Thirukkural 1195 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

நாம்காதல் கொண்டார் நமக்கெவன் செய்பவோ
தாம்காதல் கொள்ளாக் கடை.

Transliteration

Naamkaadhal Kontaar Namakkevan Seypavo
Thaamkaadhal Kollaak Katai

Modern English

“What can the person I love give me if they do not love me in return?”

Modern Interpretation

What can the person I love give me if they do not love me in return? A one-sided relationship cannot provide the comfort you hoped to receive.

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Tamil pronunciation

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Modern Plain English

What can the person I love give me if they do not love me in return?

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

What can our lover do us now If he does not requite our love?

G.U. Pope Translation

From him I love to me what gain can be,Unless, as I love him, he loveth me

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

He who is beloved by me, what will he do to me, if I am not beloved by him ?

நாம் காதலித்தவர் நம்மைக் காதலிக்கவில்லை என்றால் நமக்கு எத்தகைய மகிழ்ச்சியைத் தருவார்?

Chapter 120

தனிப்படர் மிகுதி

Stoneless fruit of love they have Who are beloved by those they love

The lover-and-beloved's self-givings Are like rains to living beings

The pride of living is for those Whose love is returned by love so close

Whose love is void of love in turn Are luckless with all esteems they earn

What can our lover do us now If he does not requite our love?

One sided pains; love in both souls Poises well like shoulder poles

This cupid aims at me alone; Knows he not my pallor and pain?

None is so firm as she who loves Without kind words from whom she dotes

The lover accords not my desires And yet his words sweeten my ears

You tell your grief to listless he Bless my heart! rather fill up sea!