Old Tamil Poetry

Thirukkural – 1183

He took my beauty and modesty away – 
giving misery and pallor in its place.

சாயலும் நாணும் அவர் கொண்டார்-கைம்மாறா
நோயும் பசலையும் தந்து.

He has left her and gone away. She agonizes over him and starts to weaken. Her friend advises her to take care of herself and not let the town  know about her tryst with him. She replies “While leaving me he took away my beauty and modesty with him, giving me love sickness and pallor in return”

கொண்டார் – is interpreted either as “got it from me – பெற்றுக் கொண்டார்” (by Dr. Mu. Va.) or “took it away from me – எடுத்துக் கொண்டு சென்றார்”(by Parimel Alagar and Devaneya Paavaanar). I have gone with Paavaanar’s interpretation.

சாயல் – beauty
நாண் – shame / modesty
கைம்மாறு – in return / in its place
நோய் – (love) sickness
பசலை – wanness / pallor