Old Tamil Poetry

Translations of Tamil Poetic works that span 2000 years

07 Feb 2025
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Kurunthokai 126

My friend! Blind to charms of youth,
he went away lured by wealth;
while I worry “He isn’t back yet; where’s he?”,
fragrant jasmine creepers in these woods
watered by cool monsoon rains laugh at me
with their row of buds as sparkling teeth.

இளமை பாரார் வளநசைஇச் சென்றோர்
இவணும் வாரா ரெவண ரோவெனப்
பெயல்புறந் தந்த பூங்கொடி முல்லைத்
தொகுமுகை யிலங்கெயி றாக
நகுமே தோழி நறுந்தண் காரே.

“My friend! Youth is a brief joyful period of one’s life. But he was lured away by wealth and left me here in the prime of my youth. The rainy season has started but he hasn’t come back yet. While I worry about his whereabouts, the fragrant jasmine creeper in these woods has started flowering in cool monsoon rains. The row of jasmine buds seem to be laughing at me mockingly like a row of sparkling teeth.”

The woods are mocking at her because their paramour, the rain, has arrived and nourished them, while her lover hasn’t come yet to meet her. So she feels that the row of jasmine buds are laughing at her. Jasmine buds as metaphor for sparkling teeth is oft repeated in Tamil poetry.

இளமை – Youth
பாரார் – without looking at
வளம் – wealth
நசை – desire / lure
எவணரோ – where is he
பெயல் – rain
நறுந்தண் – cool fragrant
கார் – monsoon
புறம் – forest/ woods
பூங் கொடி – flowering creeper
முல்லை – jasmine
தொகு முகை – row of buds
இலங்கு – shining / sparkling
எயிறு – teeth
நகும் – laugh

Posted in Sangam and tagged ,
12 Oct 2024
1 Comment

Kalingathu p Parani 13

பூமாதுஞ் சயமாதும் பொலிந்து வாழும்
புயத்திருப்ப மிகவுயரத் திருப்பள் என்று
நாமாதும் கலைமாதும் என்னச் சென்னி
நாவகத்துள் இருப்பாளை நவிலு வாமே.

As Goddesses of wealth and victory
Reside in Kulothunga’s mighty arms
Above them shall I be says the Goddess of words
And resides in his tongue – let me sing her praise!

This poem is part of the invocation to gods in the beginning of Kalingathup Parani, a 11th century work detailing the victory of Chola Army over Kalinga. The poet says “Kulothunga’s arms are powerful and mighty, in which reside the goddesses of wealth (earth) and victory. The goddess of words considers herself above them and hence resides in his tongue. Let me sing her praise before starting my work”

The poet subtly places the power of words over sword is my interpretation of this poem.

பூமாது – goddess of earth (wealth)
சயமாது – goddess of victory
பொலிந்து – grand (mighty)
புயம் – arms
மிக உயரத்து – Much above
நாமாது – goddess of words
கலைமாது – goddess of arts
சென்னி – Chola King (Kulothungan in this poem)
நாவகம் – inside his tongue
நவில் – tell (sing her praise)

Posted in Later works and tagged , , , ,
29 Sep 2024
1 Comment

Puranaanooru – 66

O‘ Karikala astride an aggressive elephant!
You are of the clan that commanded ocean winds
To set sail across great oceans!
You proved your strength in this battle to emerge victorious;
But isn’t the fame of your opponent,
Who fasted to death in the battle field of fertile Venni*
Feeling ashamed of the battle wound in his back,
Greater than yours?

நளி இரு முந்நீர் நாவாய் ஓட்டி,
வளி தொழில் ஆண்ட உரவோன் மருக!
களி இயல் யானைக் கரிகால்வளவ!
சென்று, அமர்க் கடந்த நின் ஆற்றல் தோன்ற
வென்றோய்! நின்னினும் நல்லன் அன்றே
கலி கொள் யாணர் வெண்ணிப் பறந்தலை,
மிகப் புகழ் உலகம் எய்தி,
புறப் புண் நாணி, வடக்கிருந்தோனே?

  • Venni – place where Battle of Venni happened in 190 CE. In present day Thiruvarur district, near Needamangalam.

Poet Venni Kuyathiyaar comes to sing the praise of Chola king Karikalan after the battle of Venni. In the battle Karikalan’s spear pierced the heart of his opponent Chera King Uthiyan Charalathan and emerged in his back. As being wounded in the back is considered dishonorable to a warrior, the Chera King fasts till death to restore his honor. The poet says to the victor “Karikala astride a ferocious elephant! You come from a clan of rulers who ruled the seas. You proved your strength in this battle by hurling a spear that pierced the heart of your opponent and emerged in his back. You proved your greatness. But isn’t the fame of Uthiyan Cheralathan, who decided to fast unto death to restore his honor in this fertile town of Venni, greater than yours?”

