Thirukkural 1113 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
முறிமேனி முத்தம் முறுவல் வெறிநாற்றம்
வேலுண்கண் வேய்த்தோ ளவட்கு.
Transliteration
Murimeni Muththam Muruval Verinaatram
Velunkan Veyththo Lavatku
Modern English
“The beloved is praised with many images at once: a tender shoot for her skin, pearls for her teeth, fragrance for her breath, and a spear for her dark, striking eyes.”
Modern Interpretation
The beloved is praised with many images at once: a tender shoot for her skin, pearls for her teeth, fragrance for her breath, and a spear for her dark, striking eyes. It captures how love makes every detail seem extraordinary.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The beloved is praised with many images at once: a tender shoot for her skin, pearls for her teeth, fragrance for her breath, and a spear for her dark, striking eyes.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The bamboo-shouldered has pearl-like smiles Fragrant breath and lance-like eyes
G.U. Pope Translation
As tender shoot her frame; teeth, pearls; around her odours blend;Darts are the eyes of her whose shoulders like the bambu bend
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The complexion of this bamboo-shouldered one is that of a shoot; her teeth, are pearls; her breath,
Tamil commentary
மூங்கில் போன்ற தோளை உடைய அவளுக்கு மேனி இளந்தளிர்; பல்லோ முத்து; உடல் மணமோ நறுமணம்; மையூட்டப் பெற்ற கண்களோ வேல்!
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