Thirukkural 1120 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அனிச்சமும் அன்னத்தின் தூவியும் மாதர்
அடிக்கு நெருஞ்சிப் பழம்.
Transliteration
Anichchamum Annaththin Thooviyum Maadhar
Atikku Nerunjip Pazham
Modern English
“Even an anicham flower or a swan feather would feel like a thorn to feet imagined this delicate.”
Modern Interpretation
Even an anicham flower or a swan feather would feel like a thorn to feet imagined this delicate. The image shows how love magnifies a beloved's gentleness beyond ordinary comparisons.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Even an anicham flower or a swan feather would feel like a thorn to feet imagined this delicate.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The soft flower and the swan's down are Like nettles to the feet of the fair
G.U. Pope Translation
The flower of the sensitive plant, and the down on the swan's white breast,As the thorn are harsh, by the delicate feet of this maiden pressed
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The anicham and the feathers of the swan are to the feet of females, like the fruit of the (thorny) Nerunji
Tamil commentary
உலகம் மென்மைக்குச் சொல்லும் அனிச்சம் பூவும், அன்னப் பறவையின் இளஞ்சிறகும், என் மனைவியின் பாதங்களுக்கு நெருஞ்சிப்பழம் போல வருத்தம் தரும்.
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