Akannuru 2 Poet Kapilar, Kurinji Thinai - What the heroines friend said to the hero

Man from the land where

banana trees with lush leaves yield big
bunches of tree-ripened sweet fruits
that satiate those who eat them,
where jackfruit trees on the mountain slopes
put out very sweet fruits that cannot
be eaten in abundance because of their sweetness,
where the innocent male monkey drinks the water
from the big spring near the ancient boulders
along with fermented honey and lies on
the flower beds in bliss,
unable to climb the sandalwood tree
spread with pepper vines,
and experiencing unexpected pleasures.
Are expected pleasures rare to you?
My very beautiful friend with bamboo like shoulders,
is constantly thinking about you,
such is her love.
Her father has appointed a guard
to watch her,
you can come to her at night
when he is tired and not on guard.
The vengai trees surrounded by
verdant bushes have put out bright flowers in clusters,
The great white moon reigns in fullness.
Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 4, Poet Kurungudi Maruthanar Mullai Thinai What the heroines friend said to the heroine
Mullai buds with pointed tips appeared,
thetra tree buds and dark-trunked kondrai tree buds
opened their tight petals and bloomed,
huge male deer with horns like twisted iron
romped around and played in the gravel pits,
the land was renewed as it got rid of dryness,
the skies thundered and sprinkled down rains,
and the forests become beautiful again.
Your man from the hilly country
is near the mountain ranges
east of the loud town of Uranthai,
where densely petaled kanthal leaves have bloomed,
and have spread their fragrance,
and he is thinking of you.
Horses with curved manes
and bristled hair on their necks
make noises as the reins sway.
Fearing the hum of honey bees living with their mates in the groves,
he stops the bells jingling by tying their clappers,
and rides his chariot with esteem.
My friend with beautiful bracelets!
please get rid of your fear. Translated by Vaidehi
Akananuru 10, Ammovanar, Neythal Thinai What the heroines friend said to the hero
Man from the seashore where water
from the widespread ocean sprays
on shores where old punnai trees grow,
their big bent dark branches filled
with delicate new buds
that look like schools of fish!
She with her kuvalai-like darkened eyes
cries in sorrow since you are thinking
about leaving her.
Lord! Do a good thing!
Take her away when you go

and make her yours.

Her beauty is like that of the bright
and flourishing Thondi town
where eastern winds and splashing waves
bring sand to the shores,
and fishermen with old boats and new nets
bring sword fish to share with those
in their fragrance-filled settlement. Translated by Vaidehi
Akananuru 12, Poet Kapilar, Kurinji thinai What the heroines friend said to the hero The heroines friend hints to the hero to
come and marry her friend, and to stop coming at night through dangerous paths. The vengai flowers are yellow with dark spots.
They are described in many poems where they fall on the boulders below and give the appearance of tigers, scaring elephants.
Mother loves her fiercely like shes her own eyes
our father cannot bear to see her walk
My little daughter, why are you hurting your
beautiful feet by walking?, he asks her.
our friendship is sweet and without separation,
and we are like the two-headed bird with one body.
The girls who guard the millet fields make loud noises
without a break,
the parrots are talking and the squirrels
are playing on the big branches
of the jackfruit trees that have good fruits
near the roots.
The huts that the kuravars have built
are covered with honey-filled vengai flowers
The dot-faced elephant thinks that they are tigers
and goes away in fear attacking bamboo trees
in the cloud covered mountains.
Man from this good mountain country!
If you come through such a path at night
this delicate girl will not live. Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 16 Poet Cakalacanr What the heroine said to her husband, about his courtesan
His palms as red
as the petals of a lotus
showing its pollen-covered filaments as it blooms in stagnant water
where otters live,
his pretty mouth red as coral,
his unclear words delightful,
our gold-bangled son whom anyone would love
was playing in the street with his toy chariot.
When she saw that he was alone,
that woman with her bright teeth approached
and, as no one was looking,
thinking how like his father he was
she took him to her young breasts
adorned with ornaments and heavy with gold
and said happily, Come my life
I saw her standing there.
I did not leave but said,
Beautiful woman, dont be shy.
You are his mother too.
And quickly I embraced her.
Seeing her then as she stood ashamed,
looking down as if she were a thief
and scratching the ground with her toe,
how, my lord, could I not love her?
who was like the goddess of chastity
full of power in the heavens,
who was like the mother of your son. Translated by George Hart
Akannuru 18, Poet Kapilar, Kurinji thinai What the heroines friend said to the hero
Beautiful spent flowers drop down

