Thirukkural 1090 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உண்டார்கண் அல்லது அடுநறாக் காமம்போல்
கண்டார் மகிழ்செய்தல் இன்று.
Transliteration
Untaarkan Alladhu Atunaraak Kaamampol
Kantaar Makizhseydhal Indru
Modern English
“Wine gives pleasure only to the person who drinks it, but love can delight even through a single sight of the beloved.”
Modern Interpretation
Wine gives pleasure only to the person who drinks it, but love can delight even through a single sight of the beloved. Seeing someone you care about across a room can brighten your mood before a word is spoken.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Wine gives pleasure only to the person who drinks it, but love can delight even through a single sight of the beloved.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
To the drunk alone is wine delight Nothing delights like love at sight
G.U. Pope Translation
The palm-tree's fragrant wine, To those who taste yields joys divine;But love hath rare felicity For those that only see
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Unlike boiled honey which yields delight only when it is drunk, love gives pleasure even when looked at
Tamil commentary
காய்ச்சப்பட்ட கள், உண்டவர்க்கே மகிழ்ச்சி தரும்; காதலைப் போல், காண்பவருக்கும் அது மகிழ்ச்சி தருவது இல்லை.
Chapter 109
More from The Pre-marital love
தகை அணங்குறுத்தல்
Is it an angel? A fair peacock Or jewelled belle? To my mind a shock!
Kural 1082The counter glances of this belle Are armied dart of the Love-Angel
Kural 1083Not known before -I spy Demise In woman's guise with battling eyes
Kural 1084This artless dame has darting eyes That drink the life of men who gaze
Kural 1085Is it death, eye or doe? All three In winsome woman's look I see
Kural 1086If cruel brows unbent, would screen Her eyes won't cause me trembling pain
Kural 1087Vest on the buxom breast of her Looks like rutting tusker's eye-cover
Kural 1088Ah these fair brows shatter my might Feared by foemen yet to meet
Kural 1089Which jewel can add to her beauty With fawn-like looks and modesty?
Kural 1090To the drunk alone is wine delight Nothing delights like love at sight