Akam (353)

AKAM 353

Tiṇai:: pālai
Author:: maturai aḷakkar ñaḻalār makaṉār maḷḷaṉār (variant reading : 1. ammaḷḷaṉār)
Translation::: V. M. Subramanya Ayyar (1975) [IFP, unpublished]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:: 2004/09/25
Table of contents (by lines):: 1-2. Talaivaṉ telling his mind to listen to some important things.; 3-6. The three important things that talaivaṉ wanted to tell, though his mind could not know them at present.; 7-9. The west wind whirling, having drewn the dust.; 10-14. The stag and its mate become weary as there is no drinkable water in the dried up tank, to quench its thirst.; 15-16. The curaṉ has trees devoid of shade.; 16. Talaivaṉ rebuking his mind that it will think of talaivi, becoming irresolute.; 17-23. The state of talaivi when talaivaṉ parted from her.
Colophon(s):: Talaivaṉ who returned once before parted for acquiring wealth and stayed in his house returning with it spoke to his mind which again gooded him to acquire wealth.
variant reading முன்னொரு காலத்துப் பொளுள் வயிற் பிரிந்த தலைமகன் பொருள் முற்றிவந்திருந்த காலத்து மீண்டும் பொருள் கடாவின நெஞ்சிற்குச் சொல்லியது.
variant reading : - 1.பின்னும் பொருள் வலிக்கப்பட்ட நெஞ்சிற்குச் சொல்லியது
- spoke to his mind which again decided in favour of acquiring wealth.
Syntactical link:: see below
Difficult words:: see below
Variant readings:: see below
Notes::: see below
:

TRANSLATION

My mind! May you live long (2) !
Is it possible to part from talaivi for acquiring wealth ? (1)
Even if we part (1)
please listen to what I say now (2)
Even if you do not realise now (6)
such things as the passing of days (4)
in reality (3)
like things that appear and disappear quickly in a dream (3),
the coming of old age (4)
and the returns of Kāmam of rare eminence difficult to obtain (5);
you will cross the curaṉ having ways where the trees are devoid of shade (15),
in the hot during summer when the scorching sunshine is at its zenith (10)
to make the hot west wind which made to drop all the leaves of ñemai tree (ஞெமைமரம்) (9)
to make a sound like `Kal' (7)
after dashing against the moving twigs in the straight bamboos (7),
to whirl, having drawn the dust in the long stretch of white saline soil (9),
where the beautiful (12)
spotted (11)
stag (12)
with wavy horns (12)
which embraced its young mate of weary gait (11),
goes towards the clear water to drink, forgets eating the leaves (13),
and as there is no water becomes weary, having become reduced (14),
will you not remember the qualities of (our talaivi) who wears beautiful ornaments and has luxuriant locks of hair, (23)
who speaks good words in our company (22)
sitting on the glorious bed with a smile expressing joy (21),
after having tucked in the petals of desirable flowers (20)
in the plaits on which was shed the fine pollen of tāḻai (தாழை : fragrant screw pine) (19)
to make it cool, (10),
entertaining guests who come suffering from poverty (18)
in the big, cool pantar where there is a never-ceasing stream of guests (17)
who come with the idea of being fed sumptuously (16).

SYNTACTICAL LINK

நெஞ்சே! வாழிய! (2) பிரிதலும் உண்டோ(1)! நாளது செலவும் மூப்பினது வரவும்(4) காமத்து இயற்கையும் இந்நிலை அறியாயினும்(6), சுரன் இறந்து(15), புனை இழை குணன்(23) உள்ளுவை அல்லையோ(16)?

VARIANT READINGS

.3. கனவுகழிந்தனையவாகி
.10. வேனிலங்காட்டு
.17. பெருந்தோள் மாதர்.