and cover the fierce forest stream

hiding the waters colors,
crocodiles live there, and
the flow swirls and crashes on the tall rocks.
The stream floods and the dreadful water
hits and drags a fierce elephant in musk.
Great man from the tall mountains!
You are bold and unafraid like a strong boar,
and you cross the difficult shores at night.
If something bad happens to you one day,
my friend will not live the following day.
Even those who come regularly on that path,
could suffer sometimes.
We are distressed and sad about your night visits.
If you come during the day, you can join her
in our fruit-filled orchard near the cuved honeycomb
filled mountains with tall cliffs,
under the dense kantal trees near the beautiful bushes.
In the wide mountain ranges,
curved bamboo has spaces between the nodes.
Similarly, my friend with wide delicate shoulders
is protected by her mother. Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 20, Poet Ulochanr, Neythal thinai What the heroine said to her friend
My father gave me fatty fish to dry,
and I spread it on the wide seashore,
rested in the sweet shade of the punnai tree
and chased the birds that tried to steal it.
My friends and I hung a thzhai fiber rope swing
from the tall gnzhal tree and played
on the salty shores where the red crabs dig deep holes
and the eastern winds create sand dunes.
We did kuravai dances together,
played on the white waves,
and wore beautiful skirts
made from many flowers and fresh leaves.
We were slandered by the terrible
gossip-monger ladies in this town
because we played often on these shores.
Mother heard their harsh words
and has imposed restrictions on me,
afraid that my lover
will ride in his chariot with beautiful horses
on the moon like white beach sand to see me
at any time of the day or night.
What can I do now?
Translation by Vaidehi
Akannuru 40, Poet Kunriyanr, Neythal thinai What the heroine told her friend
In the evening on the seashore,
water-lilies bloom on the salt ponds,
blue-colored wide ocean roars,
herons with delicate wings eat fish
and fly back to flourishing Punnai tree nests,
bees swarm in the evening eastern winds
that bring spreading grief
as the thazhai plant bends and sways,
and my loving heart is crushed.
He has caused pain by leaving,
and even if he stays away,
my friendship with him remains the same.
In the fields, the thannumai drums beat
behind those who cut the white paddy,
and scares the big-footed pelicans
and they fly to the nearby palm trees

raising clasped horn-like sounds.

My heart is with my lord of the seashore
resting on his sweet chest, my friend. Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 45, Poet Velli Veethiyar, Plai thinai What the heroine said to her friend
My lover went to the forest where the mature seedpods of the dry vakai trees
rattle at regular intervals like musicians drums.
He went through the lonely and difficult paths where tigers
prance around and kill tall elephants.
My dark skin has tightly knit sallow spots,
as beautiful as peerkai flowers.
The gossip in this town is louder
than the music that was played
when Anni cut Thithians special punnai tree
in the Paranthalai battle field.
Separated from my lover and searching for him,
I am in pain like Athimanthi.
I am like a fort with broken ramparts
after losing the sea battle with Cheran in his golden garland.
Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 82 Poet Kapilar What the heroine said about the hero
Many saw him as he stood with a flowering garland in his chest
near the entrance of the field of ripe millet
and asked which way the elephant he was fighting had gone,
carefully choosing an arrow
and holding in his hand his strong, well-shaped bow,
he from a land
where the summer westwind makes flute music
in the shining holes bored by bees in swaying bamboo,
where the pleasant sound of cool waters dropping from a waterfall
is the thick voice of many concert drums,
where the harsh cries of a herd of deer are the brass trumpets,
where the bees on the flowering mountain slopes are the lutes,
and where,
as an audiene of monkeys looks on with delight,
a peacock swaying happily
looks like a dancing woman entering the stage.
Friend, of all those who saw him,
why am I the only one who,
lying on my bed in the night with its difficult darkness,
my eyes streaming tears,
feel my arms grow thin? Translated by George Hart
Akannuru 86, Nallavoor Kizhr, Marutham Thinai What the hero said to the heroines friend The hero is returning home after
visiting his concubine. The heroines friend refuses him entry. Thats when he utters these words and reminds his wifes friend of
their beautiful wedding.
On our wedding day,
fresh riverbank sand was spread
on the front yard,
a cool big pavilion was put up
with rows of posts,
and garlands were strung on them.
The house was lit bright.
Guests were fed huge balls of rice
cooked tenderly with uzhunthu.
It was an auspicious day when the
curved white moon was away from the
evil planets,
and Rohini was in the sky.
When darkness vanished and
beautiful morning arrived,

