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Continued
from yesterday's instalment
 Kamban adds his own touch of humour to the scene with a remarkable gift for observation of human nature. A person who is drunk, however high the pedestal that he happens to occupy may be, would try to hide the fact that he had consumed liquor. Normally when he is spoken to, he covers up his mouth with his fingers or prefers to keep a distance and look to a side when he speaks back. ‘Would the smell betray me?’ is thought that is running as a strong undercurrent in his mind and keeps nagging him.
See what Kamban says. Sugriva then prepared himself to meet Lakshmana. He called for items that are to be taken as a mark of respect when meeting a dignitary. He did not carry it himself. Instead, he gave them to Angada and told him, ‘You go. You take these to him.’
‘aNNarkku iyaindha ellam nandru koNdu innum neeyE naNugu ena avanai
Evi’. You take all the tokens of honour and go close to him, he ordered Angada. And where did Sugriva stand, when Angada went near Lakshmana?
‘than thuNai dhEvimaarum thamarodum thazhuva thaanum nindranan nediya vaayil kadaith thalai.’ He ensured that he was surrounded by his wives and close kith and kin, and stood at the massive gates of the palace in which Hanuman had seated
Lakshmana!
An excellent observation indeed! But the situation demands that Sugriva has to go near Lakshmana. Finally he picked up the courage to walk to him. Lakshmana had refused to accept the throne that was offered to him by Hanuman and was seated on a stone platform. ‘When my brother, the king of kings, is seated now on the grass, how am I to sit on the throne? I will not sit there.’ Sugriva walked to him and Lakshmana must have sensed the condition in which the former was. He was angered on seeing him, says the Poet.
‘thOtriya arik kulathu arasai thOndralum Etru edhir nOkkinan.’ Lakshmana saw the king of monkeys who appeared there.
‘ezhundhadhu av vazhi seetram.’ He was angered to see him. Now, there was no reason for Lakshmana to get angered, because he has already been apprised of the efforts by Tara and Hanuman. Therefore there is no reason for him to be angered with Sugriva for the supposed lapse. Kamban leaves it to the perception of the reader. There can only be one reason now! He could not stand the smell!
‘angu adhuthanai theLindha sindhyaal aatrinan, dharumathin amaidhi unnuvaan.’ He controlled his anger with his wisdom and clarity of thought, for he always stood by Dharma. And then, Lakshmana was so magnanimous and embraced Sugriva to him tight to him.
The Poet heightens the drama by this small but effective observation. The embarrassment that a drunkard has to go through in situations like this! Of course, there are people who do not at all feel guilty about what they do. And that kind of people is nothing new for this dear old earth of ours. Valluvar observes -
‘naaN enum nallaaL puram kodukkum kaL ennum
pENaap perum kutrathaarkku.’ (Kural 924)
 “The fair maid of modesty will turn her back on those who are guilty of the great and abominable crime of drunkenness.” (Tr. by Rev. Drew and John Lazarus) The seasoned drunkard is not ashamed. He also says, “Reasoning with a drunkard is like going under water with a torch in search of a drowned man.” (Kural 929) Light up a flame and go under water in search of a drowned man. Your attempt to reason with the seasoned drunkard is as futile!
And what other moment could have been the most effective one for Sugriva to undertake a vow of abstaining from liquor!
More follows...
Hari Krishnan
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