Kural 1104Chapter 111: Rejoicing in the Embrace

Thirukkural 1104 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

நீங்கின் தெறூஉம் குறுகுங்கால் தண்ணென்னும்
தீயாண்டுப் பெற்றாள் இவள்?

Transliteration

Neengin Theruum Kurukungaal Thannennum
Theeyaantup Petraal Ival?

Modern English

“Love can feel like a strange fire: distance makes it burn, while closeness cools the pain.”

Modern Interpretation

Love can feel like a strange fire: distance makes it burn, while closeness cools the pain. When a loved one stops replying, worry grows; a kind conversation can calm it at once.

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Tamil pronunciation

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Modern Plain English

Love can feel like a strange fire: distance makes it burn, while closeness cools the pain.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

Away it burns and cools anear Wherefrom did she get this fire?

G.U. Pope Translation

Withdraw, it burns; approach, it soothes the pain;Whence did the maid this wondrous fire obtain

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

From whence has she got this fire that burns when I withdraw and cools when I approach ?

Tamil commentary

தன்னை நீங்கினால் சுடும், நெருங்கினால் குளிரும் ஒரு தீயை என் உள்ளத்தில் ஏற்ற, இவள் அதை எங்கிருந்து பெற்றாள்?

Chapter 111

More from Rejoicing in the Embrace

புணர்ச்சி மகிழ்தல்

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Kural 1101

In this bangled beauty dwell The joys of sight sound touch taste smell

Kural 1102

The cure for ailment is somewhere For fair maid's ill she is the cure

Kural 1103

Is lotus-eyed lord's heaven so sweet As sleep in lover's arms so soft?

Kural 1104

Away it burns and cools anear Wherefrom did she get this fire?

Kural 1105

The arms of my flower-tressed maid Whatever I wish that that accord

Kural 1106

My simple maid has nectar arms Each embrace brings life-thrilling charms

Kural 1107

Ah the embrace of this fair dame Is like sharing one's food at home

Kural 1108

Joy is the fast embrace that doth Not admit e'en air between both

Kural 1109

Sulking, feeling and clasping fast These three are sweets of lover's tryst

Kural 1110

As knowledge reveals past ignorance So is the belle as love gets close