In this episode, we perceive the troubled mind of a man, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 123, penned by Kaveripoompattinaththu Kaarikkannanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse talks about the oscillations in the midst of an endeavour.

உண்ணாமையின் உயங்கிய மருங்கின்
ஆடாப் படிவத்து ஆன்றோர் போல,
வரை செறி சிறு நெறி நிரைபுடன் செல்லும்
கான யானை கவின் அழி குன்றம்
இறந்து, பொருள் தருதலும் ஆற்றாய்; சிறந்த
சில் ஐங் கூந்தல் நல் அகம் பொருந்தி
ஒழியின், வறுமை அஞ்சுதி; அழிதகவு
உடைமதி வாழிய, நெஞ்சே! நிலவு என
நெய் கனி நெடு வேல் எஃகின் இமைக்கும்
மழை மருள் பல் தோல் மா வண் சோழர்
கழை மாய் காவிரிக் கடல் மண்டு பெருந் துறை,
இறவொடு வந்து கோதையொடு பெயரும்
பெருங் கடல் ஓதம் போல,
ஒன்றில் கொள்ளாய், சென்று தரு பொருட்கே.

In this little trip to the drylands, we journey more into the mind rather than this domain, as we hear the man say these words to his heart, in the middle of his journey through the drylands, having parted from the lady in search of wealth:

“Having the shrivelled, starving stomachs of ascetics, who bathe not, jungle elephants, along with their herd, walk on, in the small path, amidst the dense mountains, in those highlands, bereft of beauty. You seem not to be able to go there steadfastly and bring back wealth; On the other hand, you are not able to stay on the beautiful bosom of my beloved with fine, beautiful tresses, woven into five-part braids, because you fear the poverty that would ensue; You are doomed, may you live long, my heart! Having well-oiled, tall iron spears that shine like the moon, and many shields, akin to rain clouds, are the great and compassionate Chozha kings. Akin to the waves of the huge ocean, which arrives with shrimps and parts away with garlands, from their huge river shore of Kaveri, whose bed no bamboo pole can touch, you stay not firm in one place, with the sole intention of bringing back wealth!”

Let’s listen to the troubles that walk along with the man through the drylands! The man starts by presenting a vivid image of elephants, walking in a herd through narrow paths amidst mountains, which are shorn of their usual beauty, no doubt owing to the scorching summer. He zooms on to how the bellies of these beasts are shrivelled up, and to etch the image, he brings in the parallel of the shrunken stomachs of ascetics, who don’t eat or bathe, but are intent on their penance. After describing the drylands with this singular image, the man accuses his heart of not going there, with determination, to earn wealth, and at the same time, not staying with his beloved lady, because it feared the lack of wealth. Because of this, his heart seemed to be behaving like the waves of the huge ocean that arrives at the river mouth of the Chozhas’ Kaveri, showering the shrimps it holds, and stealing the garlands on the shore, moving forwards and backwards, and refusing to stay in one place, the one that would make him earn wealth and return, the man concludes.

A simple thought about a heart that wavers even after a decision has been taken! The man seems to be separating himself from his heart to see how he wants to go forward and earn wealth, and at the same time, remain in the joy of his beloved’s company. This seeming contradiction he projects on his heart and hopes to find the will to keep moving forward towards his goal. A relatable verse whose thought about the pendulum motion of a heart swings across time timelessly!