While bringing out the full significance of the Kuṟaḷ Maṉattukkaṇ, he indulges in a commentary which seems to suggest that he has in his mind, the following line:

It does not mean that she has entered the heart of one who casts one’s lustful eye on her. What he means is that she should maintain the purity of heart and follow the dictates of her conscience. She must so seal herself as not to attract the attention of others. Purity of heart must reflect her mind. This interpretation reveals in an abundant measure his keenness of perception.

One’s turn of expression must suggest a world of ideas. It is like a merchant showing the fringe of a costly raiment. Does not the fringe suggest its whole texture and quality? The simile³⁴⁸ which illustrates the deft use of words has indeed a charm of its own.

Tamil embraces literature, music and drama. But Beschi classifies it into prose, poetry and drama (following the Western system). This interpretation may be considered as a real contribution to our fresh approach to Tamil.

Puṟam

Poruḷatikāram is one among the three dividsions in Tamil grammar. This is peculiar to Tamil. It is subdivided into nine. Of these, prosody and rhetoric and traditional names have been dealt with by foreign scholars but akam (the subjective) and puṟam (the objective) were left untouched. Pope dealt with puṟam but excluded akam.

Puṟam was chiefly concerned with war. Pope wrote about this topic and introduced it to western readers. Under the chapter of puṟapporuḷ veṇpāmālai he writes about it. Tolkāppiam has seven divisions under the chapter puṟam while puṟapporuḷ veṇpāmālai – a later work–has 12 divisions. Pope has followed the latter work. It was only after Dr. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer published this work

348. Ibid. S. 195