புணர்ந்தமை அறியார்,
தொன்று இயல் மரபின் மன்றல் அயர,
பெண் கோள் ஒழுக்கம் கண் கொள நோக்கி,
நொதுமல் விருந்தினம் போல, இவள்
புது நாண் ஒடுக்கமும் காண்குவம், யாமே.

Plenty of scenes from the wild in this trip to the mountains, where we get to hear the confidante say these words to the man, when he arrives to tryst with the lady by night:

“A pack of bears, with bent backs and short steps, desiring to eat from tall, red termite mounds, by breaking open the muddy edges, roam about in the middle of the night. At this time, since its mate, which had just given birth was wallowing in hunger, a brave tiger fells an elephant, with upraised, shining tusks, and roars aloud in that cold and dark grove. Without thinking, ‘I’m all alone’, you come here, traversing this space, doing much harm. It’s also true that my friend shan’t live, if a day passes, without you coming here. On your part, you desire embracing her arms very much; Even if it’s on account of love, the wise will never accept a pleasure that comes with censure! And so, why can’t you seek her hand, O lord of the sky-soaring mountains?

In these mountain slopes, flourishing with pepper vines and grunting herds of deer, as those who do not know about your precious, secret love relationship, perform the marriage of their daughter, in the public spaces, according to ancient tradition, I shall feast my eyes on the scene, and in the manner of a visiting stranger, I will gaze at her special new shyness and relish it so!”

Let’s take in the scenes of a mountain country and listen to the heart’s beat! The confidante starts by sketching the dangers of the hill country in the darkness of the night, mentioning hordes of bears roving to feed on termite mounds and a tiger roaring after killing an elephant, so as to satisfy its mate’s hunger. Inspite of all these dangers, the man comes walking in the dark to tryst with the lady and even though it’s an act of love, it’s something wrong, the confidante remarks. She talks about how the lady can’t go on even a day without the man and the man too wishes to embrace the lady. Given this situation, why can’t you seek her hand?, the confidante asks the man. Then, the confidante imagines the day when the lady’s parents would marry the lady to the man, as per their ancient tradition, and particularly, she sees herself standing at a distance, as if she doesn’t know anything about this relationship, and looking at the lady’s shyness like a stranger and smiling at the lady’s joy.

Usually, we have cases of the confidante beating about the bush to convey the message of ‘Marry the lady’ to the man. Here, it’s a refreshing change to see these direct words, propelling the man to action. On a tangent, what a sweet friend she is! Not only does she care and comfort her friend, she also communicates in the perfect way to the other, with logic and compassion, presenting all sides of the story and then showing the only way forward! An inspiring lesson to help us handle the negotiations in life!