Edited by: N.V.K. Ashraf

 

This Tirukkural translation in English is drawn from a comparative study of 25 different translations. Sixteen of these were either complete or partial translations and the remaining nine were translations that appeared in articles, monographs and books authored by different people on Tirukkural and Tiruvalluvar. The choicest translation that is close to the original - in spirit, content and style - has been chosen for presentation. Preference has been given for brevity, simplicity and clarity. Emphasize was also laid on translations that manage to reflect, as much as possible, every word found in the original.  Sometimes translations of two authors were combined to produce the best reflection of the original. The translator or translators of every couplet have been acknowledged with their initials eg. PS, SS, SB, VS etc. in a separate column. The initials have been expanded with the full names of these translators at the end of this page. When no translation was found particularly satisfactory, I chose to render them myself. These have been marked by initial NV. An astrix * at the end of a translation indicate that the rendering has been improved upon, either by adding/replacing words or deleting words found to be unnecessary. To know more on the process of this comparison and criteria of selection, click here: Comparing Tirukkural translations to unfold the best. 

Division III. Love

Notes:
1201. Compare with: 1090: "Wine won't delight unless imbibed, but love with a look delights!" - PS and with 1281 "To please with the thought and delight with the sight, belongs not to liquor but love" –PS
1207. Compare with 1165. "If his friendship can bring so much misery, how will it be in enmity?" * - GV, PS
1208. An explanatory translation: "The greatness of my love is that he never finds fault with me for remembering him often" - KK

Notes:
1216. In other words: "But for this state of wakefulness, I would have my beloved always in my dreams" * - KV, DL
1219. A good alternate translation is given by SI: "They blame him for not visiting me; they know not what dreams can do"

 

Notes:
1230. Compare with 1263. "He parted from me longing for conquests; and if I live yet, it is longing for his return" * - VS

 

 

Notes:
1244. Compare with 1170. "If eyes could also reach him like the heart, they won’t be swimming in a flood of tears" - NV

Notes:
1251. Compare with 71. "Can love be latched and hidden? A trickling tear will proclaim it loud" - PS
1259. Compare with 1284. “My friend, I went all set to quarrel, but my heart forgot and clasped him”. (PS)

 

Notes:
1262. Can be translated differently based on how the word "என்" is being interpreted, whether as "what" or "mine". The phrase "மறப்பின் என்" could therefore mean either "What if I forget" or "If I forget, my" and thus giving different meanings. SI, SB, VS, DZ and KV have preferred the first one, while PS, KK, JN, MS, GU and DL have opted for the second interpretation. The first one has been preferred here. If the second rendering is chosen, then the couplet would be taken to mean: "My bright jewel, if I forget him now, bracelets will slide off my shoulders, losing its beauty" *- MS, JN. On the contrary, bracelets should actually slip and shoulders lose their beauty only when the lady keeps remembering her lover, not when she forgets!

1263. An alternate good translation but not close to original: "With his mind set on conquests he left, while I live here with my eyes set on his return" - KV. Compare this with 1230: "Longing for him who left longing for wealth, the evenings have their toll on my undying soul" - NV
1264. The phrase "கூடிய காமம் பிரிந்தார்" has been taken to mean differently. As [i] "One who embraced and parted" by MS, DZ, VS and [ii] "reunion when my love returns" by SB, PS. Both views seem to be correct, but KV and DL take somewhat a middle path "the lover returning with enhanced love" by taking the word "கூடிய" as enhanced. But the context of the buoyant heart going higher and higher at the thought of the lover’s return imply that she is thinking about the reunion of love.
 

 

Notes:
1275. Compare with 1102. "The cure for a disease is always different. But this jewel is both disease and cure" - DL, PS

1279. This statement is made by the lady drawing the attention of the now returned husband to the changes her physique has undergone owing to separation.
 

 

Notes:
1281. Compare with 1090: "Wine won't delight unless imbibed, but love with a look delights!" - PS and with 1201: "Love is sweeter than wine; its mere thought intoxicates" – PS
1283. Compare with 1178. Five of the seven seers (metrical feet) between these two couplets are same! “பேணாது பெட்டார் உளர்-மன்னோ மற்று அவர்க் காணாது அமைவு இல கண்.”
1284. Compare with 1294. "Who will consult you hereafter, my heart, having failed to sulk before yielding?" * - MS, PS. Also with 1259. “Determined to sulk I went, but when my heart merged, I too went and clasped him.” * (JN, PS)
1288. Through disgraceful, drunkards seek to drink again. Even so, I long for your bosom in spite of your trickery.
 

Notes:
1294. Compare with 1284. "My friend, I went all set to quarrel, but my heart forgot and clasped him" - PS
1295. Compare with 1179. "Sleepless when he is not here, sleepless when he is, either way my eyes never rest" - PS

Notes:
1301. Compare with 1321. "Though he is not to blame, I feign sulking to bring out the best from of him" - NV
1302. An alternate translation, easy to comprehend, but not close to original: "Love's salt is sulk. A pinch of it is welcome but too much will ruin the taste" - PS

Notes:
1311. SI’s translation, though not literal, would explain this scenario: "All women graze on your breast, O false one! I reject your advances"
1315. ….. thinking of next birth

Notes:
1321. Compare with 1301: "Let me feign to be angry and see his pain of suffering for a while" - NV