Tamil → English transcript

Before the twelfth century, Rama has no role here.

The reason I say this is, as he himself said, the Kamba Ramayanam.

The Kamba Ramayanam was written in the twelfth century.

Only after that does the Kamba Ramayanam exist within Tamil Nadu.

If we take the works from the very beginning before that—Akananuru, Purananuru, Tirukkural, Silappatikaram,

Tirumurugarruppadai, Avvaiyar’s works—in any of these

the Ramayana is not mentioned at all. There is absolutely no reference to Rama,

our literature has told us that clearly, hasn’t it?

To give all that up, are Tamilians ready for that,

is he going to go along with it?

Krishna has come and he has a question for you.

Ask him to go ahead and ask.

Please go ahead, Mr. Krishna.

This is the kind of talk spoken by someone who has not read Tamil literature.

In the Silappathikaram, it is very, very clear about the Ramayana.

We must not forget that the Ramayana is discussed in Sangam literature.

Where is it?

The story of the Ramayana in Tamil Nadu’s literature…

No, brother, you have to read out where it is.

You should not just say it in public and move on.

You must say it.

Brother, is it in the Akananuru? Is it in the Purananuru?

Is it in the Tirumurugarruppadai? I am asking something else.

Why not? Let it be there. Read it. First read it and then talk.

Sir, I am talking only because I have read it. You tell me where it is.

Sir, now we have half an hour of time. Before the conclusion part, in the Silappathikaram,

if you tell us exactly where the Ramayana is mentioned, I too will happily listen and accept it.

Shall I recite a verse from the Silappathikaram?

Take it and read it, sir.

Shall I recite a verse from the Silappathikaram?

Read Aachiyar Kuravai.

You take it and read, sir.

Read and show it, sir, I will understand. If I do not know it, keep it that way, sir.

Read Tamil literature and then speak.

Sir, I am saying you take it and read.

I request you to read this and show it.

Mr. Krishnan is asking you to say exactly where it is.

In which century did the Kamba Ramayanam appear?

So… Soran too… I am talking about that very verse, listen and see.

I am saying what I heard with my own heart.

“Soranum pormaḍiyat thennilangai setrazhitta sevagan sīr chērātha seviyenna seviyē.”

“Tirumal sīr chērātha seviyenna seviyē” — that is from Silappathikaram.

This is a verse that comes in the Silappathikaram.

Can you say it here?

Can you say it is not in Tamil literature?

First you study Tamil, then say that only after the twelfth century did the Ramayana come.