Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 61
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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AUGUST, 1932)
A BALLAD OF KERALA
151
Avaļe mushichchalvaruttarutu
"Do not offend her. Nêr penna!ute kåriyam Ortukûta "I am pained to think of our sister;" Sâmôdam kannir nisaññosuki
And freely flowed the tears. Anusaram kêlppichchirikkunnêram And thus he continued discoursing, Sornavum pennale örtukondu
And meditating on his dear sister Dêvârakkóttil irunnavanum
Remaining in the hall of worship. Annottu pâtira chenna neram
That night, when past midnight, Arrummanammele Unnikrehcha Unniarchcha of Arrummanammel Uranńunna urakkattil sopnam kandu In her sleep had a dream. Kalaribharambaru sopnam katti The guardian deity of the kalari appeared to
her in dream. Ennute annala Arômunni
My brother Arômunni, Putturamvîțțile Årômunni
Arômar of Puttûram house, Puttariangam kurichchirippe
Has resolved on proceeding to an angam fight. Netti erunirru Unni&rchcha
Unni&rchcha gets up startled, Kalari bharambare ninandavaļum And prays to the deity, Kårkûndal nannayi kudannu ketti Gathers and ties up her hair, Dipam koļutti pôkunnundu
And lighting the lamp goes out of the room. Pünkösi châttangre kúval kettu Hearing the cock crow, Patakaļi murrattum ohenniranni She advances to the courtyard, Bhůmiyum tottu nerukil vechchu And does obeisance to the goddess of earth, Sûrya bhagavåne keitofutu
Worships the sun, Murramatiyum kașikkunnunde
And attends to sweeping the courtyard. Then she gets water and umikkari'! ready, and wakes up her father and mother. 43 The latter enquires why she is in a hurry. Unni&rchcha tells them of her dream, expressing her anxious desire to see her brother before he goes to fight. Hearing this, the father remarks :
Kaţiññûl garbhavum ninakkallåne "At this period of first pregnancy, Palatume sopnavum kånum môļe “You are apt to have dreams, my daughter." Appol parayunnu Uņņi&rchcha Unni&rchcha replies : Chila kålam sopnavum okkum achcha “Dreams sometimes come true, father. Nânenre vittolam pôtte amme
"Mother, let me just go home." Appol parayunnu ammayallo
The mother replies: Ninnute chollinnu natakkayilla
"I shall not be dictated to by you. Ninne ivitêkku kutanna pinne
"Ever since you were brought here Enye makannu sukhamillallo
"My son has not been well." Appo! parayunnu Unni&rchcha
Unnia rehcha retorts: Ninnate makanenna kutannatendê "Why, then, did your son marry me? Niññalku sukhattôde iruttårnelle “You could have kept him in comfort. Enne ivitêkku kutannatende
"Why was I brought here at all?". - The mother observes : “ It is only eight days since you returned, and if you are going again, my son can't accompany you. He is always busy at the kalari." The mother proposes that she may go accompanied by a Panan. Unniâ fchcha is wroth at the suggestion :
Puttûram vittile pennunnaļum . “The ladies of Puttûram house Pånanrre kate natannittilla
"Have never gone escorted by Panans. Niñhate tasakkam paraññu ninnal "You no doubt referred to your practice. Pandékkum ñannalum Chêkônmare "From early times have we been Chekor. Patinettu sthånavum fiannalkkundê "We are of the highest rank. Tandeyma sthanavum kîşv&rohayum “We have the status of leaders 13 The charred husk of the paddy, which is still used throughout Malabar for cleaning the teeth.
13 The daughter-in-law always addresses her father-in-law and mother-in-law as father and mother, respectively.
