In this episode, we perceive a moment of understanding of another’s motivation, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 155, penned by Paalai Paadiya Perunkadunko. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse etches the nature of this domain with a striking simile.

“அறன்கடைப் படாஅ வாழ்க்கையும், என்றும்
பிறன்கடைச் செலாஅச் செல்வமும், இரண்டும்
பொருளின் ஆகும், புனையிழை!” என்று, நம்
இருள் ஏர் ஐம்பால் நீவியோரே
நோய் நாம் உழக்குவம்ஆயினும், தாம் தம்
செய் வினை முடிக்க, தோழி! பல்வயின்
பய நிரை சேர்ந்த பாண் நாட்டு ஆங்கண்
நெடு விளிக் கோவலர் கூவல் தோண்டிய
கொடு வாய்ப் பத்தல் வார்ந்து உகு சிறு குழி,
நீர் காய் வருத்தமொடு சேர்விடம் பெறாது
பெருங் களிறு மிதித்த அடியகத்து, இரும் புலி
ஒதுங்குவன கழிந்த செதும்பல் ஈர் வழி,
செயிர் தீர் நாவின் வயிரியர் பின்றை
மண் ஆர் முழவின் கண்ணகத்து அசைத்த
விரல் ஊன்று வடுவின் தோன்றும்
மரல் வாடு மருங்கின் மலை இறந்தோரே.

In this trip to the drylands, we hear the lady say these words to her confidante, after the man had parted away from her, in search of wealth:

“Saying, “To live a life, without erring in justice, and to have the prosperity, ensuring never to seek in the house of another, both are possible only by seeking wealth, O maiden, wearing well-etched ornaments!”, he caressed my beautiful, five-part tresses, in the hue of darkness. In the ‘Paan’ country, having many different breeds of useful cattle, cowherds, known for their long whistles, have dug up wells, and with their curved-mouth vessels, draw and pour out water in the little pits. Seeing those dried pits, bereft of water, with much sadness, not finding a spot to rest and refresh, a huge elephant walks away. Stepping on the footprints of that elephant, a tiger treads through those moist and muddy spaces, leaving marks, which appear akin to impressions, made by the fingers of perfect-tongued ‘Vayiriyar’ musicians, on the vibrating skin of mud-streaked drums, hanging on their backs, in those mountains, where even the sturdy hemp fades. It’s to such a place that he has left to, and even if I were to languish, owing to this affliction of parting, let him complete his intended mission, my friend!”

Time for another walk through this formidable landscape! The lady starts by explaining the reasons the man had given to her before he parted away, speaking of how it was important to live a life of justice and have prosperity so that they never have to go seeking in another’s abode, and this was possible only with wealth. He had said this with much tenderness, caressing her tresses and left away, the lady describes. Then, she moves on to talk about where he’s gone and this happens to be a place in the country of ‘Paanan’, known for its tribe of cowherds and their diverse cattle. To take care of these beings in the sweltering summer, the cowherds had dug up wells and were known to pour water into little pits. Knowing the presence of these comforts, wild animals such as elephants used to arrive there, but such was the heat at that time that these pits were all dried up and that elephant would walk away in disappointment. Later a tiger which comes there, tracks the footprints of the elephant and walks away, leaving its own footmarks upon that muddy space. This, the lady connects to the impressions of the drummers’ fingers on the clay-coated leather of their drums, and concludes by declaring that the man had left to such a desolate place, where even the sturdy hemp bushes cannot sustain, and no matter how much she suffers, she sends out a wish for him to complete the mission he set out to accomplish!

Thus, we see the lady, going beyond her own pain, and understanding the man’s motivation and importance of doing what he has to do. No better cure in that moment of languishing about one’s condition than to see the situation from the eyes of the other!