Indian Antiquary Vol 28

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 37

FEBRUARY, 1899.) NOTES ON THE TAMIL ANTHOLOGY OF ANCIENT BONGS.09 29 19. YANT
NOTES ON THE TAMIL ANTHOLOGY OF ANCIENT SONGS, ENTITLED PURRA-NANNURRU
T LA
SALAT BY G. U. POPE, M.A., D.D., BALLIOL COLLEGE AND INDIAN INSTITUTE, OXFORD.
I. - K6-Perum-Çoran, and the Poets, Pottiyar and Pigiran-thaiyar. THE renowned king, KO-Perum-Coran, whose capital was Urraiy-ar, after a reign diversified
by the rebeniot of this two bons, renounced his kingdom, went to the north (the banks of the Ganges ?), as an 'ascatid, and died there. His most intimate friends, Pottiyar and Pigiranthaiyar, .. evetítually shared bis hermit cell, and all three after death were commemorated by stones placed side by side over their aths,
LULOOR H . The poet Kandasanar, (of whom nothing else is recorded), visiting this spot, sang 's follows
Bed gold, and coral, pearls, aud rare 4. Gems the mighty mountains bare- it. Remote their homes in sea of mine Text I once the precious things combine, And men in costly shapes entwine, Henceforth in blended beauty one they shine. So worthy men with worthy side by side
Remain; the worthless with the worthless brdo.. The history of these three, who were so diverse in many ways, though inseparable in life and death, -as traced in P. N. N., is the favourite Tamil illustration of faithful friendship. (See Pope's Kurra!, Ch.79.) In Náladi also Ch. 21-24, many exquisite thoughts on friendship are to be found. When this king was at strife with his sons, a poet called Byittiyanar addressed a lyric to him
uri 213) in which he said i n
one foot called Byittiyapar addressed O king, whose white umbrell Hestesplendent," and whose mighty power subdues thy foes! In this world crowned with flowers, adde begirt with the swelling veny the *wubie Fowto their birth to thee, cannot be any of thine wacientebemies, nor, though ye are now opposed, 'ean they ever really egard thee as an enemy to them! When, fall of glory, you at Jength leave this world, and rise to the world of the exalted ones, whose must be the beritage you leave behind 1 This thou knowest well, so give ear to me, thou who art of illustrious fame! If these your sons, misled, atray themselves against you, and you conquer them, to whom will you bequeath the wealth you leave behind ? If they should overcome you, you but incur disgrace, and yonr enemies will triumph Cease then this strife. Let not your lofty mind be bewildered, but prepare for them the fenst in which the Immortals shall rejoicing share.'-(Kurral. 86.) al i watotiv
Loft It seems that this sensible expostulation was successful; 'ind peace was restored.
The old king hingele has left some specimens of his poeties getting. The following is laid to ...bayo boen composed after he had resigned, his kingdom, and gone to the north (814) suur I
They who have not assured their kinds How 1 . By the vision andoubting, pure that wye endures,
Say not, shall we do good deeds or shall we not,' ' Who hunts an elephant may gain an elephant; is
Who hunts a quail, may come back with empty hand. Thi
Therefore if men have lofty aspirations, O
t her thast tarry them out in acceastal deeds, and so kain ./2018
8 vren't of the world bbyond the tenth of sense, A wila WAG in Luan. cum alio
" n king in Porum egrest Car Loud of the Oore, or Ohola kingdom.! Or Warrior, near Trichinopoly. - • See K. Ch. 36. Kadçt groat word, and they with
va
O