Thirukkural 1136 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மடலூர்தல் யாமத்தும் உள்ளுவேன் மன்ற
படல்ஒல்லா பேதைக்கென் கண்.
Transliteration
Mataloordhal Yaamaththum Ulluven Mandra
Patalollaa Pedhaikken Kan
Modern English
“The speaker cannot sleep and keeps thinking about making a public declaration of love.”
Modern Interpretation
The speaker cannot sleep and keeps thinking about making a public declaration of love. Anyone awake at midnight replaying a painful conversation may understand how longing can keep the mind from resting.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The speaker cannot sleep and keeps thinking about making a public declaration of love.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Madal I ride at midnight for My eyes sleep not seeing this fair
G.U. Pope Translation
Of climbing 'horse of palm' in midnight hour, I think;My eyes know no repose for that same simple maid
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Mine eyes will not close in sleep on your mistress's account; even at midnight will I think of mounting the palmyra horse
Tamil commentary
அவள் குணத்தை எண்ணி என் கண்கள் இரவெல்லாம் உறங்குவதில்லை. அதனால் நள்ளிரவிலும்கூட மடல் ஊர்வது பறிறயே எண்ணுவேன்.
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