Old Tamil Poetry

Translations of Tamil Poetic works that span 2000 years

03 Mar 2020
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Thirukkural – 1125

I’d recall, if I ever forgot; but never did I forget
the charms of the girl with lively gleaming eyes.

உள்ளுவன்மன், யான் மறப்பின்; மறப்பு அறியேன்,
ஒள் அமர்க் கண்ணாள் குணம்.

Fearing the town gossip, he hasn’t come to meet her for some days. When he comes back, her friend asks him “Did you ever remember us once you went back to your town?” To which he replies “I would have recalled the memories of your friend, the girl with shining combative eyes, if I ever forgot her. But not for a moment did I forget her. So this question of remembering her doesn’t arise at all”

உள்ளுதல் – Recall / to think (of her)
யான் – I
மறப்பின் – if I forgot
மறப்பு – forgetting
அறியேன் – I never
ஒள் – shining / gleam
அமர் – lively / combative
குணம் – nature / charm

 

 

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged
17 Feb 2020
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Thirumurai – 11.4.49

Those who say he resides in the skies, let them say so;
Those who say he resides in lofty Kailasa, let them say so;
He, the omniscient,  He, whose neck is radiant blue
because of the poison he partook,
Resides in my heart, so do I say.

வானத்தான் என்பாரும் என்கமற் றும்பர்கோன்
தானத்தான் என்பாரும் தாமென்க – ஞானத்தான்
முன்நஞ்சத் தாலிருண்ட மெய்யொளிசேர் கண்டத்தான்
என்நெஞ்சத் தானென்பன் யான். 

This verse by Kaaraikkal Ammayar is part of the 11th Thirumurai in Saivite Canon. She says “Some people claim Lord Shiva resides in the skies. Some people claim the Lord of the Celestials resides in Mt. Kailasa. But he, who is the essence of all knowledge, whose neck is radiant blue in colour because he partook the Halahala poison to save the world, resides in my heart I say”

Karaikkal Ammayar is one of the three women in the list of 63 Saivite saints (Nayanmar). She shed her physical form and took skeletal form as she turned into a devotee of Shiva goes the myth. You can read it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaikkal_Ammaiyar

வானத்தான் – of the skies
என்பாரும் – those who say
உம்பர்கோன் தானத்தான் – Abode of the Lord of Celestials – Kailasa
ஞானத்தான் – of all Knowledge / omniscient
இருண்ட மெய்யொளி – radiant dark (in Hindu Mythology Lord Shiva’s neck is blue in colour because he drank the Halahala poison)
கண்டம் – neck

 

 

Posted in Devotional and tagged ,
07 Jan 2020
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Thiruppavai 22

Like how the Kings of this glorious wide world
Shed their arrogance and stand humbly beneath your throne,
Have we come to you too! Won’t you open your lotus eyes a little
-Like half open anklet bell –
And look at us a bit?
If you look at us with your two beautiful eyes
Like the sun and moon rising at the same time,
We will be redeemed from our worldly sins, my Lord!

அம்கண்மா ஞாலத்து அரசர் அபிமான  பங்கமாய் வந்துநின் பள்ளிக்கட் டிற்கீழே
சங்கம் இருப்பார்போல் வந்து தலைப்பெய்தோம் கிங்கிணி வாய்ச்செய்த தாமரைப் பூப்போலே
செங்கண் சிறுச்சிறிதே எம்மேல் விழியாவோ திங்களும் ஆதித் தியனும் எழுந்தாற்போல்
அம்கண் இரண்டும்கொண்டு எங்கள்மேல் நோக்குதியேல் எங்கள்மேல் சாபம் இழிந்தேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.

The girls are praying to Kannan to wake up and bless them. They say, “Many arrogant Kings of this wide world lose their arrogance and stand humbly in your court beneath your throne. Like that we too have shed our reserve and are here at your doorstep. Please wake up and open your eyes a little bit, like the half open anklet bells. If you look at us with your two beautiful eyes – that are like the Sun and Moon rising together – we will be redeemed of our worldly sins.”

Posted in Devotional and tagged
01 Jan 2020

Thiruvempavai 16.

O’ Clouds! First scoop up the water from the sea; Turn dark blue
Like the hue of her divine form, the Goddess who posseses us;
Light up the sky with lightning like her slender waist;
Resound with thunder like the sound of Golden anklets in her blessed feet;
Sparkle with rainbow liker her beautiful eyebrows;
She possesses us and is one with our God;
Like her benevolence towards His devotees and us girls,
pour forth with rains, my friend!

முன்னிக் கடலைச் சுருக்கி யெழுந்துடையாள் என்னத் திகழ்ந்தெம்மை ஆளுடையாள் இட்டிடையின்
மின்னிப் பொலிந்தெம் பிராட்டி திருவடிமேற் பொன்னஞ் சிலம்பிற் சிலம்பித் திருப்புருவம்
என்னச் சிலைகுலவி நந்தம்மை ஆளுடையாள் தன்னிற் பிரிவிலா எங்கோமான் அன்பர்க்கு
முன்னி அவள்நமக்கு முன்சுரக்கும் இன்னருளே என்னப் பொழியாய் மழையேலோர் எம்பாவாய் !