Wise old women carried new

pots of water,
and walked behind one another
amidst the noisy crowd.
Four bright jeweled women who bore sons
blessed her, Be chaste, be of good help,
and be a close partner to him, they said,
as they sprinked water with wet-petaled flowers
and rice on her thick dark hair.
Relatives who came for the festivities
adviced her to be a good wife,
as they gave her to me.
That night when we were alone
and ready for our union,
she sat with her back curved.
She in her new clothing was shy
as I embraced her with desire
and removed her hands
which covered her face and
said to her,
Tell me without fear
what is in your heart,
She smiled sweetly
as her red gem set bright earrings moved,
and she seemed happy in her heart.
She pulled her face away from me,
bent her head,
gave innocent glances of a deer,
that dark girl with her splendid wet hair. Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 98, Poet Veri Pdiya Kmakanniyr, Kurinji thinai What the heroine said to her friend
My friend! My man from the lush mountain slopes,
used to give me pleasure without hatred.
Now he gives me sorrow which can go away
only if I embrace him my lord of the mountain country.
Not knowing this, mother who saw my beautifully made
ornamental bangles slip away from my wasting hands,
felt helpless, and
asked the elderly fortune tellers who are adept liars,
about curing my affliction.
They said that this was caused by Murugan,
and that the velan had to come and heal me with rituals.
My mother wanted me to become my beautiful old self,
and arranged for the velan to dance to the tune
of many sweet musical instruments
in our well constructed elegant house which looks like a painting.
A big pavilion was erected and white palm leaves and kadamba flowers
were hung on Murugans spear
and the velan priest uttered the names of the powerful Murugan
and danced the veriyttam.
What could I do?
If women are not healed by these rituals, people will blame them
for their secret love.
If I am back to my normal self, my lover from the rich mountain country
will say that I with a lot of bangles, am not suffering from the pain of separation.
If that happens, I will not live. Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 111, Poet Plai Pdiya Perunkadunko, Plai Thinai - What the heroines friend said to the Hero
Not happy with what he has,
piqued by the arrowy words
of cynics, he went.

But hell come back.

Patience, my girl.
He went into the woods
on the Otai hills
where
like banners on a royal elephant
dry nemai trees carry spiderwebs
that shiver in the wind,
and jungle elephants
grow faint and lean
in the heat,
mistake the webs for clouds,
lift long trunks painfully,
breaths bellowing in chorus
like trumpets for ritual dancers,
where
the tenacious wolf
drags at the carcass of the wild pig
he killed,
and vultures drink the ooze of blood,
their red ears
like night lanterns that keep watch
in a field of wounded warrions.
Over such a mountain peak,
dipping into the valley of skies,
he went. Translated by A.K. Ramanujan
Akannuru 136 Poet Vitruru Mueyinanr What the hero said about his wedding night
They served white rice full of ghee and meat,
perfectly prepared.
Their generosity unbounded, they honored their guests.
As omens fell together favorably, as the sky shone with clear light,
and as the moon came together auspiciously with the wagon constellation,
they readied the marriage house and worshipped the god,
Then the great kettle drum roared with the loud marriage drum;
the girls who had washed her for marriage looked on,
their flowerlike eyes unwinking, and hid themselves;
and her relatives put on her a white thread
and the cool fragrant buds of the tuber arukai,
whose petals spread dark as polished sapphires
in valleys where large calves
graze on the forked, dull leaves of vakai plants
with soft flowers.
And they made her lovely with pure garments.
Then they came, arousing my desire,
and they gave her to me beautiful with ornaments
and wiped off her sweat
in that enclosure where the sound of marriage was like the rain.
That night she, her chastity perfect,
as close to me as my body to my lfe,
covered herself with her still unwrinkled garment.
I said, Open it just a little
so that the breeze can dry the sweat
from your hot forehead, bright as a crescent moon;
and, my heart full of desire, I pulled off her garment.
Her form exposed glistened like an unsheathed sword,
and she, unable to hide,
took off her bright garland of lilies that held her braids
and covered herself
with the darkness of her thick black hair

full of flowers humming with bees,

and, ashamed, begged and pleaded with me.

