பக்கம்:தமிழியல் கட்டுரைகள்.pdf/100

விக்கிமூலம் இலிருந்து
இப்பக்கம் மெய்ப்பு பார்க்கப்படவில்லை

93 epic here has taken the form of the Sanskrit literary epic, thanks to the influence of the Sanskrit and Prakrit works which have become popular in the Tamil Land. 率 岑 泰 “In this story, the unique feature is that strategy, espionage and statesmanship are not only serving the righteous cause but are also inspired by human friendship and love therefore humanised. “It is because he has developed this humanistic outlook that this Jain ascetic of a poet enjoys humorous situations and innocent pleasures of the life of the world. This new outlook is itself a reflection of the change in attitudes to life taking place in this period. “It is very difficult to believe that the poet is narrating this story to preach Jainism when he actually is revealing to us the innocent joys of life in spite of cruel fate. True to the tradition and pre-marital love, the later poets always show their heroes and heroines to be inspired by this love. Vācavatattai and Utayanan look at each other by accident or by providence when Utayanan controls the rogue elephant and when Vācavatattai is looking at that great act from the paiace. They at once feel love for each other. The description of this pre-marital love is in accordance with Tamil convention, and the similies used here are found in the commentary on Irayanār Aka-p-porul, which is the authoritative exposition of the philosophy of pre-marital love.” From these quotations it will not be difficult to realise that the ancient Tamil versive of the story of Udayanan is worthy of critical and comparative study from many view-points. Particularly the Sanskrit and non-Sanskrit elements should be analysed and studied. But we will restrict ourselves with just one aspect in this brief paper — the description of the city of Ujjain. HH In Peruñkatai — the great Tamil classic of Sangam style we have at present 5 cantos, 99 kåtais or chapters, 16,212 lines (more than thrice in size to the earlier Tamil epics — Siłappatikāram or Manimékalai) even at this incomplete condition which can be