Thirukkural 1212 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கயலுண்கண் யானிரப்பத் துஞ்சிற் கலந்தார்க்கு
உயலுண்மை சாற்றுவேன் மன்.
Transliteration
Kayalunkan Yaanirappath Thunjir Kalandhaarkku
Uyalunmai Saatruven Man
Modern English
“If her eyes would only sleep as she asks, she could tell her beloved in a dream that she is still surviving.”
Modern Interpretation
If her eyes would only sleep as she asks, she could tell her beloved in a dream that she is still surviving. Sometimes a person falls asleep hoping a dream will let them say what they cannot say awake.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
If her eyes would only sleep as she asks, she could tell her beloved in a dream that she is still surviving.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
I beg these fish-like dark eyes sleep To tell my lover how life I keep
G.U. Pope Translation
If my dark, carp-like eye will close in sleep, as I implore,The tale of my long-suffering life I'll tell my loved one o'er
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If my fish-like painted eyes should, at my begging, close in sleep, I could fully relate my sufferings to my lord
Tamil commentary
கண்கள் யான் வேண்டுவதுபோல் தூங்குமானால், ( அப்போது வரும் கனவில் காணும்) காதலர்க்கு யான் தப்பிப் பிழைத்திருக்கும் தன்மையைச் சொல்வேன்.
Chapter 122
More from The Visions of the Night
கனவுநிலை உரைத்தல்
How shall I feast this dream-vision That brings the beloved's love-mission?
Kural 1212I beg these fish-like dark eyes sleep To tell my lover how life I keep
Kural 1213In wakeful hours who sees me not I meet in dreams and linger yet
Kural 1214In dreams I enjoy his love-bliss Who in wakeful hours I miss
Kural 1215Dream-sight of him delights at once Awake-What of seeing him -hence
Kural 1216If wakeful hours come to nought My lov'r in dreams would nev'r depart
Kural 1217Awake he throws my overtures Adream, ah cruel! he tortures!
Kural 1218Asleep he embraces me fast; Awake he enters quick my heart
Kural 1219In dreams who don't discern lovers Rue their missing in wakeful hours
Kural 1220The townsmen say he left me thus In dreams failing to see him close