In this episode, we listen to the distressed response to an accusation, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 186, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated amidst the lush lotus-filled ponds of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and portrays the beauty and wealth of an ancient town.

வானம் வேண்டா வறன்இல் வாழ்க்கை
நோன் ஞாண் வினைஞர் கோள் அறிந்து ஈர்க்கும்
மீன் முதிர் இலஞ்சிக் கலித்த தாமரை
நீர்மிசை நிவந்த நெடுந் தாள் அகல் இலை
இருங் கயம் துளங்க, கால் உறுதொறும்
பெருங் களிற்றுச் செவியின் அலைக்கும் ஊரனொடு
எழுந்த கௌவையோ பெரிதே; நட்பே,
கொழுங் கோல் வேழத்துப் புணை துணையாகப்
புனல் ஆடு கேண்மை அனைத்தே; அவனே,
ஒண் தொடி மகளிர் பண்டை யாழ் பாட,
ஈர்ந் தண் முழவின் எறிகுணில் விதிர்ப்ப,
தண் நறுஞ் சாந்தம் கமழும் தோள் மணந்து,
இன்னும் பிறள் வயினானே; மனையோள்
எம்மொடு புலக்கும் என்ப; வென் வேல்,
மாரி அம்பின், மழைத்தோற் பழையன்
காவிரி வைப்பின் போஒர் அன்ன, என்
செறிவளை உடைத்தலோ இலெனே; உரிதினின்
யாம் தன் பகையேம்அல்லேம்; சேர்ந்தோர்
திரு நுதல் பசப்ப நீங்கும்
கொழுநனும் சாலும், தன் உடன் உறை பகையே.

We go on a trip full of twists and turns as we listen to the words of a courtesan, said in the earshot of the lady’s friends, conveying a pointed message about the man to the lady:

“Leading a life without any poverty, one that seeks not the favour of the skies, fisherfolk pull their sturdy nets woven with strong threads, knowing the catch is caught, in the ponds, brimming with fish. The tall-stalked, wide leaf of the flourishing lotus that floats atop the waters of the dark pond, flutters, when touched by the wind, akin to the swaying ear of a huge elephant, in the town of the lord.

The rumours that have risen about my relationship with him is huge indeed; Whereas the extent of his affection for me is only akin to the act of holding on to a raft of thick-stemmed reeds, when playing in the river stream; As maiden wearing shining bangles sing along to the tune of the ancient lute, as moist and cool drums are struck with sticks, the man’s shoulders, wafting with the scent of cool and fragrant sandalwood, would now be embracing another woman, he’s entranced with.

They say his wife is furious with me; Akin to the town of Po-or, watered by the gushing Kaveri, ruled by Palaiyan, renowned for his cloud-like shields, rain-like arrows and white spears, are my beautiful bangles. I have not broken my bangles in anger; Honestly, I’m not her enemy; The one who parts away, leaving the fine foreheads of those he united to be filled with pallor, that rich lord is the right person to be called as the enemy, one within her own abode!”

Time to fish in the ponds of this lush landscape! The courtesan starts with a description of the man’s town, and to do that, she brings forth a certain community of people, whom she describes as leading a life that does not know poverty, for they are fisherfolk and they don’t have to depend on the skies for their wealth and prosperity, a statement which implicitly contrasts them with another group of people in that landscape, those who follow the occupation of farming. After that philosophical statement about their work, the courtesan zooms on to the sturdy nets in their hands and the way they are hauling the fish by pulling their nets out of the ponds. She describes these ponds as brimming with water, filled with lotus flowers and leaves, whose movement in the breeze, she specifically places in parallel with that of the swaying ears of a huge elephant. 

After that picturesque description of the man’s town, the courtesan turns her attention to the man himself and describes how gossip about her relationship with him had spread all around town. But in reality, the way the man had treated her was nothing more than how someone would hold on to a raft, made of strong reeds, when playing in the gushing river stream, and then abandoning it, once they are done with their play. She reveals how at the very moment the man was enjoying the company of some other courtesan, embracing her and dancing to the songs of the maiden, accompanied by the music of ancient lutes. 

The courtesan goes on to talk about what she has just heard, about how the man’s wife, was mad at her, when he was romping around elsewhere. She then describes a rich and handsome town, one called ‘Po-or’, ruled by a chieftain named Pazhaiyan, renowned for his battle-efficient army of spears, arrows and shields. She has summoned this town only to place it in parallel to her own bangles. She talks about how the lady’s anger had not made her break those bangles of hers in oath and fury. The courtesan concludes by pointing out that the real enemy of the lady was not her, but the lady’s own husband, the lord of the town!

A perfect illustration of a place where men are few, and where power and wealth accumulates in their very hands. The striking aspect of this verse is the way it tells us to pause in our moments of anger and consider who is to be blamed truly. Often, we avoid blaming ourselves or those close to us, and instead direct the anger at those others, whom we think are the cause of our troubles! Just the way this courtesan points out, it would bring great clarity to ponder on the question, ‘Who is the enemy here?’