Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/214

Rh and starved himself to death unwilling to survive his generous patron Pari. His poem Perunk-Kurinchi narrates a story of love among the hill tribes in Tamilakam: and is said to have been composed for the instruction of an Aryan King Prahasta. Another poem composed by him entitled Innanârpatu is a didactic poem consisting of 40 stanzas treating of four unpleasant things in each stanza. Three of the stanzas are translated below as a specimen of the work :–

“Bitter is (life) to those who do not worship the feet of the three-eyed god (Siva). Bitter is it not to pray to the fair god (Baladeva) whose flag bears the device in gold of a palmyra palm. Bitter is it to forget the god (Vishnu) who wields the Chakra. Even so is (life) bitter to those who do not adore the god who is armed with the lance (Muruga)—(Stanza I.)

“Bitter is it to witness the distress of a friend. Bitter is it to see the pride of a foe. Bitter is it to reside in a town which is not fortified. Even so is it bitter to gamble with the dice.—(Stanza 26.)

“Bitter is the folly of lusting after another’s wife. Bitter is the bearing of a cowardly king on the battle-field. Bitter is it to ride a fiery steed without a saddles Even so bitter is the work undertaken by a slothful man.—(Stanza 39.)”

One hundred verses composed by him form part of the Ainkkuru-nuru: and ten of his verses in praise of the king CheralAthan are included in the Pathirrup-pattu. He was present at the convocation of poets at the court of Ugra Pandya at Madura when Tiruvalluvar first recited his Muppâl, and warmly approved of the work. He visited the Malayamân Kâri at Mulloor. In company with the poets Paranar, Arisil-Kilâr and Perunkkunrur-kilâr, he paid a visit also to Nalli and Pekan, the chief of the Aviyar, who were famous in his time as patron of poets. As specimens of his eulogistic verses I give below two of the stanzas composed by him in praise of his patrons Pâri and the Chera King Athan.

“Most generous Pâri! Lord of the land of mountains, where jack-fruits as large as drums, torn open by monkeys, serve as