The scene is idyllic. A romantic couple seated on a boat in calm waters rowing away with not a care in the world. Just the image that allows a poet to open his heart with unabashed hyperbole. But Kannadasan has his own methods. For some reason, he makes the hero's words seem more like a warning than an expression of love.
அமைதியான நதியினிலே ஓடும் - ஓடம்
அளவில்லாத வெள்ளம் வந்தால் ஆடும்
காற்றினிலும் மழையினிலும்
கலங்க வைக்கும் இடியினிலும்
கரையினிலே ஒதுங்கி நின்றால் வாழும்
In a quiet stream plies a boat; this boat rocks in the face of a flood. In violent winds, rain and terrifying thunder, the boat would survive if it takes shelter in the banks.
Not exactly romantic– not even remotely close. We should remember that this is not an amateur poet but the maestro himself who has penned these lines. Who are we to question him? Let us just enjoy where he takes us.
But to better understand the context, we may have to as always take help from the Master of this maestro, Lord Krishna, to fill in the blanks.
In the second chapter of the Gita, Lord Krishna paints a picture of the man of perfection- the Sthitha Pragna. While doing so, He cautions Arjuna about the potential dangers lurking in the spiritual voyage.
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां
यन्मनो अनुविधीयते
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञ्यां
वायुर्नावमिवाम्बसि
A person, whose mind wanders among the sense organs can be blown away like a helpless boat in the face of violent winds.
One way to escape the onslaught of the senses is to seek shelter in the banks- run away from the temptations. It is a temporary measure, but certainly effective in the short term.
विषयाविनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः
The sense objects turn away from the person who refuses to entertain them.
Running away cannot be a permanent solution. It would defeat the very purpose of living. Hence the boat which seeks shelter in the banks eventually will still have to get back into the water.
Kannadasan brings forth his second metaphor in facing this onslaught. A powerful coconut tree is seen on the banks– deep rooted, sturdy and seemingly unfazed by the howling wind. However, even this tree has its limits; a powerful cyclone can uproot and cut the proud tree asunder.
தென்னை இளம் கீற்றினிலே
தாலாட்டும் தென்றல் அது
தென்னை தனை சாய்த்துவிடும்
புயலாக வரும் பொழுது
Vairaagya or dispassion helps a person stand up to temptation with courage and conviction; however, desire is so powerful that the strongest amongst us can still be overwhelmed by it. In fact, Lord Krishna acknowledges the difficulty of the task by stating निग्रहः किं करिष्यति What can restrain do?
If this is the fate of the mighty, what are we to do? Should we even try to put up a fight? If so, how?
Comes the third metaphor of Kannadasan:
ஆற்றங்கரை மீதினிலே
ஆடி நிற்கும் நாணலது
காற்றடித்தால் சாய்வதில்லை
கனிந்த மனம் வீழ்வதில்லை
On the banks of the river stands the dancing reed. It does not collapse when the wind blows and the mature mind does not fall.
Isn't this also an echo of the famous statement in the Holy Bible?– Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Mathew 5:5)
Hence, bow down, surrender to the Lord Almighty. Seek refuge in Him.
Lord Krishna exhorts Arjuna not once, but twice, – almost at the midpoint of the Gita (Chapter IX, verse 34) and towards the end seemingly to make sure that he does not forget (Chapter XVIII, verse 65)
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तः
मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु
Surrender your mind to Me, become My devotee, worship Me, offer your obeisance to Me.
What then happens to such a devotee? We have an iron-clad guarantee from Lord Krishna Himself:
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि नमे भक्तः प्रनष्यति
O son of Kunti, know this with certainty, My devotee never perishes.
அமைதியான நதியினிலே ஓடும் - ஓடம்
அளவில்லாத வெள்ளம் வந்தால் ஆடும்
காற்றினிலும் மழையினிலும்
கலங்க வைக்கும் இடியினிலும்
கரையினிலே ஒதுங்கி நின்றால் வாழும்
In a quiet stream plies a boat; this boat rocks in the face of a flood. In violent winds, rain and terrifying thunder, the boat would survive if it takes shelter in the banks.
Not exactly romantic– not even remotely close. We should remember that this is not an amateur poet but the maestro himself who has penned these lines. Who are we to question him? Let us just enjoy where he takes us.
But to better understand the context, we may have to as always take help from the Master of this maestro, Lord Krishna, to fill in the blanks.
In the second chapter of the Gita, Lord Krishna paints a picture of the man of perfection- the Sthitha Pragna. While doing so, He cautions Arjuna about the potential dangers lurking in the spiritual voyage.
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां
यन्मनो अनुविधीयते
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञ्यां
वायुर्नावमिवाम्बसि
A person, whose mind wanders among the sense organs can be blown away like a helpless boat in the face of violent winds.
One way to escape the onslaught of the senses is to seek shelter in the banks- run away from the temptations. It is a temporary measure, but certainly effective in the short term.
विषयाविनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः
The sense objects turn away from the person who refuses to entertain them.
Running away cannot be a permanent solution. It would defeat the very purpose of living. Hence the boat which seeks shelter in the banks eventually will still have to get back into the water.
Kannadasan brings forth his second metaphor in facing this onslaught. A powerful coconut tree is seen on the banks– deep rooted, sturdy and seemingly unfazed by the howling wind. However, even this tree has its limits; a powerful cyclone can uproot and cut the proud tree asunder.
தென்னை இளம் கீற்றினிலே
தாலாட்டும் தென்றல் அது
தென்னை தனை சாய்த்துவிடும்
புயலாக வரும் பொழுது
Vairaagya or dispassion helps a person stand up to temptation with courage and conviction; however, desire is so powerful that the strongest amongst us can still be overwhelmed by it. In fact, Lord Krishna acknowledges the difficulty of the task by stating निग्रहः किं करिष्यति What can restrain do?
If this is the fate of the mighty, what are we to do? Should we even try to put up a fight? If so, how?
Comes the third metaphor of Kannadasan:
ஆற்றங்கரை மீதினிலே
ஆடி நிற்கும் நாணலது
காற்றடித்தால் சாய்வதில்லை
கனிந்த மனம் வீழ்வதில்லை
On the banks of the river stands the dancing reed. It does not collapse when the wind blows and the mature mind does not fall.
Isn't this also an echo of the famous statement in the Holy Bible?– Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Mathew 5:5)
Hence, bow down, surrender to the Lord Almighty. Seek refuge in Him.
Lord Krishna exhorts Arjuna not once, but twice, – almost at the midpoint of the Gita (Chapter IX, verse 34) and towards the end seemingly to make sure that he does not forget (Chapter XVIII, verse 65)
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तः
मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु
Surrender your mind to Me, become My devotee, worship Me, offer your obeisance to Me.
What then happens to such a devotee? We have an iron-clad guarantee from Lord Krishna Himself:
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि नमे भक्तः प्रनष्यति
O son of Kunti, know this with certainty, My devotee never perishes.