DIFFICULT WORDS

ஆள்வினைப் பிரிதலும் உண்டோ: - is it possible to part from talaivi for acquiring wealth?
பிரியினும் கேள் இனி: - Though you part please listen to what I say now.
நாளும் கனவு கழிந்தனைய ஆகி: - like the dreams that pass every day.
நனவின் நாளது செலவும்: the passing of days in reality
மூப்பினது வரவு: - the coming of old age.
அரிது பெறு சிறப்பின் காமத்து இயற்கையும்: - the nature of Kāmam which has rare eminence.
இந்நிலை அறியாயாயினும்: though if you do not realise such things as mentioned above, now
செந்நிலை அமை ஆடு அம் கழை தீண்டி: - dashing against the moving twigs of the straight bamboo.
கல்லென ஞெமை இலை உதிர்த்த எரிவாய்க் கோடை: - the hot west wind which caused to shed the leaves of the ñemai tree to make a sound like `Kal'
நெடு வெண் களரி நீறு முகந்து சுழல: - to whirl drewing the dust from the long stretch of white saline soil.
கடு வெயில் திருகிய வேனில் வெங்காட்டு: - in the hot forest in the summer when the severe sunshine is at its zenith
உயங்கு நடை மடப் பிணை தழீஇய வயங்கு பொறி அறுகோட்டு எழில் கலை: - the beautiful stag of wavy horns and shining spots having embraced its young mate which walks weasily.
தெண்ணீர் வேட்ட சிறுமையின்: - due to the distress of its thirst for clean water.
தழை மறந்து: - forgetting to eat the leaves.
அறு கயம் நோக்கி: - having gone in the direction of a dried up tank.
உண் நீர் இன்மையின் ஒல்குவன தளர: - to become weary having become reduced as there was no potable water.
மரன் நிழல் அற்ற இயவின் சுரன் இறந்து: - having gone beyond the curaṉ (desert tract) which has ways in which trees are devoid of shade.
உள்ளிய விருந்து ஒழிவறியாப் பெருந் தண் பந்தர்: - in the big and cool pantal (பந்தல்) where there is a never-ceasing stream of guests who come desirous of hospitality
வருந்தி வருநர் ஓம்பி: having protected those who come there stricken by poverty.
தண்ணெனத் தாது துகள் உதிர்த்த தாழை அம் கூந்தல்: - in the locks of hair into which pollen of tāḻai (தாழை: fragrant screw-pine) was poured to make it cool.
வீழ் இதழ் அலரி மெல்லகம் சேர்த்தி: - having joined in the plaits inserting the desirable petals of flowers.
முகிழ் முறுவல் மாண்ட சேக்கை (VAR_1935: மகிழணி முறுவல் மாண்ட சேக்கை): - sitting in glorious bed with a smile expressing joy.
நம்மொடு நன்மொழி நவிலும்: - talking with us good words.
பொம்மல் ஓதிப் புனை இழை குணன்: - the qualities of our talaivi who wears beautiful ornaments and locks of hair of fine appearance.
உள்ளுவை அல்லையோ: - will you not think and get confounded ?

NOTES

The idea of things appearing and disappearing in dreams is passing away as soon as they appear; The day also pass away quickly.

The ll 4-5 remind one of the lines in
""நாளது சின்மையும் இளமையது அருமையும்.....அன்பிதைகலமும்'' (tolkappiyam, akattiṇai iyal, 41-7-10)
cf. ""இளமையும் காமமும் நின்பாணி நில்லா'',
""இளமையும் காமமும் ஓராங்குப் பொற்றார், வளமை விழை தக்கது உண்டோ'' (Kalittokai, 11-12; 18-7-8)
""இளமையிற் சிறந்த வளமை இல்லை, இளமை கழிந்த பின்றை வளமை, காமம் தருதலும் இன்றே'' (naṟṟiṇai, 126-8-10).

கோடை சுழல, கலை ஒல்குவன தளர, மரன் நிழல் அற்ற இயவின் சுரன் - is the order of words.

As the qualities of talaivi performing household duties including entertaining guests, her physical beauty by adorning her tresses with flowers, and cheerful looks, speaking sweet words, staying in the cot, produce great pleasure to talaivaṉ, so he says to his mind, "If you go to the forest, you will return remembering those pleasures"