In this episode, we perceive the reasons outlined for a person’s course of action, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 129, penned by Kudavayil Keeraththanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse portrays various scenes in this harsh domain.



”உள்ளல் வேண்டும் ஒழிந்த பின்” எனநள்ளென் கங்குல் நடுங்கு துணை ஆயவர்நின் மறந்து உறைதல் யாவது? ”புல் மறைந்துஅலங்கல் வான் கழை உதிர்நெல் நோக்கி,கலை பிணை விளிக்கும் கானத்து ஆங்கண்,கல் சேர்பு இருந்த கதுவாய்க் குரம்பைத்தாழிமுதற் கலித்த கோழிலைப் பருத்திப்பொதி வயிற்று இளங் காய் பேடை ஊட்டி,போகில் பிளந்திட்ட பொங்கல் வெண் காழ்நல்கூர் பெண்டிர் அல்கற் கூட்டும்கலங்குமுனைச் சீறூர் கை தலைவைப்ப,கொழுப்பு ஆ தின்ற கூர்ம் படை மழவர்,செருப்புடை அடியர், தெண் சுனை மண்டும்அருஞ் சுரம் அரியஅல்ல; வார் கோல்திருந்து இழைப் பணைத் தோள், தேன் நாறு கதுப்பின்,குவளை உண்கண், இவளொடு செலற்கு” எனநெஞ்சு வாய் அவிழ்ந்தனர் காதலர்அம் சில் ஓதி ஆயிழை! நமக்கே.
Back to the drylands and we get to meet the people and animals inhabiting this space, as we listen to the confidante render these words to the lady, as the man continues to remain parted away, after leaving in search of wealth:
“Declaring with anxiety, ‘I will surely end up thinking with lament, about her after parting away’, the one who was your companion in the darkness of the night trembled. As the grass was left no more, looking at the shed grains of the swaying bamboo, the male deer calls out to its female in the jungle, where in a dilapidated hut, amidst a rocky surrounding, near a big urn, the thick-leaved cotton plant flourishes. Taking the unripe fruit of the cotton plant, with a bulging belly, a bird splits it open to feed its mate, and throws the furry white seeds, which are collected by impoverished women, to be eaten later, in that little hamlet, near a raging battlefield. Making this hamlet shout out in alarm, robbers, wearing footwear and holding sharp spears, steal and feed on their fat cows and drink from the clear springs in the formidable wastelands. ’Such places are harsh for the maiden, wearing neat rows of well-etched ornaments, having bamboo-like arms, honey-fragrant tresses, and kohl-streaked eyes, akin to blue lilies, to traverse with me’, your lover had said, expressing the truth in his heart to us, O maiden wearing exquisite ornaments and having beautiful, soft hair. How is it possible for him to forget you and stay away?”
Time to brave the dangers of the drylands and explore more! The confidante starts by recollecting the words the man said before he left predicting that for sure he’s going to think about the lady and worry endlessly after he leaves. This is followed by a lengthy description of the drylands, where first we see a male deer calling out to its mate the moment it glimpses a few shed grains of the swaying bamboo, as there’s no more grass left for them to graze on. Then the focus shifts to a broken-down old hut, in a rocky space, where a cotton plant is sprouting near an urn, and a bird nabs the unripe fruit, pecks it open and feeds its mate, throwing away the white seeds. These are then collected by poor women, who have nothing else to eat in that little hamlet, which is in such a ruined state, because it’s just seen a battle break out near it. The troubles of this hamlet are not over, and any people left behind are left to scream in agony by the robbers, who come there to steal the cattle and feed on its meat, and then drink up cool waters. Two interesting facts are mentioned about this ancient tribe of people, in that they used to eat the meat of cattle, and two, their footwear is pointedly referred to, telling us that this is no commonplace occurrence. Perhaps it was an object of necessity for these robbers, when traversing those dry and harsh wastelands!
Returning, we find the confidante revealing that it was the man, who has been narrating this long description of the drylands space, only to say such a domain would be hard for the delicate lady to cross along with him. She then concludes with the pointed question as to how the man, who had thought with so much care and concern, for the lady, could possibly stay away without returning. Words of consolation from this darling friend again!
The subtle highlight in this narrative appears in how, be it in the depiction of the deer calling its doe or the bird feeding its hen, the care of the male towards its mate shines so brightly, letting the confidante dip her brush in the hues of these expressions, and paint the streaks of the man’s love and care on the lady’s heart! 

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