| Translations and Commentaries | 115 |
India.103 The word “muttaraiyar” is explained as denoting the inhabitants of Chēra, Chōḻa and Pāṇṭya countries. It can also be split into muttar + ākiya + aiyar - persons of dignity who are great devotees, according to Pope.104 Students of “History of Literature” (Tamil) will find a valuable point in Pope’s mention of stanza 201 as being also found in the commentary of the Cintāmaṇi.105 For not easily understood phrases, Pope gives in his translation an explanation bringing out the meaning vividly. For instance, tōṭkōṭpu is explained as, “In journeys the rice carried in a bundle over the shoulder.” In Cintāmaṇi this phrase is found as āṟṟuṇā and during his time the current equivalent was kaṭṭucōṟu. All this was pointed out by Pope.106 Extra significance of the word ‘verukkuk kaṇ’ like “freshness” and “lightness” were shown by Pope.107 The prevalence of “Pun”, the result of poetic genius has not escaped Pope. He points them out.108 “Parables in the germ” as Pope calls them have been detected by him in this work and he lists seven of them to illustrate the theme.109 “The definition of man of cultivated understanding is neat.”110 Pope has appreciated this form of definition. Another instance of Pope’s unreserved appreciation is evident when he writes:” This is a fine manly chapter” (chapter 20) and again he feels the “hints of a kind of drama” are found in
103. P.N.P. 197 104. Ibid. Pp. 127, 192 105. Ibid. P. 129 106. Ibid. Pp. 15, 371 107. Ibid. P. 134 108. Ibid. Pp. 187, 193, 359 109. Ibid. P. 113 110. Ibid. P. 136 |