Translated by George Hart

Akannuru Poem 318, Poet Kapilar, Kurinji Thinai What the heroine said to the hero
Forest animals wander
and elephants roam.
In the skys high places
thunder rumbles.
But you come alone
in the night
along the narrow paths
of snakes and tigers,
O man of the mountain country,
that country of fruitful hills,
ancient conquests,
and wide spaces,
where the music of waterfalls
mingles with bee sounds
like drums with lute-strings.
If you wish to marry me, you can.
But one thing: do not come
along those narrow paths;
though, if you must, please
when you leave here
and reach your village in the hills
think of us
living in anxiety here,
and get that long horn you use
to signal your hounds
and hunters
straying in the bamboo jungle. Translated by A.K. Ramanujan
Akananuru 324, Poet Okkur Masathiyar, Mullai Thinai What the chariot passengers, who were with the hero said
The soft-spoken woman with delicate bamboo-like shoulders
and perfectly made jewels will celebrate today, it appears.
Rains drops that look like young parrots down feathers,
have fallen down and the forest is full of lush green bushes.
In the water-filled springs that are like drums eyes,
rain droplets hit the buds and they tremble, and
look like the bubbles that form and burst in the muddy soil.
Fragrant flowers drop down from the tree branches in the winds,
and they spread and fall like the wings of the kingfisher.
Flowers that bees frequent are chopped by the chariot wheels,
and they flow in the rain streams that drag them down,
and they look like long snakes swimming in the fast waters.
Mullai flowering evening is here and the esteemed mans chariot
is about to enter the town.
Translated by Vaidehi
Akannuru 362, Poet Velli Veethiyar, Kurinji thinai What the heroine said to her friend
Greetings my friend!
The cold water that flows out of the mountain cracks
filled with snakes
rushes through the small crevices filled with honey,
and flows down to fill the streams.
A tiger gored by an elephant with white tusks
is injured and hides in a rocky cave,
his mate with sharp claws that look like murukkarumpu flowers
guards the entrance which is unapproachable.

My lover does not fear that its night,

he carries his victorious spear,
the nice man who comes with desire.
If he changes his mind and leaves,
I will not live. Why should I?
Like the garland that hangs on my chest
with beautiful yellow spots between my breasts,
like the cool water droplets that hang on the trees
in the tall mountain forest groves,
and like the splendid white waterfalls,
the moon spreads its rays and covers the earth. Translated by Vaidehi
Akananuru 384, Poet Okkur Masathiyar, Mullai Thinai What the chariot passengers, who were with the hero said
I was with the king when we finished the difficult war business,
and I was in love.
I got on the big chariot, and I was aware of that,
but unaware that I would get a reward for that.
We passed through the mullai land where young rabbits
frolic in the millet fields with curved grain stalks,
and you stopped the chariot in front of the house
where my delicate natured woman lives, and said,
Get down, and I was surprised at your words.
And I said,
Did you tie natures wind as horses to the chariot?
Did your mind act like a swift deer?
Tell me, Long live you Charioteer!
After he spoke,
the esteemed man with a mountain-like chest,
hugged his charioteer
and led him into the house,
his woman with fine jewels also received a gift. Translated by Vaidehi
Akananuru 396, Poet Paranar, Marutham Thinai What the concubine said she mentions the Cheran king defeating the Aryans
and carving their bow symbol on the Himalayas
I am holding on to you, my lord,
do not leave me.
When the people of Pzhi city who had
yzh music in their streets
rebelled against Nannan having chariot flags
and gold finials,
y Eyinan protected him against the
astute warrior Mignili and gave up his life.
You made a promise
before the destructive gods
holding my delicate forearms,
and you have gone past those words.
For my anxious heart to become better
I would like to embrace your chest.
You have refused that,
and become a stranger.
Now I will not let you go.
Like Kaveri river which fell in love with
the beautiful dancer Athi and took him away
from his wife thimanthi,
your wife is trying to remove you from me.
I will not be afraid to stay here.
If you leave, you need to return my beauty,

one like Vanji city of the victorious Cheras

who attacked the trembling Aryans
and carved their bow symbol
on the ancient northern mountains,
and then leave me. Translated by Vaidehi