Thirukkural 1138 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நிறையரியர் மன்அளியர் என்னாது காமம்
மறையிறந்து மன்று படும்.
Transliteration
Niraiyariyar Manaliyar Ennaadhu Kaamam
Maraiyirandhu Mandru Patum
Modern English
“Love can break out of secrecy and become public before the lovers are ready, without caring how modest or private they are.”
Modern Interpretation
Love can break out of secrecy and become public before the lovers are ready, without caring how modest or private they are. A hidden relationship may become school or neighborhood gossip after one revealing glance.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Love can break out of secrecy and become public before the lovers are ready, without caring how modest or private they are.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Lust betrays itself in haste Though women are highly soft and chaste
G.U. Pope Translation
In virtue hard to move, yet very tender, too, are we;Love deems not so, would rend the veil, and court publicity
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Even the Lust (of women) transgresses its secrecy and appears in public, forgetting that they are too chaste and liberal (to be overcome by it)
Tamil commentary
இவள் மன அடக்கம் மிக்கவள்; பெரிதும் இரக்கப்பட வேண்டியவள் என்று எண்ணாமல் இந்த காதல் எங்களுக்குள் இருக்கும் இரகசியத்தைக் கடந்து ஊருக்குள்ளேயும் தெரியப்போகிறது.
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