I read it as the poet implying a honorable death in battlefield brings glorious fame even more than that of the victor. This poem was referenced in the recently released Tamil movie “Meiyazhagan”.

முந்நீர் – Ocean
நாவாய் – Ship
வளி – Wind
உரவோன் – Strong men
மருகன் – descendant
களி – (elpehant) in rut – aggressive
அமர் – battle
ஆற்றல் – strength
வென்றோய் – you won
நின்னினும் நல்லன் அன்றே – isn’t he greater than you
கலி – grow / fertile
பறந்தலை – battle field
புகழ் – fame
புறப் புண் – back wound
நாணி – ashamed
வடக்கிருந்தோனே – he who starved himself to death

Posted in Sangam and tagged , ,
06 Feb 2024
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Kurunthokai 166

As cool waves of the sea displace fish in backwaters
Flocks of stork too move where the fish moved;
Such a pleasant town is Marandhai;
But when one is alone, it causes much anguish.

தண் கடற் படு திரை பெயர்த்தலின், வெண் பறை
நாரை நிரை பெயர்ந்து அயிரை ஆரும்,
ஊரோ நன்றுமன், மரந்தை;
ஒரு தனி வைகின், புலம்பு ஆகின்றே.

She is pining for him as her parents keep her home bound and she is unable to meet him in the seashore as planned. Her friend consoles her saying “This town of Marandhai is a pleasant seaside town. When the sea waves push back the fish in back waters, storks that roam the seashore too move to where the fish has gone. Similarly he too will find a way to come and meet you even though you are unable to go to the seashore. This pleasant town causes much anguish when one is alone and separated from their love. He won’t let you suffer but will come and meet you”

தண் – cool
திரை – waves
பெயர்த்தலின் -(as it) moves away / displaces
நாரை – stork
அயிரை – loach fish
வைகின் – (if) passes
புலம்பு – sorrow

Posted in Sangam and tagged
03 Feb 2024
1 Comment

Kurunthokai 63

You think of going out and making money
As pleasure and generosity aren’t for those who lack wealth;
But will that dusky girl too come along with me
Or are you pushing me alone, tell me, my heart!

‘ஈதலும் துய்த்தலும் இல்லோர்க்கு இல்’ எனச்
செய் வினை கைம்மிக எண்ணுதி; அவ் வினைக்கு
அம் மா அரிவையும் வருமோ?
எம்மை உய்த்தியோ? உரைத்திசின்- நெஞ்சே!

He has to leave her and go away to earn money. But he is torn between love and duty. So he chides his heart saying ” You say it is the duty of a man to earn money because only then he can be generous to others and also enjoy the pleasures of this life. I agree. But leaving her alone and going away hurts me. If she too comes along with me, it will be good. But you are pushing me to go alone, my heart”

Posted in Sangam and tagged
23 Oct 2023
2 Comments

Thirukkural 675

பொருள்கருவி காலம்வினையிடனோ

டைந்துமிருடீர வெண்ணிச் செயல்.

Resources, tools, time, deed and place –

Consider these five carefully and then act.

பொருள், கருவி, காலம், வினை, இடனொடு ஐந்தும்

இருள் தீர எண்ணிச் செயல்!.

Before proceeding to do a job, think carefully about the resources and tools you have, the right time to act, nature of the job and the place of action. Proceed with the job only when you have clarity about these five.

பொருள் – Resource

கருவி – Tool

காலம் – Time (to act)

வினை – Job / deed

இடன் – இடம் – place (of act)

இருள் தீர – without doubt

எண்ணி – think

செயல் – Act

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged
30 Mar 2023
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Puranaanooru – 242

Youth won’t adorn themselves with you;
Nor bangled lasses pluck and gather you;
The bard won’t gently bend your stem
with the bow of his harp to pluck and wear you;
Nor the songstress sport you in her hair;
Why do you still bloom in this Ollaiyur*, O Jasmine,
Even after your chief, the majestic spear bearing Satthan
Who felled many a foe valorously is no more?

*Ollaiyur – supposed to be the town of Oliyamangalam in present day Pudukkottai district

இளையோர் சூடார்; வளையோர் கொய்யார்;
நல் யாழ் மருப்பின் மெல்ல வாங்கி,
பாணன் சூடான்; பாடினி அணியாள்;
ஆண்மை தோன்ற ஆடவர்க் கடந்த
வல் வேல் சாத்தன் மாய்ந்த பின்றை
முல்லையும் பூத்தியோ, ஒல்லையூர் நாட்டே?

