Thirukkural 1112 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மலர்காணின் மையாத்தி நெஞ்சே இவள்கண்
பலர்காணும் பூவொக்கும் என்று.
Transliteration
Malarkaanin Maiyaaththi Nenje Ivalkan
Palarkaanum Poovokkum Endru
Modern English
“The speaker's heart mistakes ordinary flowers for the beloved's remarkable eyes, then feels confused when it looks at them.”
Modern Interpretation
The speaker's heart mistakes ordinary flowers for the beloved's remarkable eyes, then feels confused when it looks at them. Seeing a flower that reminds someone of a loved one can suddenly bring that person to mind.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The speaker's heart mistakes ordinary flowers for the beloved's remarkable eyes, then feels confused when it looks at them.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
You can't liken flowers by many eyed, To her bright eyes, O mind dismayed
G.U. Pope Translation
You deemed, as you saw the flowers, her eyes were as flowers, my soul,That many may see; it was surely some folly that over you stole
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
O my soul, fancying that flowers which are seen by many can resemble her eyes, you become confused at the sight of them
Tamil commentary
நெஞ்சே நான் ஒருவனே காணும் என் மனைவியின் கண்கள், பலருங் காணும் பூக்களைப் போல் இருக்கும் என்று எண்ணி மலர்களைக் கண்டு மயங்குகிறாயே! (இதோ பார்)
Chapter 112
More from The Praise of her Beauty
நலம் புனைந்து உரைத்தல்
Soft blessed anicha flower, hail On whom I dote is softer still
Kural 1112You can't liken flowers by many eyed, To her bright eyes, O mind dismayed
Kural 1113The bamboo-shouldered has pearl-like smiles Fragrant breath and lance-like eyes
Kural 1114Lily droops down to ground and says I can't equal the jewelled-one's eyes
Kural 1115Anicha flower with stem she wears To her breaking waist sad-drum-blares!
Kural 1116Stars are confused to know which is The moon and which is woman's face
Kural 1117Are there spots on the lady's face Just as in moon that changes phase?
Kural 1118Like my lady's face if you shine All my love to you; hail O moon!
Kural 1119Like the face of my flower-eyed one If you look, then shine alone O moon!
Kural 1120The soft flower and the swan's down are Like nettles to the feet of the fair