Thirukkural 1217 in English

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

Tamil original

நனவினால் நல்காக் கொடியார் கனவனால்
என்எம்மைப் பீழிப் பது.

Transliteration

Nanavinaal Nalkaak Kotiyaar Kanavanaal
Enemmaip Peezhip Padhu

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The cruel one who would not favour me in my wakefulness, what right has he to torture me in my dreams?

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

The cruel one, in waking hour, who all ungracious seems,Why should he thus torment my soul in nightly dreams

Plain-English Meaning

The cruel one who would not favour me in my wakefulness, what right has he to torture me in my dreams?

நேரில் வந்து அன்பு செய்யாத இந்தக் கொடிய மனிதர் கனவில் மட்டும் நாளும் வந்து என்னை வருத்துவது ஏன்?

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