Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Thirukkural Chapter 109 - The Pre-marital love


Couplet 1081 
Goddess? or peafowl rare? She whose ears rich jewels wear,
Is she a maid of human kind? All wildered is my mind
Explanation
Is this jewelled female a celestial, a choice peahen, or a human being ? My mind is perplexed

Couplet 1082 
She of the beaming eyes, To my rash look her glance replies,
As if the matchless goddess' hand Led forth an armed band
Explanation
This female beauty returning my looks is like a celestial maiden coming with an army to contend against me

Couplet 1083 
Death's form I formerly Knew not; but now 'tis plain to me;
He comes in lovely maiden's guise, With soul-subduing eyes
Explanation
I never knew before what is called Yama; I see it now; it is the eyes that carry on a great fight with (the help of) female qualities

Couplet 1084 
In sweet simplicity, A woman's gracious form hath she;
But yet those eyes, that drink my life, Are with the form at strife
Explanation
These eyes that seem to kill those who look at them are as it were in hostilities with this feminine simplicity

Couplet 1085 
The light that on me gleams, Is it death's dart? or eye's bright beams?
Or fawn's shy glance? All three appear In form of maiden here
Explanation
Is it Yama, (a pair of) eyes or a hind ?- Are not all these three in the looks of this maid ?

Couplet 1086 
If cruel eye-brow's bow, Unbent, would veil those glances now;
The shafts that wound this trembling heart Her eyes no more would dart
Explanation
Her eyes will cause (me) no trembling sorrow, if they are properly hidden by her cruel arched eyebrows

Couplet 1087 
As veil o'er angry eyes Of raging elephant that lies,
The silken cincture's folds invest This maiden's panting breast
Explanation
The cloth that covers the firm bosom of this maiden is (like) that which covers the eyes of a rutting elephant

Couplet 1088 
Ah woe is me my might, That awed my foemen in the fight,
By lustre of that beaming brow Borne down, lies broken now
Explanation
On her bright brow alone is destroyed even that power of mine that used to terrify the most fearless

Couplet 1089 
Like tender fawn's her eye; Clothed on is she with modesty;
What added beauty can be lent; By alien ornament
Explanation
Of what use are other jewels to her who is adorned with modesty, and the meek looks of a hind ?

Couplet 1090 
The palm-tree's fragrant wine, To those who taste yields joys divine;
But love hath rare felicity For those that only see
Explanation
Unlike boiled honey which yields delight only when it is drunk, love gives pleasure even when looked at

No comments:

Post a Comment