ABOUT THE POEM

The poem THE RELENTLESS CONQUEROR glorifies the overwhelming military power and fearsome reputation of a great king. His war-elephant, horse, spear, and brave warriors inspire such terror that enemies abandon all thoughts of resistance and retreat behind fortified defenses. Even after the enemies signal their unwillingness to fight and submit themselves, the king continues his relentless assault like Yama, the god of death. The poet emphasizes that the king's might is so irresistible that the enemy's prosperous land is destined for ruin and destruction. The poem thus celebrates the king's invincible strength, the valor of his army and the dreadful fear he instills in his foes.

THE RELENTLESS CONQUEROR

Those who saw

your mighty war-elephant advancing

barred their fortress gates

with heavy bolts

and withdrew within out of fear.

Those who watched

your horse thunder across the battlefield,

its hooves striking the fallen dead,

sealed their doorways

with thorn-fenced barricades.

Those who beheld

your spear, unshielded by any leather guard,

hastened to cover their own bodies

with coats of hide.

Those who saw

the noble scars of battle

upon the chests of your valiant warriors

left their arrows untouched,

resting idle in their quivers.

Yet you—

though your enemies have made known

their unwillingness to wage war,

offering even the smoke of white mustard seeds

as a sign of submission—

still descend upon them

like Yama, the Lord of Death.

And so,

the land of your foes,

once rich with harvest and life,

now stands trembling,

ready to collapse beneath the weight

of your relentless conquest.

PURANANURU - 98

POET: AVVAIYAR

PATRON:ADHIYAMAN NEDUMAN ANJI