839. Following before the call

ஆயன் குழலுக்கு முன்னமே ஆநிரைபோயிருக்கும் நெஞ்சம் தொடர்ந்து

aayan kuzhalukku munname aaniraipoyirukkum nenjam thodarndu

Even before the herdsman’s flute, the herd will have set out, following his heart.

A herdsman’s flute calls the cattle out to pasture. In Tamil the heart (nenjam) is the seat of both feeling and intent.

840. Drawn towards shared purpose

ஊசியின் வேட்கை யுணர்ந்த துகளெலாம்பேசா தொருதிசை நோக்கு

oosiyin vedkai yunarnda thukalelaampesaa thorudhisai nokku

All the specks that have felt the magnetised needle’s longing gaze one way, without a word.

Iron filings near a magnetised needle feel its pull and settle into lines, all pointing the same way.

841. Fairness under pressure

நெல்வைத்தாற் சாயுங்கோல் கல்வைத்தாற் சாயுங்கோல்சொல்வைத்தாற் சாயா நடு

nelvaithaar saayungol kalvaithaar saayungolsolvaithaar saayaa nadu

Set grain on the scale and the beam tips; set a stone on it and the beam tips; set a word on it and the even-handed middle does not tip.

In Tamil, nadu, ‘the middle’, is both the beam’s centre and fairness itself, which holds firm against pressure to favour one side.