Natrinai 18 – Pain and a king’s praise

In this episode, we explore the Tamil Sangam Literary work Natrinai Poem 18, written by Poikaiyaar, who has penned three poems in all of Sangam literature. The other two are in the domain of ‘Puram’ or the outer sphere of life, which speaks about the life and values of a particular person, a Chera king in this case. We see traces of his ‘Puram’ focus even in this ‘Akam’ or the inner-sphere universal poem, set in the ‘Paalai’ or the dryland landscape, in the consoling words of the lady’s confidante to the lady.