Thirukkural 1119 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மலரன்ன கண்ணாள் முகமொத்தி யாயின்
பலர்காணத் தோன்றல் மதி.
Transliteration
Malaranna Kannaal Mukamoththi Yaayin
Palarkaanath Thondral Madhi
Modern English
“The moon is teasingly told not to appear before everyone if it wants to resemble the beloved, because the beloved's beauty feels private and unmatched.”
Modern Interpretation
The moon is teasingly told not to appear before everyone if it wants to resemble the beloved, because the beloved's beauty feels private and unmatched. A person may want to keep a precious moment with someone special just for themselves.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The moon is teasingly told not to appear before everyone if it wants to resemble the beloved, because the beloved's beauty feels private and unmatched.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Like the face of my flower-eyed one If you look, then shine alone O moon!
G.U. Pope Translation
If as her face, whose eyes are flowers, thou wouldst have charms for me,Shine for my eyes alone, O moon, shine not for all to see
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
O moon, if you wish to resemble the face of her whose eyes are like (these) flowers, do not appear so as to be seen by all
Tamil commentary
நிலவே மலர் போன்ற கண்ணை உடைய என் மனைவியின் முகம் போல ஆக நீ விரும்பினால் நான் மட்டும் காணத் தோன்று; பலரும் காணும்படி தோன்றாதே.
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