The poet comes to the town of Ollaiyur which has recently lost its chief Satthan who was famous for his valorous deeds in battlefield. The whole town is in mourning. The poet sees a Jasmine creeper bloom incongruously in the mourning town. So he asks the Jasmine “The whole town is in mourning because of the death of the majestic spear bearing Satthan. Youth are listless and will not adorn themselves with flowers. The dainty girls overcome with grief are not going to pluck you from the creeper. Bards who used to frequent the town to sing the praise of Satthan will not gently bend your stem with the bow of their harp and pluck you to wear in their hair. Songstresses too are grief stricken and will not beautify themselves with you. So for whom do you bloom in this town, O Jasmine?”

Posted in Sangam and tagged
29 Mar 2023
1 Comment

Nattrinai – 172

(Her friend telling him to formalize the relationship instead of simply meeting secretively)

While playing with friends,
We planted a laurel tree seed
In fine white sand
And forgot about it;
But it sprouted forth
And we nourished it
With butter and milk
Till it grew up to be a fine tree;
And our mom would praise it saying
“Your sister is far better than you”;
So my friend feels shy
To meet with you under this tree;
O’ lord of the shore
That is filled with white conches
That sound like the music of bards!
There are other places that provide shade
Where you can be one with her!

விளையாடு ஆயமொடு வெண் மணல் அழுத்தி,
மறந்தனம் துறந்த காழ் முளை அகைய
நெய் பெய் தீம் பால் பெய்து இனிது வளர்ப்ப
நும்மினும் சிறந்தது நுவ்வை ஆகும் என்று
அன்னை கூறினள் புன்னையது நலனே
அம்ம நாணுதும், நும்மொடு நகையே,
விருந்தின் பாணர் விளர் இசை கடுப்ப
வலம்புரி வான் கோடு நரலும் இலங்கு நீர்த்
துறை கெழு கொண்க! நீ நல்கின்,
நிறைபடு நீழல் பிறவுமார் உளவே.

He is asking her friend to arrange for a meeting under the laurel tree near their hamlet. Her friend wants to tell him that it is better for him to formalize their relationship instead of meeting secretively outside the village. So she tells him “My lord! That laurel tree is like a sister to us. While playing together as children we had dropped a seed in the sand and forgot about it. But it sprouted up on its own. We felt kinship towards it and nourished it with butter and milk. Our mom too mocks us saying ‘Look at your sister. She is far better than you’. So my friend feels shy to meet you under the gaze of the laurel tree that is like our sister. Your shores are filled with conches that sound like the music of bards My lord. There are other places that provide shade where you can meet her”

She implies that you better formalize your relationship and take her to your house instead of meeting secretively. Conch is sounded on wedding day as an auspicious sound.

Posted in Sangam and tagged
13 Jan 2023

Naanmanik Kadigai – 41

At the time of birth life doesn’t turn back even if ordered
At the time of death it doesn’t stay back even if ordered;
If Goddess of wealth wills, wealth will multiply on its own
When she leaves, things will vanish

பிறக்குங்கால் பேரெனவும் பேரா இறக்குங்கால்
நில்லெனவும் நில்லா உயிரெனைத்தும் – நல்லாள்
உடம்படின் தானே பெருகுங் – கெடும்பொழுதில்
கண்டனவுங் காணாக் கெடும்.

In this verse the poet brings a fatalistic attitude towards life and wealth. When a life is born, even if orders it to turn back it will still be born. Nothing in this world can stop life. Similarly at the time of death, when one orders life to stay back, it will not. Nothing in this world can stop death. Similarly, if Goddess of wealth looks favourably at a person, their wealth will multiply on its own even without them doing anything. But when she leaves, all things that were in front of their eyes too will leave. In essence, what is to happen will happen. No one can stop it.

பேரா – will not go back
நல்லாள் – good lady – Goddess of wealth
உடம்படின் – if she is amenable
கெடும் – leave

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku, Uncategorized and tagged | Leave a comment
20 Aug 2022

Nammalvaar – 2987

These, that and those things;
this , that and those persons;
All things and all persons
He contains in himself
And protects all that He creates –
That peerless Lord Kannan, my nectar,
Connoisseur and consort of Lakshmi,
Is by my side forever.

இவையும் அவையும் உவையும்  இவரும் அவரும் உவரும்
எவையும் யவரும் தன்னுள்ளே ஆகியுமாக்கியுங்காக்கும்
அவையுள் தனிமுதலெம்மான் கண்ணபிரானென்னமுதம்
சுவையன் திருவின்மணாளன் என்னுடைச் சூழலுளானே

Posted in Devotional and tagged , | Leave a comment

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