Old Tamil Poetry

Translations of Tamil Poetic works that span 2000 years

08 May 2017
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Thirukkural – 1286

In his presence, I don’t notice his faults;
In his absence, I notice only his faults.

காணுங்காற் காணேன் தவறாய காணாக்காற்
காணேன் தவறல்ல வை.

காணுங்கால் காணேன் தவறு ஆய; காணாக்கால்,
காணேன், தவறு அல்லவை.

She pines for him and tells herself “when I see him I don’t see his faults. But when I don’t see him, I see only his faults.” All her anger about his long absence vanishes the moment she see him. 

I have taken liberty to translate “When I see him / don’t see him” as “in his presence / absence” and “I don’t notice anything but his faults” as “I notice only his faults”

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05 May 2017
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Thirukkural – 1000

Wealth inherited by the mannerless 
is pure milk curdled by impure vessel.

பண்பு இலான் பெற்ற பெருஞ் செல்வம்-நன் பால்
கலம் தீமையால் திரிந்தற்று.

The purpose of wealth is to help others. When wealth is acquired by mannerless and boorish, it goes waste just like pure milk in an impure vessel getting curdled. Thiruvalluvar uses “பெற்ற – acquired / inherited” instead of “ஈட்டிய – earned” to show that the virtue less people aren’t capable of earning wealth.

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged
04 May 2017
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Puranaanooru – 83

I fear mother noticing that my bangles slip out
as I pine for the anklet wearing, dark bearded young man;
I’m shy to embrace his valorous shoulders in public;
May this indecisive town which doesn’t decide
either in favour of mother or myself
but vacillates between us two,
tremble as much as I do.

அடி புனை தொடுகழல், மை அணல் காளைக்கு என்
தொடி கழித்திடுதல் யான் யாய் அஞ்சுவலே;
அடு தோள் முயங்கல் அவை நாணுவலே;
என் போல் பெரு விதுப்புறுக என்றும்
ஒரு பாற் படாஅதாகி,
இரு பாற் பட்ட இம் மையல் ஊரே.

She is pining for him, the dark bearded young man wearing an anklet awarded for bravery. Her arms weaken and her bangles slip out. She is afraid that her mother might notice this and find out about her lover. At the same time she is shy of going public with her love and embracing his shoulders. The townspeople neither understand her fear and shyness and arrange for her marraige to her lover nor understand her mother’s reluctance and put a stop to the affair. They are indecisive and prolonging her agony. So she curses the town to tremble as much as she is trembling now.

The original poem says “the indecisive town which doesn’t decide for one side but vacillates”. I have expanded it as “in favor of mother or myself” to make it easier to comprehend.

Posted in Sangam and tagged
01 May 2017
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Thirukkural – 1021

There’s no greater dignity than to say
“I will not slack in my duty”

‘கருமம் செய’-ஒருவன்-’கைதூவேன்’ என்னும்
பெருமையின், பீடு உடையது இல்.

This Kural is in the Chapter ‘Clan Duty’ -குடி செயல்வகை. Hence Parimel Azhagar (13th Century) and Devaneya Paavaanar (20th Century) interpret duty as one’s duty towards upliftment of his clan / society.

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26 Apr 2017
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Kambaramayanam – 44

Pink legged swans roam around like fish eyed women,
leaving their swanlings on blessed lotus flowers in the fields;
mud legged buffaloes think of their calves and secrete milk,
feeding swanlings which then sleep to the lullaby of green toads.

சேல் உண்ட ஒண் கணாரில் திரிகின்ற செங்கால் அன்னம்
மால் உண்ட நளினப் பள்ளி வளர்த்திய மழலைப் பிள்ளை
கால் உண்ட சேற்று மேதி கன்று உள்ளிக், கனைப்பச் சோர்ந்த
பால் உண்டு துயிலப் பச்சைத் தேரை தாலாட்டும் பண்ணை.

In this poem Kamban describes the bounty and beauty of farm lands of Kosala country. Pink legged swans place their young ones on lotus flowers and roam around like fish eyed women imitating their walk. The buffalos in the fields think of the calves they left behind in the cow shed and start secreting milk spontaneously. This overflowing milk feeds the young swanlings which then sleep to the lullaby of toads. The fields of the country are so fertile and their cattle so well fed, that they spontaneously secrete milk.

  1. Lotus flowers are blessed because Goddess Lakshmi resides in them.
  2. In Indian tradition fish shaped eyes mean beautiful long eyes. The western equivalent is ‘almond eyes’
Posted in Epics and tagged
24 Apr 2017
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Naachiyar Thirumozhi – 508

Like the sacred offerings
made by priests to the deities
being trampled and smelled
by a fox roaming in the wild,
if any talk arises that my breasts
which rise in pleasure for the noble One
are to be possessed by a human,
I will cease to live, God of love.

