Tirukkural Chapter 112 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 112 - Couplets 4,5,6

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 112 - நலம் புனைந்துரைத்தல்
CHAPTER 112 - PRAISING HIS LOVER
***
112/04. காணின் குவளை கவிழ்ந்து நிலன்நோக்கும்
மாணிழை கண்ணொவ்வேம் என்று.

112/04. Kannin kuvallai kavizhndhu nilannokkum
Maannizhai kannovveam endrru.

112/04. "If lily flower sees my lover, wearing the best ornaments,
It'll bend its head down feeling shy for its not matching her eyes."
***
Gopi: He says that lily does not match her beautiful eyes.

Mahavir: Generally lily flower
Resembles any girl's eyes,
But here his lover's eyes
Do not match with lily flower.

Her eyes are more beautiful,
As lily flower fails to resemble,
And down its head it bends,
Feeling shy of seeing her eyes.

With a day's sun rise,
A lily keeps its head up,
And when the sun sets,
It keeps its head down.
***
112/05. அனிச்சப்பூக் கால்களையாள் பெய்தாள்; நுகப்பிற்கு
நல்ல படாஅ பறை.

112/05. Anichappook kaalkallaiyaall peidhaall; nugappirrku
Nalla padaa parrai.

112/05. "Without removing the stem of anicham flower, she wears it on her head. Her hips must not break due to that weight.
***
Gopi: It is nothing but an exaggeration.
How a flower weight breaks her hip?

Mahavir: It is more poetical
Also it is quite whimsical,
To say her hips can't bear
The light weight of a flower

To say her hip is so slender,
The poet uses a flower,
That weighs like a feather,
Which she can't bear.

Poets have their own fancy
To overstate what they say
To exaggerate real things,
That adds beauty to their poems.
***
112/06. மதியும் மடந்தை முகனும் அறியா
பதியின் கலங்கிய மீன்

112/06. Madhiyum madandhai muganum arriyaa
Pathiyin kalangiya meen.

112/06. "The stars in the sky are puzzled in not finding
The difference between the moon and the girl's face
And they are in confusion about their places of stay."
***
Gopi: To say her face is like a moon
The poet brings the stars into the picture.

Mahavir: Yes, to say her face is
As round as the moon is,
He brings the stars to mention
That they're in total confusion.

He gives lives to objects,
As in animation programs,
Makes flowers and stars
To speak out their minds.

Simply to say the girl
Looks so beautiful,
It doesn't look nice
In poem's flowery words.
***

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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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