Thirukkural 1137 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கடலன்ன காமம் உழந்தும் மடலேறாப்
பெண்ணின் பெருந்தக்க தில்.
Transliteration
Katalanna Kaamam Uzhandhum Mataleraap
Pennin Perundhakka Thil
Modern English
“The woman who endures even a sea of longing without making a public spectacle of it is praised as especially noble.”
Modern Interpretation
The woman who endures even a sea of longing without making a public spectacle of it is praised as especially noble. The verse values her patience and restraint when private love brings intense pain.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The woman who endures even a sea of longing without making a public spectacle of it is praised as especially noble.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Her sea-like lust seeks not Madal! Serene is woman's self control
G.U. Pope Translation
There's nought of greater worth than woman's long-enduring soul,Who, vexed by love like ocean waves, climbs not the 'horse of palm'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
There is nothing so noble as the womanly nature that would not ride the palmyra horse, though plunged a sea of lust
Tamil commentary
அதுதான் அவள் பெருமை; கடல் போலக் கரையில்லாத காதல் நோயை அவளும் அனுபவித்தாலும் மடல் ஊராது பொறுத்திருக்கும் பெண் பிறவியைப் போலப் பெருமையான பிறவி இவ்வுலகத்தில் வேறு இல்லை.
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