Kalithogai 87 – Sulk and Soothe

Sangam Lit

In this episode, we encounter an animated exchange between the lady and the man, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 87, penned by Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. The verse is situated in the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and sketches a situation of domestic conflict.

தலைவி
ஒரூஉ நீ; எம் கூந்தல் கொள்ளல் யாம் நின்னை
வெரூஉதும் காணுங்கடை

தலைவன்
தெரியிழாய்! செய் தவறு இல்வழி, யாங்குச் சினவுவாய்,
மெய் பிரிந்து, அன்னவர்மாட்டு?

தலைவி
ஏடா! நினக்குத் தவறு உண்டோ? நீ வீடு பெற்றாய்
இமைப்பின் இதழ் மறைபு ஆங்கே கெடுதி;
நிலைப் பால் அறியினும், நின் நொந்து நின்னைப்
புலப்பார் உடையர் தவறு

தலைவன்
அணைத் தோளாய்! தீயாரைப் போல, திறன் இன்று உடற்றுதி;
காயும் தவறு இலேன் யான்

தோழி
மான் நோக்கி! நீ அழ நீத்தவன் ஆனாது
நாணிலன்ஆயின், நலிதந்து அவன்வயின்
ஊடுதல் என்னோ, இனி?

தலைவி நெஞ்சொடு கூறல்
‘இனி யாதும் மீக்கூற்றம் யாம் இலம்’ என்னும்
தகையது காண்டைப்பாய், நெஞ்சே! பனி ஆனாப்
பாடு இல் கண் பாயல் கொள.

A rare short song amidst the Kalithogai verses. The words can be translated as follows:

“Lady:
You step aside! Do not caress my tresses. I’m scared when I see you!

Man:
O maiden wearing well-etched ornaments! Why are you angry with me when I have done nothing wrong in the manner of parting away for the sake of those others?

Lady:
Hey you! Is there anything that would appear a fault in your eyes? You abandoned me in the blink of an eye and parted away thither. Even after knowing your true nature, those who lament about you and sulk with you are the ones at fault!

Man:
O maiden with soft arms! As if I were a bad person, you get so furious with me when I have done nothing wrong.

Confidante:
O maiden with a deer’s gaze! If he, who parted away, leaving you in tears, is someone who is shameless, what is the point of suffering and sulking on account of his behaviour now?

Lady to her heart:
Heed, o heart! ‘There is nothing more to be said’ is the worthy conclusion now! Why don’t you let my sleepless eyes, pouring with endless tears, sleep a little?”

Let’s explore the details. The verse is situated in the context of a love-quarrel between a man and a lady, owing to the man’s seeking of courtesans. These words are a series of exchanges between the lady and the man with an intervention by the lady’s confidante. The lady starts by asking the man to move aside and not touch her tresses, and the man asks her why she was so angry when he had not gone to the courtesans or done anything wrong. The lady scornfully replies that nothing would be wrong in the man’s eyes. The only wrong would be in those, who attempt to sulk and quarrel with him, knowing his true nature. The man continues pretending that he has done nothing wrong. Seeing these back and forth exchanges, the confidante tells the lady if the man is so shameless, what is the use of sulking with him. Hearing this, the lady turns to her heart and says that a conclusion has been reached that there is no point in saying anything more, and she begs her heart to find a way to bring sleep to her tear-filled, sleepless eyes! In short, the verse echoes the common occurrence of accusations, denials and eventual acceptance!