In this episode, we listen to persuasive words seeking the welfare of a friend, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 150, penned by Kuruvazhuthiyaar. The verse is situated amidst the teeming fish and blooming flowers of the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal Landscape’ and relays the lady’s state of mind.

பின்னுவிட நெறித்த கூந்தலும், பொன்னென
ஆகத்து அரும்பிய சுணங்கும், வம்பு விடக்
கண் உருத்து எழுதரு முலையும் நோக்கி;
‘எல்லினை பெரிது’ எனப் பல் மாண் கூறி,
பெருந் தோள் அடைய முயங்கி, நீடு நினைந்து,
அருங் கடிப்படுத்தனள் யாயே; கடுஞ் செலல்
வாட் சுறா வழங்கும் வளை மேய் பெருந் துறை,
கனைத்த நெய்தற் கண் போல் மா மலர்
நனைத்த செருந்திப் போது வாய் அவிழ,
மாலை மணி இதழ் கூம்ப, காலைக்
கள் நாறு காவியொடு தண்ணென மலரும்
கழியும், கானலும், காண்தொறும் பல புலந்து;
‘வாரார்கொல்?’ எனப் பருவரும்
தாரார் மார்ப! நீ தணந்த ஞான்றே!

In this little boat trip to this vibrant domain, we hear these words said by the confidante to the man, when he leaves after a tryst by day with the lady:

“Glancing at the well-grown, ready-to-be-braided, long and curly tresses, the pallor spots in gold budding on the bosom, and the upraised and well-formed breasts that brim over the bustier cloth,  saying ‘You have become radiant like the day’, mother rendered many praises and embraced, clasping her fully. Then, mother thought for long, and placed her under a strict guard.

Speeding fish with sword-like horns traverse near the huge sea shore, where conches rove about, and here, in the evening, as the blue lotus, with its dark and thick flowers, appearing like eyes, closes its sapphire-like petals, the golden champak, moistened by this blue lotus, opens its pollen-filled buds. Then in the morning, the blue lotus blossoms with coolness, along with the red lotus, which wafts with the fragrance of toddy. Every time, she sees these scenes in the backwaters and groves, she laments a lot and wonders with angst, ‘Won’t he come back?’. This is what happens every moment you remain parted away from her, O garland-clad one!”

Let’s swim along with the swordfish, and then climbing on to the shore, track the scents of the many blooming flowers! The confidante starts her address to the man by talking about how the lady’s mother had reacted to the changes in the lady’s form. Mother seems to have taken a deep look at the lady’s tresses, long and flowing, pallor spots, glowing in gold, and her blooming bosom, brimming over her cloth band, and praised the lady for her radiant beauty. After this shower of praise, mother seems to have pondered a lot and then placed the lady on a strict watch. 

After rendering these words, the confidante goes on to talk about the flowers in the evening hour, a time when the blue lotus, not seeing its beloved sun, closes its petals, whereas at the same time, the golden champak opens its pollen-filled buds. Then, the confidante fast forwards to the morning hour, and points to how the same blue lotus blossoms out, in the company of the red lotus, spreading splashes of colour everywhere! The reason the confidante has talked about these flowers is to say that no matter how beautiful the backwaters and groves may appear, every moment the man is not present, the lady laments and yearns for that time when he would return. In essence, to relieve the lady’s worry, the confidante is subtly nudging the man to give up his temporary trysting and asking him to seek a permanent union with the lady! 

Reading about the opening and closing of these buds, I wanted to know more about the differences in the flowers mentioned. This led me to learn about how, just like in humans, there are ‘morning larks’ and ‘evening owls’, among flowers, there are day bloomers and night bloomers, and each type has its own unique characteristics. Whereas the day bloomers like the blue and red lotus rely on the power of sight, owing to the abundant light, showered by the sun, to attract their pollinators, such as bees, the night bloomers like the golden champak, use the power of scent, to pull in their specific pollinators, such as moths! It’s interesting how this verse connects so very delicately, the opening and closing of flower buds to the lady’s delight when the man is near and her angst when he is away. Another instance of the Sangam poets superior ability of seeing one in the world and the world in one!