The stanza is found in the colophons of many of the surviving palm-leaf manuscripts, and confirms the cherished status of this Sangam collection in the Tamil history.
Original Tamil: நற்றிணை நல்ல குறுந்தொகை ஐங்குறுநூறு ஒத்த பதிற்றுப்பத்து ஓங்கு பரிபாடல் கற்றறிந்தார் ஏத்தும் கலியோடு அகம்புறம் என்று இத்திறத்த எட்டுத் தொகை Translation: Naṟṟiṇai, good Kuṟuntokai, Aiṅkuṟunūṟu, even Patiṟṟuppattu, high Paripāṭal, along with Kali, Akam, [and] Puṟam praised by learned knowledgeable people, these parts [form] the Eṭṭuttokai Tamil tradition mentions academies of poets that composed classical literature over thousands of years before the common era, a belief that scholars consider a myth.
[11][note 1] The Ettuttokai along with other Sangam literature had fallen into oblivion for much of the 2nd millennium of the common era, but were preserved by and rediscovered in the monasteries of Hinduism, particularly those related to Shaivism near Kumbakonam.
These rediscovered palm-leaf (Tamil: olai, Sanskrit: talapatra) manuscripts were published by the colonial era scholars in late 19th century.
குறிஞ்சி – தலைவன் கூற்று கவவுக் கடுங்குரையள் காமர் வனப்பினள் குவவுமென் முலையள் கொடிக்கூந் தலளே யாங்குமறந் தமைகோ யானே ஞாங்கர்க் கடுஞ்சுரை நல்லா னடுங்குதலைக் குழவி தாய்காண் விருப்பி னன்ன சாஅய்நோக் கினளே மாஅ யோளே A girl of dark complexion is she Ever ready to embrace, desirable in beauty, with delicately bulging breasts and long flowing hair!
The poems on Agam as well as Puram theme are written in this metre and its regulated and subtle music adds to the poetic beauty.
The poems of Kaliththogai are in Kali metre which is known for its dramatic and lyrical qualities and which, according to Tolkappiyam is well suited to express the emotions of the lovers.
They occasionally mention reverence or include lines alluding to Hindu gods (particularly Murugan), goddesses, Vedas, Puranic legends and temples.
This is a collection of devotional poems (bhakti), which are set to music and written primarily about Thirumal (Vishnu), Murugan and the river Vaigai.