AKAM 037
(37) pālai
- Lines (1-6) The works of farm-labourers
- (6-14) The food eaten by them
- (15-7) Description of early spring.
- (Friend!) At daybreak when there is bustle of people
who stir out for work the farmers who make an uproar
when they call labourers for work,
thresh the grain (with buffaloes and bulls)
and sift the straw from the paddy
in which process the light broken pieces of straw
rise from the unwinnowed heap of grain
and conceal from view the four directions, like dark clouds (1-5).
- They drink in (11)
- green kutai (an improvised vessel of palmyra leaf)
which has several leaves which were left to dry
in the sunshine the back portion being exposed to it (10),
- the essences which were poured into new pots
in which were placed the unripe fruit of mangoes
niped from bunches and which resemble in shape parrots,
growing in the mango trees which put forth beautiful,
fertile and fresh leaves by the south wind,
and to which were added substances
to become sour, in a proper measure (6-10),
- like the buffaloes which rush into a tank
for drinking water (11).
- After drinking gruel (13)
- containing white grains of rice
- which resemble silver sticks cut into equal size
- cooked by mixing with milk horse gram (12)
- and in the proper proportion
- to dispel the drowsiness born of exultation
of doing duty (6)
- After, eating and making gestures
that they have eaten enough to their hearts content,
with their hands (14-15)
- they stored the high heaps of paddy
which have the colour of the rising sun
into receptacles for grain wound with ropes of straw,
and as the sun goes down
stay in the shade of the myrobolan tree
(மருதமரம்)
with their bullocks (14-6)
- Such is the nature of the beautiful spring (17)
- for those who have by their side their partners
to enjoy their glorious beauty (18)
- It has passed off (17)
- Though our lover will not stay there long forgetting us (1),
- (what is the benefit we derive from it?)
Syntactical link:- (தோழி)! துணையுடையோர்க்கு(18)
இது வேனில்மன்(17); (நம்தலைவர்) மறந்து அவண் அமையவாயினும்(1)
(அதனால் நாம் பெற்றது என்ன?)
(1) The talaimakaḷ replied in frustration
to the conforting assurance of the companion
(2) (It may also mean) The companion who informed
the separation spoke thus.
Viṟṟūṟṟu mūteyiṉaṉār
variant readings:
$$ட.1.ணமைகுவ. $$ட.13.கோலறை