Kalithogai 21 – Stance of wealth

Sangam Lit

In this episode, we perceive the changing stance of the man, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 21, penned by the Chera King Paalai Paadiya Perunkadunko. The verse is situated in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’ and depicts the nature of wealth.

‘பால் மருள் மருப்பின், உரல் புரை பாவு அடி,
ஈர் நறுங் கமழ் கடாஅத்து, இனம் பிரி ஒருத்தல்
ஆறு கடி கொள்ளும் வேறு புலம் படர்ந்து,
பொருள்வயிற் பிரிதல் வேண்டும்’ என்னும்
அருள் இல் சொல்லும், நீ சொல்லினையே;
நன்னர் நறு நுதல் நயந்தனை நீவி,
நின்னின் பிரியலன், அஞ்சல் ஓம்பு’ என்னும்
நன்னர் மொழியும் நீ மொழிந்தனையே:
அவற்றுள் யாவோ வாயின? மாஅல் மகனே!
‘கிழவர் இன்னோர்’ என்னாது, பொருள்தான்,
பழ வினை மருங்கின் பெயர்பு பெயர்பு உறையும்;
அன்ன பொருள்வயிற் பிரிவோய் நின் இன்று
இமைப்புவரை வாழாள் மடவோள்
அமைக் கவின் கொண்ட தோள் இணை மறந்தே.

Again, the confidante renders her refusal to the man’s plans. The words can be translated as follows:

“With tusks as white as milk, huge feet akin to pestles, and flowing with moist and fragrant musth, a male elephant separated from its herd guards the path in that faraway land. Now, you say these words without grace, ‘I wish to part away thither, for the sake of wealth’; Caressing her fragrant forehead with love, back then, you said those fine words to her, ‘I shall never ever part away from you. Fear not!’. Of these two, which is true, O confused man? Without ever declaring, ‘So-and-so is my forever leader’, wealth keeps switching loyalties, owing to the nature of a person’s old deeds. For the sake of this wealth, you wish to part away from this naive maiden, forgetting the companionship of her arms with etched beauty, she who cannot live without you, even for the blink of an eye!”

Let’s delve into the details. The verse is situated in the context of the man’s parting after marriage and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the man. She starts by describing the land where the man intends to travel. To do that, she sketches the image of a lone male elephant, with milk-white tusks, and pestle-like feet, separated from its herd, in the state of musth or heat. In short, a dangerous elephant, not in control of itself. The confidante connects this animal to the drylands saying this animal can be seen seizing the path where the man intends to part away to. She turns to him and says that he has declared his intention to leave to this very path now. Recollecting his time of courtship with the lady, the confidante mentions how he had promised he would never part from the lady. Seems like these Sangam chaps will say anything to win their girl! Returning, the confidante now holds it against him, and asks him, which of these statements is the truth.

After that piercing question, the confidante goes on to talk about the nature of wealth. Wealth is not a loyal servant, who will remain with one person till the end, she declares. It’s something that will keep changing depending on one’s deeds. She turns to the man and asks why he should go in search of something so transient as this wealth, leaving behind the delicate lady, who cannot bear to be apart from the man, even for a single moment!

Yet again, the lady is portrayed as if the man were her breath, and if he were to part, it would be the end! The striking facet of this verse though is the confidante’s depiction of the nature of wealth and how it varies depending on one’s deeds. In this statement, lies the seed of the quintessential Indian concept of Karma. While in a religious context, this invokes past births, to put it in a relatable way, this philosophy declares that ‘whatever we do, be it good or bad, it will have an influential effect on our lives ultimately’. And thus, through this simple verse, we come to understand the subtleties of the Sangam people’s philosophical orientations!