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
Modern English
“If waking life did not interrupt her dreams, the beloved who visits her there would never have to leave.”
Modern Interpretation
If waking life did not interrupt her dreams, the beloved who visits her there would never have to leave. An alarm ending a beautiful dream can feel like being separated from someone all over again.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
If waking life did not interrupt her dreams, the beloved who visits her there would never have to leave.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Were there no such thing as wakefulness, my beloved (who visited me) in my dream would not depart from me
Tamil commentary
கண்ணால் காண்பது என்றொரு கொடிய பாவி இல்லை என்றால் கனவிலே வந்து கூடிய என்னவர் என்னைப் பிரிய மாட்டார்.
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