ABOUT THE POEM:
The poem LEGACY OF THE RIGHTEOUS recounts the greatness of King Sibi, a legendary ruler who was known for his extraordinary sense of justice and compassion. To protect a frightened pigeon from a hawk, Sibi offers his own flesh equal to the bird’s weight. When the scale remains unbalanced, he finally offers his whole body to uphold righteousness.
From this noble lineage comes the Chozha prince Killli, a warrior and just ruler. The speaker, at first, doubts the prince’s virtue after being injured by him but is soon moved by the prince’s humility and remorse. Instead of defending himself, the prince feels ashamed, as though he himself were at fault. His ability to forgive those who wrong him proves the nobility of the Chozha dynasty. The speaker, now deeply admiring him, blesses the prince to live long—longer than the countless sands of the Kaveri river.
LEGACY OF THE RIGHTEOUS
(THE TALE OF KING SIBI AND THE CHOZHA HEIR)
The matted sages, wise in holy lore,
Did penance deep that all earth’s grief might cease,
Sustained by wind, beneath sun’s relentless roar.
To stir even hearts of saints in search of peace,
King Sibi ruled with justice broad and fair—
Made birds rejoice, and strife among them lease.
A pigeon, trembling, fled the falcon’s glare,
And sought his aid—a feathered life to save.
The hawk cried foul, demanding rightful share.
From off his thigh, the king a measure gave—
His flesh to match the bird in balance true;
But scale still dipped, though noble was the brave.
Thus stepped he forth, with will none could undo,
To weigh himself upon the waiting scale—
His justice shone like morning’s purging dew.
From him descends the Chozha in this tale,
Thou art his kin, O Killli, wise and great,
Whose chariot quells the foe with iron flail.
Thou lord of bowmen, master of their fate,
Thou horseman, born of warrior’s mighty line—
Yet still I doubted thee—how blind my state!
Thy forebears, robed in Aadhi beads divine,
Would never stoop to cause a seer distress;
But I, in wrath, spoke words far from benign.
I asked if this round wound was done in jest—
Harsh words I flung, in pain and angry spite—
Yet you, though wronged, bore shame as self-confessed.
You showed the Chozha heart in clearest light:
To pardon those who strike with erring hand—
Such grace you gave, and turned my wrong to right.
So may you live, as grains of river sand
That Kaveri heaps on fertile delta’s breast—
Long be your reign, O prince of noble land!
PURANANURU - 43
POET: THAMAPPAL KANNANAR
PATRON: THE CHOZHA PRINCE MAVALATHAN, YOUNGER BROTHER OF NALANKILLI