வானிடை வாழுமவ் வானவர்க்கு
மறையவர் வேள்வியில் வகுத்தஅவி
கானிடைத் திரிவதோர் நரிபுகுந்து
கடப்பதும் மோப்பதும் செய்வதொப்ப
ஊனிடை யாழிசங் குத்தமர்க்கென்று
உன்னித் தெழுந்தவென் தடமுலைகள்
மானிட வர்க்கென்று பேச்சுப்படில்
வாழகில் லேன்கண்டாய் மன்மதனே.

Andal, who had decided to become one with Lord Vishnu dedicated her life to be with him. However she learned of her father trying to get her married. This poem is Andal throwing the gauntlet. “My body and life are meant for the Lord. If I ever hear you talk about getting me married to a mortal, that my body which is meant for the Lord is to be handled by a human being, I will give up my life. It will be like a wild fox smelling and trampling the sacred offering made to deities.”

The raw passion of this poem is a beauty to behold. She equates herself to the sacred offering made to God.

Posted in Devotional and tagged
21 Apr 2017

Kurunthokai – 73

Her friend says (to make him suffer by not showing up at the nightly rendezvous):

You crave for your lover’s chest;
don’t worry my friend!
Like hostile Kosars*
who raided Nannan’s country
by felling the barrier of mango trees,
a little ruthless scheming too is needed.

*A clan of warriors antagonistic to Chieftain Nannan

தோழி கூற்று:

மகிழ்நன் மார்பே வெய்யையால் நீ;
அழியல் வாழி-தோழி!-நன்னன்
நறு மா கொன்று ஞாட்பிற் போக்கிய
ஒன்றுமொழிக் கோசர் போல,
வன்கட் சூழ்ச்சியும் வேண்டுமால் சிறிதே.

She has promised to meet him in day time. Then changes it to night time. Her friend asks her to not show up during the night time too. Reason? “If you meet him whenever he calls, he will take you for granted. So if you desire to own his broad chest, you need a little ruthless scheming. Like the Kosar warriors who overran Nannan’s country by felling a barrier of mango trees, you have to break his complacency and make him suffer. Only then will he value you better and plan accordingly”

The poem itself talks of her friend asking her to scheme ruthlessly. The ‘no show’ part of it is in the introduction to the poem given by earlier commentaries, derived from palm leaf manuscripts.

Posted in Sangam and tagged | Leave a comment
20 Apr 2017
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Naachiyar Thirumozhi – 567

 

Does it smell of camphor? or of Lotus?
His coral red mouth, is it delicious?
Yearning to know the taste and smell
of the tusk breaker’s* mouth, I ask you;
tell me O’ ocean born white Conch.

கருப்பூரம் நாறுமோ கமலப்பூ நாறுமோ
திருப்பவளச் செவ்வாய்தான் தித்தித்தி ருக்கும்மோ
மருப்பொசித்த மாதவன்றன் வாய்ச்சுவையும் நாற்றமும்
விருப்புற்றுக் கேட்கின்றேன் சொல்லாழி வெண்சங்கே.

*When Kamsa sent his Royal elehant to trample Krishna and Balarama, they broke its tusk and threw it off easily.

Panchajanyam is the white conch of Krishna, which he blows to sound the start of war. Andal, a fervent devotee of Krishna, asks the Panchajanyam about how his mouth tastes and smells.

“Does it smell of camphor or lotus (which are offered to him while praying)? Does his mouth taste delicious? I desire to know the taste and smell of his mouth. Since you are lucky enough to be on his mouth, please tell me”

Andal is one of the well known poet saints in Tamil literary canon. She is the only woman among the 12 Alwars (saints) in Sri Vaishnavite tradition. Born in 8th Century AD as the daughter of Vishnu Chittan (Periyalvar) in Sri Villiputhur, she fell in love with Lord Vishnu at an young age and decided to marry him. Her poems in Thiruppavai are sung during the month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan). Naachiyar Thirumozhi consists of 143 poems of intense longing and desire for Lord Vishnu.

Posted in Devotional and tagged
18 Apr 2017
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Thirukkural – 759

Earn wealth! There’s no sharper steel
to cut down foe’s conceit.

செய்க பொருளை! செறுநர் செருக்கு அறுக்கும்
எஃகு அதனின் கூரியது இல்

Wealth is the strongest weapon to cut down an opponent’s arrogance. So go forth and make money.

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged
17 Apr 2017

Naaladiyaar – 285

O’Ruler of hills where clamorous waterfall
washes rock surface! Clan pride will erode;
honour will erode; education too will erode
for those embraced by poverty.

பிறந்த குலம் மாயும்; பேர் ஆண்மை மாயும்;
சிறந்த தம் கல்வியும் மாயும்;-கறங்கு அருவி
கல்மேல் கழூஉம் கண மலை நல் நாட!-
இன்மை தழுவப்பட்டார்க்கு.

The poet advises the ruler about the devastating effort of poverty. A man’s pride, honour and education will be washed away in face of abject poverty. Waterfall washing away the top surface of the rocks can be expanded as a metaphor for relentless poverty washing away the qualities of a man.

Posted in Padhinen Keel Kanakku and tagged | Leave a comment

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