Kural 1261Chapter 127: Mutual Desire

Thirukkural 1261 in English

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

Tamil original

வாளற்றுப் புற்கென்ற கண்ணும் அவர்சென்ற
நாளொற்றித் தேய்ந்த விரல்.

Transliteration

Vaalatrup Purkendra Kannum Avarsendra
Naalotrith Theyndha Viral

Modern English

“Waiting can wear down both body and mind: the days are marked one by one, and the eyes keep searching the road.”

Modern Interpretation

Waiting can wear down both body and mind: the days are marked one by one, and the eyes keep searching the road. A person waiting for a partner's return may check the calendar until the dates blur together.

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

Compare translations

Modern Plain English

Waiting can wear down both body and mind: the days are marked one by one, and the eyes keep searching the road.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

My eyes are dim lustre-bereft Worn fingers count days since he left

G.U. Pope Translation

My eyes have lost their brightness, sight is dimmed; my fingers worn,With nothing on the wall the days since I was left forlorn

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

My finger has worn away by marking (on the wall) the days he has been absent while my eyes have lost their lustre and begin to fail

Tamil commentary

அவர் என்னைப் பிரிந்து போன நாள்களைச் சுவரில் குறித்துத் தொட்டு எண்ணுவதால் என் விரல்கள் தேய்ந்து விட்டன; அவர் வரும் வழியைப் பார்த்து என் கண்களும் ஒளி இழந்து, நுண்ணியவற்றைக் காணும் திறனில் குறைந்து விட்டன.

Chapter 127

More from Mutual Desire

அவர்வயின் விதும்பல்

Read all 10 Kurals →

Kural 1261

My eyes are dim lustre-bereft Worn fingers count days since he left

Kural 1262

Beauty pales and my bracelets slide; Why not forget him now, bright maid?

Kural 1263

Will as guide he went to win Yet I live-to see him again

Kural 1264

My heart in rapture heaves to see His retun with love to embrace me

Kural 1265

Let me but gaze and gaze my spouse sallow on my soft shoulders files

Kural 1266

Let my spouse return just a day Joy-drink shall drive my pain away

Kural 1267

If my eye-like lord returneth Shall I sulk or clasp or do both?

Kural 1268

May the king fight and win and give And with my wife I will feast this eve!

Kural 1269

One day seems as seven to those Who yearn return of distant spouse

Kural 1270

When her heart is broken, what is The good of meeting and love-embrace?