Shilappadikaram by Ilango Adigal

Author:Ilango Adigal [Adigal, Ilango]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789384067724
Publisher: Rua Publications
Published: 2016-04-01T18:30:00+00:00

CANTO SIXTEEN

THE SITE OF AGONY

Kolaikkalakkadai

Madari, the cowherdess, had joyfully taken charge of the frail Kannaki. In the sheltered cottage to which she led her, cowgirls lived who wore shining bracelets. The cottage was dark red. In front was an open courtyard. Thorny hedges kept it private from other huts inhabited by the cowherds who sold buttermilk.

Madari prepared a cool bath for the stranger and paid her compliments:

‘You have come here, adorned only by your beauty, to render ridiculous the cosmetics and costly jewellery of the city women. My daughter Aiyai will be at your service, and I shall protect you like a precious object. O girl with fragrant hair entrusted to my care, the virtuous saint has relieved you of the weariness of your journey, and led you to a safe retreat. Your man need not worry.’ Turning towards the girls, she said: ‘Her master observes all the rules of the pious Jains, who do not eat after sunset. Bring at once our best saucepans so that Kannaki may help Aiyai to prepare a good meal.’

The cowgirls brought new utensils, as is done for wealthy people, and some ripe fruit from the never-flowering breadfruit tree. There were also white-striped cucumbers, green pomegranates and mangoes, sweet bananas, good rice, and fresh cow’s milk. The girls said:

‘Lady with the round bracelets, accept these modest gifts.’

Kannaki sliced various vegetables with a short knife—her tender fingers grew red, her face was perspiring, tears came to her lovely eyes. She had to turn her face away from the oven. Over a straw fire lit by Aiyai, Kannaki began to prepare her husband’s evening meal.

Kovalan seated himself on a small expertly woven palm-leaf mat. Then Kannaki, with her flower-hands, poured water from a jug to wash her master’s feet. As if attempting to awaken our mother Earth from a swoon, she sprinkled water on the ground and lustrated the beaten soil with her palms. Then she placed before her husband a tender plantain leaf and said:

‘Here is your food, my lord! May you be pleased to eat.’

Having performed with care the rites prescribed for the sons of merchants, they ate their dinner together. Aiyai and her mother looked at them with delight. They exclaimed:

‘The noble lord, eating this simple food, must be Krishna himself, whose complexion is like newly open pepper flowers. Krishna too, was fed in a cowherd’s village, by Yashoda. Is not this lady of the many bracelets the beacon of our caste, who once rescued the god who is the colour of blue sapphire near the Jumna River? We cannot open our eyes wide enough to enjoy this rare sight!’

To tall Kovalan, pleased with his dinner, Kannaki of the gleaming black plaits then offered betel leaves and chopped betel nuts. He embraced her and said:

‘My parents would never believe that such tender feet could have trodden paths littered with pebbles and hard stones. Would they not pity you if they knew that we had together crossed such vast and cruel country? It all seems to me like a dream, like a game played by fate.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.