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பசப்புறு பருவரல்: The Pallid Hue
About this chapter
பசப்புறு பருவரல், the pallid hue, is about பசலை, the pallor or sallowness that the wife (தலைவி) takes on in her husband's absence. In the convention of these kurals, it is the visible sign of her suffering. She speaks of it with a mix of grief and loyalty.
Kural 1181 begins with regret: she agreed to his going, and now to whom can she tell of her pallor? Kural 1182 gives the pallor a personality. It spreads over her body as though proud to have come from him. Kural 1183 says he took her beauty and modesty and gave pain and pallor in return. Kural 1184 complains that she only speaks of his goodness, yet the pallor betrays her. Kural 1185 observes that as he went away, pallor came to spread over her. Kural 1186 has the chapter's best image, in which pallor waits for any slackening of his embrace as darkness waits for a lamp to fail. Kural 1187 gives a small scene, in which she only turned aside from his embrace, and pallor grasped her at that moment. Kural 1188 says that people say she has turned pale, but nobody says he has left her. Kurals 1189 and 1190 end with a loyal wish: let her be pale if he is well, and let her be called pale if no one blames him for unkindness.
Kural 1186 is the one to read first.
The 10 kurals of பசப்புறு பருவரல்
Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.
நயந்தவர்க்கு நல்காமை நேர்ந்தேன் பசந்தவென்
பண்பியார்க்கு உரைக்கோ பிற.
Nayandhavarkku Nalkaamai Nerndhen Pasandhaven
Panpiyaarkku Uraikko Pira
I willed my lover absent should remain; Of pining's sickly hue to whom shall I complain
அவர்தந்தார் என்னும் தகையால் இவர்தந்தென்
மேனிமேல் ஊரும் பசப்பு.
Avardhandhaar Ennum Thakaiyaal Ivardhandhen
Menimel Oorum Pasappu
'He gave': this sickly hue thus proudly speaks, Then climbs, and all my frame its chariot makes
சாயலும் நாணும் அவர்கொண்டார் கைம்மாறா
நோயும் பசலையும் தந்து.
Saayalum Naanum Avarkontaar Kaimmaaraa
Noyum Pasalaiyum Thandhu
Of comeliness and shame he me bereft, While pain and sickly hue, in recompense, he left
உள்ளுவன் மன்யான் உரைப்பது அவர்திறமால்
கள்ளம் பிறவோ பசப்பு.
Ulluvan Manyaan Uraippadhu Avardhiramaal
Kallam Piravo Pasappu
I meditate his words, his worth is theme of all I say, This sickly hue is false that would my trust betray
உவக்காண்எம் காதலர் செல்வார் இவக்காண்என்
மேனி பசப்பூர் வது.
Uvakkaanem Kaadhalar Selvaar Ivakkaanen
Meni Pasappoor Vadhu
My lover there went forth to roam; This pallor of my frame usurps his place at home
விளக்கற்றம் பார்க்கும் இருளேபோல் கொண்கன்
முயக்கற்றம் பார்க்கும் பசப்பு.
Vilakkatram Paarkkum Irulepol Konkan
Muyakkatram Paarkkum Pasappu
As darkness waits till lamp expires, to fill the place, This pallor waits till I enjoy no more my lord's embrace
புல்லிக் கிடந்தேன் புடைபெயர்ந்தேன் அவ்வளவில்
அள்ளிக்கொள் வற்றே பசப்பு.
Pullik Kitandhen Putaipeyarndhen Avvalavil
Allikkol Vatre Pasappu
I lay in his embrace, I turned unwittingly; Forthwith this hue, as you might grasp it, came on me
பசந்தாள் இவள்என்பது அல்லால் இவளைத்
துறந்தார் அவர்என்பார் இல்.
Pasandhaal Ivalenpadhu Allaal Ivalaith
Thurandhaar Avarenpaar Il
On me, because I pine, they cast a slur; But no one says, 'He first deserted her.'
பசக்கமன் பட்டாங்கென் மேனி நயப்பித்தார்
நன்னிலையர் ஆவர் எனின்.
Pasakkaman Pattaangen Meni Nayappiththaar
Nannilaiyar Aavar Enin
Well let my frame, as now, be sicklied o'er with pain, If he who won my heart's consent, in good estate remain
பசப்பெனப் பேர்பெறுதல் நன்றே நயப்பித்தார்
நல்காமை தூற்றார் எனின்.
Pasappenap Perperudhal Nandre Nayappiththaar
Nalkaamai Thootraar Enin
'Tis well, though men deride me for my sickly hue of pain; If they from calling him unkind, who won my love, refrain
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