Aganaanooru 366 – Field of Fury

In this episode, we perceive words about a person’s state of mind, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 366, penned by Kudavayil Keerathanaar. The verse is situated amidst the lush paddy fields of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and presents a unique scene of conflict between people from two different professions.

தாழ் சினை மருதம் தகை பெறக் கவினிய
நீர் சூழ் வியன் களம் பொலிய, போர்பு அழித்து,
கள் ஆர் களமர் பகடு தலை மாற்றி,
கடுங் காற்று எறிய, போகிய துரும்பு உடன்
காயல் சிறு தடிக் கண் கெடப் பாய்தலின்,
இரு நீர்ப் பரப்பின் பனித் துறைப் பரதவர்
தீம் பொழி வெள் உப்புச் சிதைதலின், சினைஇ,
கழனி உழவரொடு மாறு எதிர்ந்து, மயங்கி,
இருஞ் சேற்று அள்ளல் எறி செருக் கண்டு,
நரை மூதாளர் கை பிணி விடுத்து,
நனை முதிர் தேறல் நுளையர்க்கு ஈயும்
பொலம் பூண் எவ்வி நீழல் அன்ன,
நலம் பெறு பணைத் தோள், நல் நுதல் அரிவையொடு,
மணம் கமழ் தண் பொழில் அல்கி, நெருநை
நீ தற் பிழைத்தமை அறிந்து,
கலுழ்ந்த கண்ணள், எம் அணங்கு அன்னாளே.

In this trip to the land of plenty, we see nerves flare and sparks fly, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, when he returns after courting a courtesan, seeking entry into the lady’s house:

“In that water-enveloped, wide field, adorned by Arjuna trees, with low lying branches, blooming with beauty, spreading haystacks, those farmers, who delight in fine toddy, let bulls stomp around to thresh their grain. As fierce winds blow, the husk flies and spreads around the drying patches in the salt pan. As their fine, white salt gets ruined because of this, the fishermen, who live on the cool shores of the huge ocean, become furious, and rise up in anger against farmers in the field. Seeing the conflict bursting out in the battleground of that dark, muddy field, wise men with greying hair, separate the fighting parties, and offer well-aged nectar to the fisherfolk in the town of ‘Neezhal’, ruled by ‘Evvi’, clad in golden ornaments. Akin to the beauty of this town, are the beautiful, bamboo-like arms of that maiden having a fine forehead, with whom you rested along, in the cool and fragrant shores yesterday. Knowing that you wronged her thus, the eyes of the one, who’s akin to a spirit, brim over with tears!”

Let’s explore this prosperous domain and learn more! The confidante starts with a detailed description of a place, where first we see a wide field, with the characteristic trees of this landscape. Here, farmers are threshing their harvested paddy grain by letting bulls walk through. At this time, a speedy wind blows through and because of this, the husk flies and settles on the fields of the salt pan nearby. It’s one of those rare mentions of both ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands’ and ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal’ landscape occurring close to each other! Returning, the fisherfolk, who are involved in the complementary work of making salt, get mad seeing their produce ruined. So, they head to the fields and pick up a fight with the farmers. Arriving at that conflict-ridden spot, wise old men separate the fighting folks and calm the newcomers by giving them sweet, filtered nectar, the confidante etches, mentioning that this is happening in the town of ‘Neezhal’, ruled by Evvi. Why this long description of this coast-farm city? Only to say, akin to the beauty of this city was the arms of the courtesan, the man had been spending time in the cool shores the previous day. The confidante concludes by saying that the lady had come to know of the man’s meandering with the courtesan, and that, much wounded, she had been wallowing in tears!

In essence, the confidante is telling the man that there’s no hope of reconciliation at the moment since the lady was mad and sad about the man’s actions! Apart from the usual rivalries, what’s striking in this verse is that scene of conflict between fishermen and farmers, and more importantly, the sweet resolution enacted by wise old members of the society, which present a vivid slice of life from the ancient past!