Thirukkural Chapter 124 - Wasting Away

Couplet 1231 
Thine eyes grown dim are now ashamed the fragrant flow'rs to see,
Thinking on him, who wand'ring far, leaves us in misery
Explanation
While we endure the unbearable sorrow, your eyes weep for him who is gone afar, and shun (the sight of) fragrant flowers

Couplet 1232 
The eye, with sorrow wan, all wet with dew of tears,
As witness of the lover's lack of love appears
Explanation
The discoloured eyes that shed tears profusely seem to betray the unkindness of our beloved

Couplet 1233 
These withered arms, desertion's pangs abundantly display,
That swelled with joy on that glad nuptial day
Explanation
The shoulders that swelled on the day of our union (now) seem to announce our separation clearly (to the public)

Couplet 1234 
When lover went, then faded all their wonted charms,
And armlets' golden round slips off from these poor wasted arms
Explanation
In the absence of your consort, your shoulders having lost their former beauty and fulness, your bracelets of pure gold have become loose

Couplet 1235 
These wasted arms, the bracelet with their wonted beauty gone,
The cruelty declare of that most cruel one
Explanation
The (loosened) bracelets, and the shoulders from which the old beauty has faded, relate the cruelty of the pitiless one

Couplet 1236 
I grieve, 'tis pain to me to hear him cruel chid,
Because the armlet from my wasted arm has slid
Explanation
I am greatly pained to hear you call him a cruel man, just because your shoulders are reduced and your bracelets loosened

Couplet 1237 
My heart! say ought of glory wilt thou gain,
If to that cruel one thou of thy wasted arms complain
Explanation
Can you O my soul! gain glory by relating to the (so-called) cruel one the clamour of my fading shoulders?

Couplet 1238 
One day the fervent pressure of embracing arms I checked,
Grew wan the forehead of the maid with golden armlet decked
Explanation
When I once loosened the arms that were in embrace, the forehead of the gold-braceleted women turned sallow

Couplet 1239 
As we embraced a breath of wind found entrance there;
The maid's large liquid eyes were dimmed with care
Explanation
When but a breath of breeze penetrated our embrace, her large cool eyes became sallow

Couplet 1240 
The dimness of her eye felt sorrow now,
Beholding what was done by that bright brow
Explanation
Was it at the sight of what the bright forehead had done that the sallowness of her eyes became sad?