Spgm 051 - Madhavi's Mental Agony Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

"Madhavi's body became pale
When she heard the sad tale
What Vasanthamalai told her,
As she was upset o'er the affair."

"You know, she's bedridden,
With the past events one by one,
Haunting her memory still
Thus losing her charm and will."

"When I went to see her,
A request came from her,
That to you I give this letter,
When I meet you wherever."

"Town after town, I went round,
Now you're here, I've found."
So saying Kowsikan gave the letter
In Kovalan's hand thereafter.

KOVALAN RECEIVED THE LETTER

From his past life he knew well,
The touch of her sweet smell,
Which he could find from the seal
On the letter and then feel.

His mind couldn't refuse it,
So, he received and opened it.
Its contents he started reading
With some affected inner feeling.

THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER

"My submissions to your feet, my dear,
These words of mine may not be clear.
But still, show me some compassion.
Your old parents you've forgotten."

"After the midnight you left,
With your wife from an upper caste.
For that what's my fault?
This almost stops my heart."

"Your return back to Pugar Town,
It'll relieve me from my pain.
For the truth ever you remain.
My praises for you again."

Kovalan realized her greatness
From the words in her humbleness.
He came to know that she was faultless.
It was destiny's play and he was blameless.

KOWSIKAN WAS SENT BACK

Kovalan gave back the letter,
Saying, "Show this to my father,
Who may understand me well,
And against me bear no ill will."

KOVALAN DANCED WITH BHANNAR TROUPLE

Kovalan met a Bhannar troupe,
As they moved still further up.
He sang and danced with them.
"How far is Madurai? " he asked them.

SOUTHERN WIND HAD ARRIVED

The Bhannars replied:

"The southern wind carries,
The sweet smell of flowers,
And other pleasant incenses.
Madurai is near, it shows."

THE SOUND OF DRUMS

As decided earlier, by day,
At some place, they had to stay,
And moved out by night
In the visible moon light.

As usual, the day broke.
With that the city woke,
And the temple drums
Sounded like wake up alarms.

The pundits recited the Vedas.
The devotees sang their prayers.
The city's tumultuous noise around,
It got mixed with the drum sound.

Kovalan felt Madurai welcomed
Their arrival with this mixed sound.
They got themselves mentally relieved.
Good days were ahead, they believed.