AKAM 053

Tiṇai:

pālai

Author:

cīttalaiccāttaṉār

Translation:

V. M. Subramanya Ayyar (1975) [IFP, unpublished]

Original MS location:

IFP Library [TA LIT-CL 180 (1)(2)(3)]

Original data entry (VYAPTI format):

Ramya (1999-2000, IFP)

Date of last revision:

2005/03/04

Table of contents (by lines):

(1-5) Description of the desert

(6-12) The suffering of animate beings in the desert

(13-6) talaivaṉ's noble quality and talaivi prasing it ironically.

Colophon(s):

talaivi replied to the asseverating companion

Syntactical link:

see below

Difficult words:

see below

Variant readings:

see below

Notes:

see below

• The extensive desert appear to be endlesss to be traversed and is completely without water. (5)
• As the fast moving sun which dispels darkness is the cause for brightening the sky (1-2),
• and as its scorching rays create cracks in the earth (3)
• the white flowers of horse radish tree (முருங்கைமரம்) of tall trunk spread so as to fill up those cracks (4).
• (In that desert) in the lonely path where the small snails whose flesh inside the shell dries up and which have spiralling noses cover the slippery trunk of sirissa trees to make them appear as having rough and cracked exterior in the rocky places which has wood of spurge (கள்ளி) and where the red wild dog of sharp teeth stays with its female which suffers from hunger, in the pleasant shade of inscribed memorial stones which were erected in memory of those who fell in battle by the arrows of warriors which never miss their aim (6-11)
• Having crossed with great difficulty the branching paths of that difficult desert our talaivar has more love for money than love towards us, as his heart which is always unwilling to say, `no' to poor people and is not able to conceal even what little that can be given, prompts him to acquire wealth. Friend ! you say that he is fond of showing grace on us. Therefore you do not know the truth, about his nature.

தோழி வாழி(1)! நீளிடைக்(5)கடத்திடை(7) இயவின்(9) செந்நாய் பிணவொடு(6) நடுகல் நிழலில் வதியும்(11) சுரக்கவலை நீந்திக்(12) வலிப்பக்(14) காதலர் காதல் பொருளே(15); நீ அருளே என்றி(16); அறியாய்(1).

(Note அருளே காதலர் may be interpreted in this way also; talaivar has love towards grace).