Chapter 4

Songs That Stung

At a song exchange on the seashore Kovalan sang first, Madhavi answered — and Kovalan, out of his own suspicion, left her

Kanalvari — the seashore song

One day Kovalan and Madhavi went with their companions to a grove on the seashore. There, by custom, lover and beloved sang songs in turn — what is called kanalvari. Kovalan sang first — a song full of separation and doubt, in a woman's voice, as the tradition of this form required.

Seeing that something had changed in Kovalan's voice, Madhavi took the lute from his hand — outwardly pleased, inwardly troubled — and sang her answer, a song in praise of the river Kaveri and the city of Puhar, which was itself a double-edged, careful reply.

Kovalan's suspicion

Hearing Madhavi's song, Kovalan said — "I sang the kanalvari; but she, full of deceit, sang in her own melody for someone else." This was Kovalan's own suspicion — it was he who accused Madhavi of another lover, not Madhavi who accused him.

Driven by fate, with the lute as his pretext, Kovalan slowly drew away from Madhavi's embrace and said — "The day has closed; let us go." But she did not rise. Kovalan left with his servants. Madhavi calmed her companions, and with a sad heart got into her carriage and returned home, alone.

Source: Tamil epic — the Silappadikaram (traditionally by Ilango Adigal), Songs That Stung

Now — how much stayed with you?

Fact

What was kanalvari?

  • A martial skill
  • A wedding rite
  • A tradition of songs sung in turn by lover and beloved on the seashore
  • A trade contract
Read the whole story — The seashore song

Kanalvari was a tradition of songs sung in turn by lover and beloved on the seashore.

In that tradition Kovalan and Madhavi sang together one day.

Who said it?

"The day has closed; let us go." — who said this?

  • Kovalan to Madhavi
  • Madhavi to Kovalan
  • Kovalan's servant
  • Kannagi to Kovalan
Read the whole story — An excuse to leave

Kovalan said this, using the lute as his pretext, while drawing away from Madhavi's embrace.

After this he left with his servants.

Why is that?

Why did Kovalan leave Madhavi?

  • Because Madhavi accused him
  • Because Kannagi had arrived
  • Because Madhavi refused to dance
  • Because he felt Madhavi's answering song was meant for another lover
Read the whole story — A suspicion of his own

Hearing Madhavi's song, Kovalan felt she was singing for someone else.

The accusation was Kovalan's own suspicion; Madhavi had made no accusation against him.

Fact

In her answering song, whose glory did Madhavi sing?

  • The Himalaya mountain
  • The river Kaveri and the city of Puhar
  • The moon and the night
  • Her own love
Read the whole story — A careful reply

Madhavi sang in praise of the river Kaveri and the city of Puhar.

The song was itself double-edged and careful — no direct accusation.

Fact

What did Madhavi do on hearing the changed tone of Kovalan's voice?

  • She took the lute from his hand, outwardly pleased, inwardly troubled
  • She began to weep at once
  • She asked Kovalan a direct question
  • She left the place
Read the whole story — A hidden worry

Madhavi felt that something had changed in Kovalan's voice.

She took the lute, outwardly pleased, while inwardly troubled.

What happened?

What did Madhavi do after Kovalan left?

  • She followed him
  • She complained to the king
  • She went to Kannagi's house
  • She calmed her companions and returned home alone with a sad heart
Read the whole story — Home alone

After Kovalan left, Madhavi calmed her companions.

Then, with a sad heart, she got into her carriage and went home alone.

Fact

What accusation did Kovalan make against Madhavi?

  • That she had failed in her dance
  • That, full of deceit, she was singing for someone else
  • That she had demanded money
  • That she had gone to meet Kannagi
Read the whole story — A jealous charge

Kovalan said that Madhavi, full of deceit, was singing in her melody for someone else.

This charge, born of his own jealousy, began the end of their bond.

Why is that?

Why does the story make clear that Kovalan sang first and Madhavi answered afterwards?

  • Only to give the order of the songs
  • Because in the tradition the woman sang first
  • So it is clear that the break began from Kovalan's own suspicion, not from a shared misunderstanding
  • Because Madhavi did not know how to sing
Read the whole story — A one-sided break

Kovalan sang first, Madhavi answered in song.

This makes clear that the break began from Kovalan's own suspicion, not from a shared misunderstanding.

Fact

What excuse did Kovalan give for leaving Madhavi?

  • Hunger
  • Poor health
  • Business
  • The lute, and the day closing
Read the whole story — A small excuse

Kovalan used the lute as his pretext, and said the day was closing.

The real reason was his own suspicion, not any real need.

Fact

In which canto of the poem does this episode come?

  • Canto 7 of the Puhar book, called Kanalvari
  • In the Madurai book
  • In the Vanji book
  • In the prologue (Patikam)
Read the whole story — An event of the Puhar book

This episode comes in Canto 7 of the Puhar book, called Kanalvari.

From this event the bond between Kovalan and Madhavi begins to break.