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13 Dec 2019
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Thirukkural – 633

To divide foes, to strengthen bond with allies,
To reconcile with erstwhile friends – are a minister’s skills.

பிரித்தலும், பேணிக்கொளலும், பிரிந்தார்ப்
பொருத்தலும், வல்லது–அமைச்சு.

A good minister is one who is skillful in making sure that foes are divided, one’s alliances are strong and reconciling with former allies who have parted ways. By this he will be able to help his ruler rule the country.

பிரித்தல் – divide
பேணுதல் – to take care / strengthen bond
பிரிந்தார் – those who parted ways (erstwhile friends)
பொருத்தல் – to join
வல்லது – ability
அமைச்சு – minister

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged
04 Dec 2019
2 Comments

Naaladiyaar – 65

 

Abstinence by youth is real abstinence;
Charity by one who lacks bountiful wealth is real charity;
One who has the strength to destroy anything,
His restraint is real restraint.

இளையான் அடக்கம் அடக்கம் கிளைபொருள்
இல்லான் கொடையே கொடைப்பயன் – எல்லாம்
ஒறுக்கும் மதுகை உரனுடை யாளன்
பொறுக்கும் பொறையே பொறை.

It is easy for older people to abstain from sensory pleasures. But for a youth to abstain from pleasures is real abstinence. One whose wealth is not growing, who yet gives to charity is real charity. Similarly restraint by one who has the strength to have his own way against any opposition is the real restraint. To have the power and yet have control is the real deal.

இளையான் – youth
அடக்கம் – control (of senses)
கிளை – grow
கொடை – charity
ஒறுக்கும் – destroy
மதுகை – strength
பொறை – patience / restraint

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged
27 Nov 2019

Thirukkural – 1120

Even pimpernels and soft feathers of a swan
Are thorny caltrops to this girl’s feet.

அனிச்சமு மன்னத்தின் றூவியும் மாத
ரடிக்கு நெருஞ்சிப் பழம்.

My girl’s feet are soft and tender. Even soft petals of a pimpernel flower or fine feathers of a swan are thorns to her feet.

அனிச்சம் – Pimpernel flower
அன்னம் – swan
தூவி – feather
அடி – feet
நெருஞ்சி – caltrop (thorn)

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged | Leave a comment
22 Nov 2019
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Nalvazhi 34

Even if one is illiterate, as long as he is wealthy,
Every one will welcome and attend to him;
A pauper is not wanted even by his wife,
Nor by the mother who birthed him;
His words go unheard.

கல்லானே யானாலுங் கைப்பொருளொன் றுண்டாயின்
எல்லாருஞ் சென்றங்கு எதிர்கொள்வர்-இல்லானை
இல்லாளும் வேண்டாள்மற்று ஈன்றெடுத்த தாய்வேணடாள்
செல்லாது அவன்வாயிற் சொல்.

This poem by Avvaiyar (the 3rd, of 12th Century AD) talks about how the world respects the wealthy and discards the pauper. A wealthy man even if he is illiterate, is feted upon by everyone. On the other hand one who doesn’t have money us not wanted even by his wife. Even the mother who birthed him doesn’t want him. Nobody listens to his words and he is treated as useless.

All the words in this poem are still in use in Tamil. இல்லானை இல்லாளும் வேண்டாள் – Even his wife doesn’t want a pauper is a commonly used phrase in Tamil discourse. The wordplay in Tamil doesn’t translate into English.

கல்லான் – illiterate
கைப்பொருள் – wealth (at hand)
இல்லான் – one who doesn’t have / pauper
இல்லாள் – wife
ஈன்று எடுத்த – one who gave birth
செல்லாது – of no use

Posted in Later works and tagged
20 Nov 2019

Thirukkural 1238

 

As I eased my embracing arms away from her,
The bangled girl’s forehead lost colour.

முயங்கிய கைகளை யூக்கப் பசந்தது
பைந்தொடிப் பேதை நுதல்.

He is reminiscing about his girl. Once when they were hugging tight, he eased his arms a bit so as not to crush her. Thinking he is about to leave, she is distressed and her forehead loses colour.

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17 Nov 2019

Thirukkural 667

 

Do not ridicule looking at one’s appearance – this world has people
Who are like the linchpin of a lofty chariot.

உருவு கண்டு எள்ளாமை வேண்டும்-உருள் பெருந் தேர்க்கு
அச்சு ஆணி அன்னார் உடைத்து.

We should not mock a person looking on their appearance. There are people in this world who play important roles but look very ordinary. Linchpin of a majestic chariot looks very small. But it is key to the movement of the chariot. So don’t ridicule any one for their appearance.

உருவு – form / appearance

எள்ளாமை – not ridicule

அச்சாணி – linchpin

அன்னார் – similar people

உடைத்து – (world) has

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged | Leave a comment

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