Thirukkural 1133 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நாணொடு நல்லாண்மை பண்டுடையேன் இன்றுடையேன்
காமுற்றார் ஏறும் மடல்.
Transliteration
Naanotu Nallaanmai Pantutaiyen Indrutaiyen
Kaamutraar Erum Matal
Modern English
“The speaker once had modesty and self-control, but desperate love has driven him toward the palmyra horse, the public act of declaring his passion.”
Modern Interpretation
The speaker once had modesty and self-control, but desperate love has driven him toward the palmyra horse, the public act of declaring his passion. A normally reserved person may behave boldly when unreturned love becomes unbearable.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The speaker once had modesty and self-control, but desperate love has driven him toward the palmyra horse, the public act of declaring his passion.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Once I was modest and manly My love has now Madal only
G.U. Pope Translation
I once retained reserve and seemly manliness;To-day I nought possess but lovers' 'horse of palm'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Modesty and manliness were once my own; now, my own is the palmyra horse that is ridden by the lustful
Tamil commentary
நாணமும் ஆண்மையும் முன்பு பெற்றிருந்தேன்; இன்றோ காதலர் ஏறும் மடலைப் பெற்றிருகிறேன்.
Chapter 114
More from The Abandonment of Reserve
நாணுத் துறவுரைத்தல்
Pangs of passion find no recourse Except riding *`palmyra horse' * Palmyra horse or 'Madal' is a torture expressive of the burning passion of the lover to the beloved The lover's body is laid on a rough pricking palmyra bed and he is carried along the street with songs of love pangs The parents of the lovers first reproach them and then consent to their marriage
Kural 1132Pining body and mind lose shame And take to riding of the palm
Kural 1133Once I was modest and manly My love has now Madal only
Kural 1134Rushing flood of love sweeps away The raft of shame and firmness, aye!
Kural 1135Palm-ride and pangs of eventide Are gifts of wreath-like bracelet maid
Kural 1136Madal I ride at midnight for My eyes sleep not seeing this fair
Kural 1137Her sea-like lust seeks not Madal! Serene is woman's self control
Kural 1138Lust betrays itself in haste Though women are highly soft and chaste
Kural 1139My perplexed love roves public street Believing that none knows its secret
Kural 1140Fools laugh at me before my eyes For they feel not my pangs and sighs