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Continued
from yesterday's instalment
 The Poet depicts Angada handling each and every point raised by Jambavan and others, very politely, satisfactorily and convincingly. ‘Do you think that deserting at this moment would take us anywhere? And even if it is granted that we may escape death for some time now, we know that it cannot be avoided and death is certain. ‘thunjumaaru andri vaazha oNNumO?’ Will we be able to live forever and ever? We have to face death at one time or the other.
‘naaL mEl thOndrin, nanju vaai ittaalanna amudhu andro?’ If the time for death has not yet arrived, even if you take poison, it would act as elixir, and you know that fact!
Let us assume that we desert the two warriors who had sought our help and are able to live for a little more time. How do we propose to spend the rest of our lives? Are we prepared to accept the burden of guilt and toil under shame for the rest of our lives, known as ‘deserters at the time of need?’ ‘anjinaam pazhiyum poondaam.’ We would be known as cowards. We would be scoffed at. Is that befitting a warrior? Would a soldier like to live with disrepute hanging over his head? Is that what you want?
You know that Vali - my father - was one among the most valiant to have trodden this earth.
‘thaanavarOdum matrai chakkarath thalaivarOdum vaanavar kadaya maataa mari kadal kadaindha
Vali.’ Don’t you know that the ocean could not be churned with all the rakshasas teeming on one side and the celestials on the other side, with Lord Vishnu heading them? And Vali assisted them in doing so. They could churn the ocean with his help without much effort.
‘aanavan ambu ondraalE ulandhamai ayarthadhu en nee?’ And you also know that the very same Vali was killed with just a single arrow by Rama. Such being so, how do you let your mind to go astray like this and lose your confidence in him? ‘meeL alar vElai pattadhu uNarndhilai pOlum mElOi.’ You the wise one, you do not seem to realise what happened to the ocean when we attempted to construct the bridge across it to reach Lanka. How can you lose heart? How can you feel that Rama and Lakshmana would not be able to handle these ogres?
 Observe that each and every argument of Angada is well supplemented with a polite remark, an admiring phrase or a sincere praise. How can it fail to make its mark?
Jambavan felt a little ashamed. ‘I have seen most valiant of ogres in my days’, he responded, as is wont of all seniors.
‘maaliyaik kaNdEn pinnai maaliyavaanaik kaNdEn. Kaala nEmiyaik kaNdEn iraNiyan thanayum kaNdEn.’ I have seen great ogres like
Mali, Maliyavan, Kala Nemi, Iraniyan et al, in my long life and have participated in many a war against them.
‘aala maa vidamum kaNdEn.’ I stood witness when the poison of all poisons -
aalakaalam - emerged from the ocean. ‘madhuvinai anusanOdum vElayai kalakkak kaNdEn.’ I have seen the great
Madhu and Kaidaba challenging Lord Vishnu.
‘ivarkku uLa midukkum uNdO?’ But believe me, not a single one of them can match just any one of these army of demons that have come marching on us now in the battlefield.
More over, as a warrior, you know death is part of the job. It is inherent in the responsibility that we have undertaken.’
More follows...
Hari Krishnan
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