Thirukkural 1238 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
முயங்கிய கைகளை ஊக்கப் பசந்தது
பைந்தொடிப் பேதை நுதல்.
Transliteration
Muyangiya Kaikalai Ookkap Pasandhadhu
Paindhotip Pedhai Nudhal
Modern English
“When the embrace loosens even slightly, the young woman’s forehead turns pale, as if she cannot bear the smallest separation.”
Modern Interpretation
When the embrace loosens even slightly, the young woman’s forehead turns pale, as if she cannot bear the smallest separation. A brief goodbye can feel huge when two people are deeply attached.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
When the embrace loosens even slightly, the young woman’s forehead turns pale, as if she cannot bear the smallest separation.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The front of this fair one O paled As my clasping arms loosed their hold
G.U. Pope Translation
One day the fervent pressure of embracing arms I checked,Grew wan the forehead of the maid with golden armlet decked
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
When I once loosened the arms that were in embrace, the forehead of the gold-braceleted women turned sallow
Tamil commentary
முன்பு அவளை நான் இறுகத் தழுவி, அது அவளுக்கு வருத்தம் தருமோ என்று மெல்லக் கையை விட அதற்கே பொன் வளையங்களை அணிந்த அப்பேதையின் நெற்றியின் நிறம் ஒளி குறைந்ததே!
Chapter 124
More from Wasting Away
உறுப்புநலன் அழிதல்
To lift from want he left me afar His thought makes my eyes blush the flower
Kural 1232My pale tearful eyes betray The hardness of my husband, away
Kural 1233These arms that swelled on nuptial day Now shrunk proclaim \"He is away\"
Kural 1234Bracelets slip off the arms that have Lost old beauty for He took leave
Kural 1235Bereft of bracelets and old beauty Arms tell the cruel's cruelty
Kural 1236Arms thin, armlets loose make you call My sire cruel; that pains my soul
Kural 1237Go and tell the cruel, O mind Bruit ov'r my arms and glory find
Kural 1238The front of this fair one O paled As my clasping arms loosed their hold
Kural 1239Cool breeze crept between our embrace Her large rain-cloud-eyes paled at once
Kural 1240Pale eyes pained seeing the pallor Of the bright forehead of this fair