Thirukkural 1216 in English

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

Tamil original

நனவென ஒன்றில்லை ஆயின் கனவினால்
காதலர் நீங்கலர் மன்.

Transliteration

Nanavena Ondrillai Aayin Kanavinaal
Kaadhalar Neengalar Man

English Translation

“If wakeful hours come to nought My lov'r in dreams would nev'r depart”

Plain-English meaning

Were there no such thing as wakefulness, my beloved (who visited me) in my dream would not depart from me

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

If wakeful hours come to nought My lov'r in dreams would nev'r depart

G.U. Pope Translation

And if there were no waking hour, my loveIn dreams would never from my side remove

Plain-English Meaning

Were there no such thing as wakefulness, my beloved (who visited me) in my dream would not depart from me

கண்ணால் காண்பது என்றொரு கொடிய பாவி இல்லை என்றால் கனவிலே வந்து கூடிய என்னவர் என்னைப் பிரிய மாட்டார்.

Chapter 122

கனவுநிலை உரைத்தல்

How shall I feast this dream-vision That brings the beloved's love-mission?

I beg these fish-like dark eyes sleep To tell my lover how life I keep

In wakeful hours who sees me not I meet in dreams and linger yet

In dreams I enjoy his love-bliss Who in wakeful hours I miss

Dream-sight of him delights at once Awake-What of seeing him -hence

If wakeful hours come to nought My lov'r in dreams would nev'r depart

Awake he throws my overtures Adream, ah cruel! he tortures!

Asleep he embraces me fast; Awake he enters quick my heart

In dreams who don't discern lovers Rue their missing in wakeful hours

The townsmen say he left me thus In dreams failing to see him close