Thirukkural 1118 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மாதர் முகம்போல் ஒளிவிட வல்லையேல்
காதலை வாழி மத.
Transliteration
Maadhar Mukampol Olivita Vallaiyel
Kaadhalai Vaazhi Madhi
Modern English
“The moon would be worthy of love only if it could shine like the beloved's face.”
Modern Interpretation
The moon would be worthy of love only if it could shine like the beloved's face. When a familiar song reminds someone of a loved one, even the song feels special because of that association.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The moon would be worthy of love only if it could shine like the beloved's face.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Like my lady's face if you shine All my love to you; hail O moon!
G.U. Pope Translation
Farewell, O moon! If that thine orb could shineBright as her face, thou shouldst be love of mine
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If you can indeed shine like the face of women, flourish, O moon, for then would you be worth loving ?
Tamil commentary
நிலவே! நீ வாழ்க! என் மனைவியின் முகம்போல் நான் மகிழும்படி ஒளிவீசுவாய் என்றால் நீயும் என் காதலைப் பெறுவாய்.
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