Thirukkural 1228 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அழல்போலும் மாலைக்குத் தூதாகி ஆயன்
குழல்போலும் கொல்லும் படை.
Transliteration
Azhalpolum Maalaikkuth Thoodhaaki Aayan
Kuzhalpolum Kollum Patai
Modern English
“The shepherd’s flute once sounded pleasant, but now it announces the painful evening and feels like a weapon.”
Modern Interpretation
The shepherd’s flute once sounded pleasant, but now it announces the painful evening and feels like a weapon. A song that used to make someone happy can become painful when it is tied to a person who is gone.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The shepherd’s flute once sounded pleasant, but now it announces the painful evening and feels like a weapon.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
A deadly arm, this shepherd's flute Hails flaming eve and slays my heart
G.U. Pope Translation
The shepherd's pipe is like a murderous weapon, to my ear,For it proclaims the hour of ev'ning's fiery anguish near
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The shepherd's flute now sounds as a fiery forerunner of night, and is become a weapon that slays (me)
Tamil commentary
முன்பு இனிதாய் ஒலித்த ஆயனின் புல்லாங்குழல் இப்போது நெருப்பாய்ச் சுடும் மாலைப் பொழுதிற்கு் தூதானது மட்டும் அன்றி, என்னைக் கொல்லும் ஆயுதமுமாகிவிட்டது.
Chapter 123
More from Lamentations at Eventide
பொழுதுகண்டு இரங்கல்
Bless you! you are not eventide But killing dart to wedded bride!
Kural 1222Hail sad eventide dim and grim Has your mate like mine, cruel whim!
Kural 1223Wet eve came pale and trembling then Now it makes bold with growing pain
Kural 1224Lover away, comes eventide Like slayer to field of homicide
Kural 1225What good have I done to morning And what evil to this evening?
Kural 1226Evening pangs I have not known When my lord nev'r left me alone
Kural 1227Budding at dawn burgeoning all day This disease blooms in evening gay
Kural 1228A deadly arm, this shepherd's flute Hails flaming eve and slays my heart
Kural 1229Deluding eve if it prolongs The whole town will suffer love-pangs
Kural 1230Thinking of him whose quest is wealth My life outlives the twilight stealth