Mmgl Part 002-001 - The Public Comments Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

(In the Pugar Town, the preliminary functions
of the Indran festival started. The initial program
was the songs and dances of the stage girls.
Madhavi and Manimegalai both did not come
for the festival. This gave room for accusations
from the public.

Chitrapathi, Madhavi's mother, sent her friend,
Vasanthamalai to bring Madhavi, to avoid the
people's blame.

The servant explained to Madhavi the people's
comments, but Madhavi refused to go with her
daughter. The servant returned with utter
disappointment.)

THE PEOPLE'S COMMENTS

On the day of Indran Festival,
There assembled all the people.
Madhavi's absence gave room
For an atmosphere of gloom.

Her distressed mother Chitrapathi
Sent Madhavi's friend Vasanthamalai
To bring her to the Indran festival,
To satisfy the blaming people.

WHY ENMITY WITH THE PEOPLE?

Vasanthamalai was quite upset,
With Madhavi's present state,
And entered the hermitage,
A beautiful flower cottage.

She told Madhavi, "My dear,
Your look is causing me fear,
Why enmity with the people,
Who await you in the festival? "

MADHAVI'S HIGHER EDUCATION

Vasanthamalai simply thought
Madhavi could be brought
Back to her earlier life style
By persuading her for a while.

She said, "You know royal dance,
Besides the people's folk dance.
You know well how to sing,
The people's joy so as to bring."

"The instruments you play well.
Also the traditional throw ball.
In kitchen you're too smart.
Also in the color powder art."

"You're an expert in making bedding.
None can beat you in swimming.
You know seasons' outfit dressing.
Also the art of body bending."

"Others' mind you can read well.
You're a gifted speaker to tell.
You're a good writer as well.
You decorate flowers so well."

"For every selective occasion
You wore ornaments chosen
That earned the appreciation
Of the people in our town."

"To fix the time and date
For any event to suit
You know to calculate
As an expert in this art."

"In the other arts and science,
And in the field of dance,
You've your specialty,
Besides your own capability."

AN ACT OF SHAME

Vasanthamalai continued:

"Such a famous artist you're
But now an ascetic what for?
Is it not an act of shame,
That may spoil your name? "

"Listen, our wise Southerners,
And several other commoners,
They cast in one voice
Aspersions on you for this."

"It's no good for us
To hear such abuses.
It's a shameful act
I feel so, in fact."

I'VE GIVEN UP SHAME

Madhavi replied:

"The moment I heard,
My dear Kovalan died,
My life ceased not then,
What a shameful act of mine? "

"No question now arises
When I lost their praises
From that day onward,
As a shameless coward.