Page:Introduction to Tamil Poetry.pdf/15

 14 want to stir out of the stable out of love and concern for the new-born calf, my mind would never go away from here leaving you. You have taken away my life and spirit with you, just as butter has been removed from the milk after churning. How can I live without you ?” She re- plies, “What a pity! You dare tell me things such as that without me you wouldn't live. Don't you see that my re- latives are there ? Go, I will pass along this side tomorrow also for grazing of the calf”. The idea is that she has given him hope of meeting on the morrow. The author of Cilappadikāram was Iļanko Atikal, the younger brother of Cherkuttuvan, the Chēra King. He had renounced the world in order that the words uttered by an astrologer that he would become king might not come true. He thought that if he were to become king it would be to the detriment of his elder brother. He was of such a lovable and selfless disposition. He lived the life of an ascetic and years later composed this epic. Ilanko must have had before him a crude outline of the story of Kõvalan's life. He has raised the story to the epic level by incorporating into the work supernatural events which, however, are made to appear probable. Such, for instance, are the words addressed to the Sun- God by Kaņņaki and his answer proclaiming from the heavens that her husband was not a thief, Pāytirai vēlip paduporul njariythi Kāyakatirc celvané kalvano enkanavan ? asked Kannaki, and straight came the reply Kalvano allan karunkayarkan mātarāy Olleri unnum ivvür. A poet thinks of acts and events greater and more histori- cal than a historian can record. Kaņņaki, the heroine represents the type of Tamil womanhood which assumes heroic stature when wronged.