In this episode, we listen to a strong rebuttal to a reprimand, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 130, penned by Venkannanaar. The verse is situated amidst the fragrant pandanus trees of the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal landscape’ and showers high praise on a land and a lady.

அம்ம வாழி, கேளிர்! முன் நின்று
கண்டனிர்ஆயின், கழறலிர்மன்னோ
நுண் தாது பொதிந்த செங் காற் கொழு முகை
முண்டகம் கெழீஇய மோட்டு மணல் அடைகரை,
பேஎய்த் தலைய பிணர் அரைத் தாழை
எயிறுடை நெடுந் தோடு காப்ப, பல உடன்
வயிறுடைப் போது வாலிதின் விரீஇ,
புலவுப் பொருது அழித்த பூ நாறு பரப்பின்
இவர் திரை தந்த ஈர்ங் கதிர் முத்தம்
கவர் நடைப் புரவி கால் வடுத் தபுக்கும்
நல் தேர் வழுதி கொற்கை முன் துறை
வண்டு வாய் திறந்த வாங்குகழி நெய்தற்
போது புறங்கொடுத்த உண்கண்
மாதர் வாள் முகம் மதைஇய நோக்கே.

Another crisp trip to the seashore, where we get to relish the space with all our senses, as we listen to this unique situation, of a man, replying to the words of his friend, who admonishes him for his recent behaviour:

“Listen, may you live long, my dear friend! The red-stemmed fleshy bud of the water thorn, filled with fine pollen, flourishes on the sand mounds of the shore, near a pandanus tree, with a rough trunk, branches looking like heads of ghosts, long leaves with thorns, akin to teeth protecting them, and flowers, with deep cores, spreading out with purity, waging war against the scent of flesh, and emerging victorious by spreading the fragrance of the flowers in that space, where soaring waves bring along moist and radiant pearls, which leaves scars on the feet of horses with an alluring trot in Korkai, ruled by the Pandya King Vazhuthi, who owns fine chariots many. The bee-buzzing blue lotus, blooming in the shores of this city, by the curving backwaters, would pale in comparison before the kohl-streaked eyes of her exquisite, shining face. Had you stood before and seen her divine gaze, you wouldn’t rebuke me so!”

Let’s take a breezy walk on those ancient shores, brimming with flowers and bees, and learn more! The man starts to respond to the words of his friend by first blessing him. It doesn’t matter if the other had been scolding him. It’s the culture that makes the speaker bless even the one, who happens to be speaking against them! Then, the man launches into a lengthy description of a seashore, where we see water-thorn flowers blooming, pandanus trees, which are painted with words, fighting against the reeking odours of the sea with their fragrant flowers, also waves bringing along pearls and scattering these on the shore, which then goes on to leave imprints on the feet of trotting horses. We learn that this naturally prosperous place is none other than the world famous Korkai, the capital of the Pandya King Vazhuthi, renowned for the fine chariots he possesses. The man has taken us along to that distant shore, only to point out to us the exquisite blue lotuses blooming there. He then connects these flowers to the eyes of his beloved, saying those flowers would bow down in shame before the lustre of her eyes, and concludes by telling his friend that had he seen the shining face of the lady, standing before her, he wouldn’t be scolding the man so, for his behaviour, seemingly lacking in honour!

Thus we understand it’s a friend who has been telling the man, ‘Bro, you are not yourself. Why are you lowering yourself so, before a mere slip of a girl? Aren’t you a worthy leader?’ and so on and so forth. The man arms himself with the sword of the lady’s beauty, and quells this dissent of his friend, saying ‘She is so worthy of all that you accuse me of doing!’. A sweet song on the timeless theme of defending love for a beloved before a concerned friend!