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தனிப்படர் மிகுதி: The Solitary Anguish
About this chapter
தனிப்படர் மிகுதி, the solitary anguish (the pain of one-sided longing), is about love that is not returned in equal measure. The speaker feels she is the only one who loves, and the chapter reflects on what that costs. As in the neighbouring chapters, the speaker is read here as the wife (தலைவி).
The chapter starts with what she lacks. Kurals 1191 to 1194 praise the happiness of those whose love is returned, comparing it to a fruit without a stone, rain on those who live by it, and a pride that only the loved can claim. Kural 1195 asks what the one she loves can do for her if he does not love her in return. Kural 1196 gives the central comparison. Love on one side is painful, like a carrying pole (காவடி) with a load at one end only, and easy when balanced on both. Kural 1197 asks whether the god of love, who sees only one side, cannot see her suffering. Kural 1198 says there is no one so hard-hearted as those who can live without a kind word from the beloved, and Kural 1199 adds that even so, his words would be sweet to her ears. Kural 1200 closes with a rebuke to her own heart, saying that to tell the story of her pain to someone who does not feel it is to try to fill the sea.
Kural 1196 is the one to remember, for its balanced pole.
The 10 kurals of தனிப்படர் மிகுதி
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.
தாம்வீழ்வார் தம்வீழப் பெற்றவர் பெற்றாரே
காமத்துக் காழில் கனி.
Thaamveezhvaar Thamveezhap Petravar Petraare
Kaamaththuk Kaazhil Kani
The bliss to be beloved by those they love who gains, Of love the stoneless, luscious fruit obtains
வாழ்வார்க்கு வானம் பயந்தற்றால் வீழ்வார்க்கு
வீழ்வார் அள க்கும் அளி.
Vaazhvaarkku Vaanam Payandhatraal Veezhvaarkku
Veezhvaar Ala� Kkum Ali
As heaven on living men showers blessings from above, Is tender grace by lovers shown to those they love
வீழுநர் வீழப் படுவார்க்கு அமையுமே
வாழுநம் என்னும் செருக்கு.
Veezhunar Veezhap Patuvaarkku Amaiyume
Vaazhunam Ennum Serukku
Who love and are beloved to them aloneBelongs the boast, 'We've made life's very joys our own.'
வீழப் படுவார் கெழீஇயிலர் தாம்வீழ்வார்
வீழப் படாஅர் எனின்.
Veezhap Patuvaar Kezheeiyilar Thaamveezhvaar
Veezhap Pataaar Enin
Those well-beloved will luckless prove, Unless beloved by those they love
நாம்காதல் கொண்டார் நமக்கெவன் செய்பவோ
தாம்காதல் கொள்ளாக் கடை.
Naamkaadhal Kontaar Namakkevan Seypavo
Thaamkaadhal Kollaak Katai
From him I love to me what gain can be, Unless, as I love him, he loveth me
ஒருதலையான் இன்னாது காமம்காப் போல
இருதலை யானும் இனிது.
Orudhalaiyaan Innaadhu Kaamamkaap Pola
Irudhalai Yaanum Inidhu
Love on one side is bad; like balanced loadBy porter borne, love on both sides is good
பருவரலும் பைதலும் காணான்கொல் காமன்
ஒருவர்கண் நின்றொழுகு வான்.
Paruvaralum Paidhalum Kaanaankol Kaaman
Oruvarkan Nindrozhuku Vaan
While Kaman rushes straight at me alone, Is all my pain and wasting grief unknown
வீழ்வாரின் இன்சொல் பெறாஅது உலகத்து
வாழ்வாரின் வன்கணார் இல்.
Veezhvaarin Insol Peraaadhu Ulakaththu
Vaazhvaarin Vankanaar Il
Who hear from lover's lips no pleasant word from day to day, Yet in the world live out their life,- no braver souls than they
நசைஇயார் நல்கார் எனினும் அவர்மாட்டு
இசையும் இனிய செவிக்கு.
Nasaiiyaar Nalkaar Eninum Avarmaattu
Isaiyum Iniya Sevikku
Though he my heart desires no grace accords to me, Yet every accent of his voice is melody
உறாஅர்க்கு உறுநோய் உரைப்பாய் கடலைச்
செறாஅஅய் வாழிய நெஞ்சு.
Uraaarkku Urunoi Uraippaai Katalaich
Cheraaaai Vaazhiya Nenju
Tell him thy pain that loves not thee?Farewell, my soul, fill up the sea
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