Thirukkural – 666
They reach their goal as planned,
those who are steadfast in their plan
எண்ணிய எண்ணியாங்கெய்துப வெண்ணியார்
திண்ணிய ராகப் பெறின்
Thirukkural 666.
Old Tamil Poetry
Translations of Tamil Poetic works that span 2000 years
Archive for the month “February, 2016”
Naaladiyaar – 70
When a rabid dog bites one,
no one bites the dog in return;
lacking manners, if lesser men use words coarse,
will refined men repeat those?
கூர்த்து நாய் கௌவிக் கொளக் கண்டும், தம் வாயால்
பேர்த்து நாய் கௌவினார் ஈங்கு இல்லை; நீர்த்து அன்றிக்
கீழ்மக்கள் கீழ் ஆய சொல்லியக்கால், சொல்பவோ,
மேன்மக்கள் தம் வாயால் மீட்டு?
Refined people do not respond to uncivil words with similar words. It is like biting back the dog that bit one.
Naanmanik Kadigai – 9
There’s no sleep for those who’re out to steal;
There’s no sleep for those who’ve lost their heart;
There’s no sleep for those in search of wealth;
for guards of that wealth too, there’s no sleep.
கள்வமென் பார்க்குந் துயிலில்லை காதலிமாட்டு
உள்ளம்வைப் பார்க்குந் துயிலில்லை ஒண்பொருள்
செய்வமென் பார்க்குந் துயிலில்லை அப்பொருள்
காப்பார்க்கும் இல்லை துயில்
Poem 9 from Nanmani k Kadigai. There’s no sleep for thieves, lovers, those in search of wealth and those protecting that wealth. To put it simply, there’s no sleep for those who desire something.
Ainkurunooru – 41
Heartless crocodile eats its own kid
In his town’s Water Lilly pond, it’s said;
Like that, he makes paleness spread
in the body of those who trusted his word.
தன் பார்ப்புத் தின்னும் அன்பு இல் முதலையொடு
வெண் பூம் பொய்கைத்து, அவன் ஊர்’ என்ப; அதனால்
தன் சொல் உணர்ந்தோர் மேனி
பொன் போல் செய்யும் ஊர்கிழவோனே.
Poem 41 from Ainkurunooru. She’s sulking because he has gone to the courtesan’s house and hasn’t returned home for long. She says to his friends “like the cruel crocodile that eats its own offspring, he is heartless. I trusted his word but he makes me suffer. He gave birth to our relationship, now he is killing it himself.” Due to love sickness, golden paleness spreads across her body.
Thirukkural – 1164
My passion’s like a sea
But I lack a raft, to cross it safely.
காமக் கடல் மன்னும் உண்டே;அது நீந்தும்
ஏமப் புணை மன்னும் இல்.
Thirukkural 1164. This couplet is him saying how much afflicted with lust he is when she leaves him.
Kalingathup Parani – 67
Naive women, who silence
the parrot that repeats words
uttered in throes of passion,
Open your gem adorned doors.
நேயக் கலவி மயக்கத்தே
நிகழ்ந்த மொழியைக் கிளியுரைப்ப
வாயைப் புதைக்கும் மடநல்லீர்
மணிப்பொற் கபாடம் திறமினோ
Kalingathu p Parani is a short literary work (சிற்றிலக்கியம்) written by Poet Jayamkondar in 12th century. It is written in praise of Kulothunga Cholan’s general Karunakara Thondaiman who invaded and conquered Kalinga country (present day Orissa). Poems 21-74 are the bard calling the women of Kanchi (present day Kancheepuram, the town of Karunakara Thondaiman) to open their doors and hear the valor of their hero. These 54 poems are erotically charged. The next chapters of the work are gory descriptions of battle field and the ghosts getting together for a feast of dead bodies.
Parani is a form of poetic work that is sung in praise of a warrior. It is generally named after the battle. Since this about the battle of Kalinga, it is called Kalingathup Parani.
Paripadal
World on one side, this on the other
if learned men measure,
whole world will pale, but this does not – such is
the Southerner’s river bank city of mansions.
உலகம் ஒரு நிறையாத் தான் ஓர் நிறையாப்
புலவர் புலக் கோலால் தூக்க, உலகு அனைத்தும்
தான் வாட, வாடாத தன்மைத்தே-தென்னவன்
நான்மாடக் கூடல் நகர்.
Paripadal is a Sangam poetry collection that had 70 poems on Thirumal, Sevvel (Murugan), Vaigai river and Madurai city. Only 22 complete poems are found. Others were lost in time. Some stand alone poems (probably later insertions) are collected as Paripadal Thirattu. This is one of those poems that sing the praise of Madurai City. Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India. It was the capital of the Pandian Dynasty, the oldest of Tamil kings. They were generally called Southerners as they ruled south of Tamil Nadu.
Madurai k Kanchi 527-535
Juicy, fragrant jack fruit flesh,
variety of ripened sweet mangoes,
fruits and vegetables of different shapes,
Leafy greens with uncoiled short stems
in beautiful rain fed plants,
sweet rock sugar that tastes like nectar,
popular dish of big meat chunks cooked with rice,
with root tubers, other dishes,
and sweet rice they get and eat at many places
சேறும் நாற்றமும் பலவின் சுளையும்,
வேறு படக் கவினிய தேம் மாங் கனியும்,
பல் வேறு உருவின் காயும், பழனும்,
கொண்டல் வளர்ப்பக் கொடி விடுபு கவினி,
மென் பிணி அவிழ்ந்த குறு முறி அடகும்,
அமிர்து இயன்றன்ன தீம் சேற்றுக் கடிகையும்,
புகழ் படப் பண்ணிய பேர் ஊன் சோறும்,
கீழ் செல வீழ்ந்த கிழங்கொடு, பிறவும்,
இன் சோறு தருநர் பல் வயின் நுகர
This is line numbers 527-535 from Madurai k Kanchi , a long poem of 780 lines. It was written by Mangudi Maruthanar praising the valor of Pandian King Neduchezhian for his victory over 7 adversaries (2 kings and their 5 associates) in Thalayalankanam battle (dated around 205 AD). These lines talk about the abundance of food distributed free to people in Madurai.
Nanmani k Kadigai – 77
There’s no new born who doesn’t die;
There’s no power that doesn’t weaken;
There’s no youth who doesn’t age;
There’s none who hasn’t seen his wealth erode.
சாவாத இல்லை, பிறந்த உயிர் எல்லாம்;
தாவாத இல்லை, வலிகளும்; மூவா
இளமை இயைந்தாரும் இல்லை; வளமையில்
கேடு இன்றிச் சென்றாரும் இல்.
Nanmani k Kadigai is authored by poet Vilambi Naganar. It is thought that Vilambi is his village and Nagan was his name. There are 101 poems in Nanmani k Kadigai (Literally means 4 slivers of gems).
This poem is about the impermanence of things. “There is no power that doesn’t weaken” is akin to there is no perpetual motion machine :-).
Thirukkural – 844
‘What’s immaturity?’ It’s the
conceit of claiming ‘I’m wise’
‘வெண்மை எனப்படுவது யாது?’ எனின், ‘ஒண்மை
உடையம் யாம்!’ என்னும் செருக்கு
Thirukkural 844. Only the immature will claim that they are wise.
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