Thirukkural 1200 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உறாஅர்க்கு உறுநோய் உரைப்பாய் கடலைச்
செறாஅஅய் வாழிய நெஞ்சு.
Transliteration
Uraaarkku Urunoi Uraippaai Katalaich
Cheraaaai Vaazhiya Nenju
Modern English
“O my heart, if you are going to tell your deep pain to someone who does not care, you might as well try to fill the sea.”
Modern Interpretation
O my heart, if you are going to tell your deep pain to someone who does not care, you might as well try to fill the sea. When a person has stopped listening, seeking comfort from them can feel harder than an impossible task.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
O my heart, if you are going to tell your deep pain to someone who does not care, you might as well try to fill the sea.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
You tell your grief to listless he Bless my heart! rather fill up sea!
G.U. Pope Translation
Tell him thy pain that loves not thee?Farewell, my soul, fill up the sea
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Live, O my soul, would you who relate your great sorrow to strangers, try rather to fill up your own sea (of sorrow)
Tamil commentary
நெஞ்சே நீ வாழ்க! பாவம், நீ ஏன் உன்னோடு உறவில்லாதவர்க்கு உன் அளவற்ற துன்பத்தைச் சொல்லிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறாய்? (அதற்குப் பதில்) உன்னைத் துன்புறுத்தும் கடலைத் தூர்க்க முயற்சி செய்; அது முடியும்.
Chapter 120
More from The Solitary Anguish
தனிப்படர் மிகுதி
Stoneless fruit of love they have Who are beloved by those they love
Kural 1192The lover-and-beloved's self-givings Are like rains to living beings
Kural 1193The pride of living is for those Whose love is returned by love so close
Kural 1194Whose love is void of love in turn Are luckless with all esteems they earn
Kural 1195What can our lover do us now If he does not requite our love?
Kural 1196One sided pains; love in both souls Poises well like shoulder poles
Kural 1197This cupid aims at me alone; Knows he not my pallor and pain?
Kural 1198None is so firm as she who loves Without kind words from whom she dotes
Kural 1199The lover accords not my desires And yet his words sweeten my ears
Kural 1200You tell your grief to listless he Bless my heart! rather fill up sea!