Akam (131)

Tiṇai:: pālai
Author:: maturai marutaṉiḷanākaṉār
Translation::: V. M. Subramanya Ayyar (1975) [IFP, unpublished]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)
HTML conversion, text revising & editing:
Date of last revision:: 2004/08/19
Table of contents (by lines):: (1-4) talaivi with beautiful tresses of hair and fragrant garlands.; (5) talaivaṉ's mind thinking giving away his wealth to be superior to talaivi; (6-13) The dreaded forest having memorial tablets of warriors who fell dead in wiping out the tears of calves of cows which were lifted by vetciyār (வெட்சியார்), in the act of rescuing and recovering them,; (14-5) talaivaṉ blessing his mind.
Colophon(s):: The talaimakaṉ spoke to his mind which was determined to acquire wealth.
Syntactical link:: see below
Difficult words:: see below
Variant readings:: see below
Notes::: see below
:

My mind (15)!
If you consider the act of donation of the riches to the poor is superior to this lady (5)
who adorns herself with a cool and big garland which blossoms for the bees to enjoy its honey, (4)
and black tresses of hair which fall flowing on the big nape for the bees to swarm on them, (3)
and which resemble the soft and green leaves of ikaṇai (இகணை ஒருவகைமரம்) of black trunk, which grows to a great height, which are closely placed one by the side of another, (1-2)
and if you invite me, `Come with us to the forest which is dreadful' (13) (14)
then I won't come. Let your efforts be crowned with success ! (15)
(In that forest) the people of maḻanātu who discharge arrows which never miss their aim and which fly with a shrill sound, carry away in the hot and fearful desert region cows in the early morning (6-7)
The memorial tablets of stones which are fixed in a prominent place are adorned with garland of peacock's feathers (11)
in every path on which are engraved the names and valourous acts of karantai (கரந்தைவீரர்) (10)
who wiped out the tears flowing down the edge of the eyeballs of calves (9)
which walked a long distance and stayed there because they became too tired to proceed any further (8).
The vēl that is fixed firmly and the shield that is laid on the warrior stones resemble the battle front of enemies, (12).

நெஞ்சம்(15)! "இவளினும் ஈதல் சிறந்தன்று' எனக்(5), "கானம் நம்மொடு (13) வருக என்னுதி ஆயின்(14), வாரேன்(15); நின்வினை வாய்க்க(15).

Raising memorial tablets for warriors who rescued cows and laid down their lives, was the custom in ancient tamiḻ nātu