of comparison in the Tamil country. But here the poet pays a compliment to Paari as well as teaches a moral lesson. Waters in Paari’s territory ought to be clearer because he has a clear and unsullied record, and his lake is cooler because he refreshes with his giving all those who have recourse to him.²¹ Similarly, the flowers of his lake are more fragrant, and the poet would compare the heroine’s fragrance, not to any flower in general, but to the flowers of Paari’s lake, or to the flowers that bloom on Sirumalai of the Paaṇṭiyas, or to the hill of Oori, the beneficent chief, or of Aay.²²

Much that was ethical entered also into the world of Tamil imagery. A few examples will suffice for the present. The bee goes from flower to flower. Having spent the day among the aquatic flowers, when the. sun sets and the aquatic flowers close their petals, the bee betakes itself to the blossoms on creepers and branches which flower at night. The bees that abandon the lotus and the water-lily in the evening for the jasmine and the kaantal, remind the poet of those who forsake the friendship of men whose wealth and influence are on the decrease.²³ Another poet imagines a trial of strength between a rogue-elephant and a tiger. To the bud-beetle the tiger’s spots seem to be flowers of the veenkai. It flies to and fro between the elephant and the tiger, trying to taste of the elephant’s rut, as well as of what it imagines to be the flowers of the veenkai. The beetle reminds the poet of those peacemakers who seek to bring together two contending armies or two opposing clans.²⁴

For wealth of Nature imagery the Kali odes occupy a very prominent place in Cankam literature. In the Kali odes of the paalai class the sun is represented as cruel as a sovereign who, because of the evil influence of his minister, has become an unjust ruler. On the other hand in a neytal Kali where Nature is considered under a different aspect, the evening sun is compared to a victorious and virtuous king proceeding to another world to enjoy the fruits of his good deeds.²⁵

Trees in the paalai region are said to be dried up like the

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   ²⁵Compare Kali 13 with Kali 118.