Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/220

Rh the personal merits of the king, his love of truth and justice, his faithful friendship and fearless bravery, his high sense of honor and unbounded charity. The monarch is asked to bear in mind the fact that of the many kings, great and good men, who graced the throne of the Pandyas before him, not one is alive! The poem then proceeds to describe with considerable wealth of detail the extensive country which owns the sway of the Pandya, comprising fertile fields, pasture lands, wild wastes, hill-tracts and a sea-coast studded with busy ports where fishermen, salt merchants, chank-cutters, and pearl-fishers ply their trade. It describes very vividly the proud and wealthy city of Madura, the scenes in the street’s and in the palace, the personal appearance of the Pandya, and the manner in which he reçeives and rewards his courtiers; and concludes with the advice that the king should follow in the footsteps of his pious ancestors, perform sacrifices, advance the welfare and secure the loyalty of his subjects, and enjoy the good things that the gods give. It will be seen from the poem that the author was an ardent lover of Nature, and a keen observer of men and manners. His descriptions are true to life; but his diction is not as polished and dignified as that of Nakkirar.

Tiru-valluvar (A.D. 100-130). His fame as the author of the Kural or Muppal will last as long as Tamil is a living language. I have already given a brief summary of the work and described how warmly it was approved of by the poets of the court of Ugra-Pandya. The immediate popularity of the Kural is proved by the fact that verses from it are quoted by contemporary authors such as Cheethalai-chattanâr and Ilankô-Adikal. After the lapse of eighteen hundred years it has lost none of its original favour among the Tamil people, and it is still considered the first of works from which, whether for thought or language, there is no appeal. No less than ten commentaries have been written on it at different times ; but the commentary which is most studied at present is that composed by Pari-mel-Alakar.