Thirukkural Chapter 112 - The Praise of her Beauty

Couplet 1111 
O flower of the sensitive plant! than thee
More tender's the maiden beloved by me
Explanation
May you flourish, O Anicham! you have a delicate nature But my beloved is more delicate than you

Couplet 1112 
You deemed, as you saw the flowers, her eyes were as flowers, my soul,
That many may see; it was surely some folly that over you stole
Explanation
O my soul, fancying that flowers which are seen by many can resemble her eyes, you become confused at the sight of them

Couplet 1113 
As tender shoot her frame; teeth, pearls; around her odours blend;
Darts are the eyes of her whose shoulders like the bambu bend
Explanation
The complexion of this bamboo-shouldered one is that of a shoot; her teeth, are pearls; her breath, fragrance; and her dyed eyes, lances.

Couplet 1114 
The lotus, seeing her, with head demiss, the ground would eye,
And say, 'With eyes of her, rich gems who wears, we cannot vie.'
Explanation
If the blue lotus could see, it would stoop and look at the ground saying, "I can never resemble the eyes of this excellent jewelled one."

Couplet 1115 
The flowers of the sensitive plant as a girdle around her she placed;
The stems she forgot to nip off; they 'll weigh down the delicate waist
Explanation
No merry drums will be beaten for the (tender) waist of her who has adorned herself with the anicham without having removed its stem

Couplet 1116 
The stars perplexed are rushing wildly from their spheres;
For like another moon this maiden's face appears
Explanation
The stars have become confused in their places not being able to distinguish between the moon and the maid's countenance

Couplet 1117 
In moon, that waxing waning shines, as sports appear,
Are any spots discerned in face of maiden here
Explanation
Could there be spots in the face of this maid like those in the bright full moon ?

Couplet 1118 
Farewell, O moon! If that thine orb could shine
Bright as her face, thou shouldst be love of mine
Explanation
If you can indeed shine like the face of women, flourish, O moon, for then would you be worth loving ?

Couplet 1119 
If as her face, whose eyes are flowers, thou wouldst have charms for me,
Shine for my eyes alone, O moon, shine not for all to see
Explanation
O moon, if you wish to resemble the face of her whose eyes are like (these) flowers, do not appear so as to be seen by all

Couplet 1120 
The flower of the sensitive plant, and the down on the swan's white breast,
As the thorn are harsh, by the delicate feet of this maiden pressed
Explanation
The anicham and the feathers of the swan are to the feet of females, like the fruit of the (thorny) Nerunji