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கனவுநிலை உரைத்தல்: The Visions of the Night
About this chapter
கனவுநிலை உரைத்தல், the visions of the night, is about the wife's (தலைவி) dreams of her absent husband. She finds comfort in dreams that waking life denies her, and sometimes blames them.
Kural 1211 starts with a charming thought: what feast can she offer a dream that has brought a message from him? Kural 1212 says that if her eyes would close at her begging, she could tell him of her sufferings in the dream. Kurals 1213 and 1214 state the main point: she lives because she sees in sleep the one who is unkind to her awake, and the dream seeks him out for her. Kural 1215 says that what she sees in a dream is as sweet as what she saw awake, and Kural 1216 imagines that if there were no waking, her beloved would never leave her in dreams. Kural 1217 reverses the thought. Why should the one who is cruel when she is awake torment her in dreams? Kural 1218 describes how he rests on her shoulders when she sleeps and, when she wakes, hastens into her heart. Kurals 1219 and 1220 end by turning to the town. Those with no beloved to see in dreams blame him for his neglect, and the women of the town, who say he has left her, have not seen him in her dreams.
Kural 1211 is the one to start with, for its warmth.
The 10 kurals of கனவுநிலை உரைத்தல்
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.
காதலர் தூதொடு வந்த கனவினுக்கு
யாதுசெய் வேன்கொல் விருந்து.
Kaadhalar Thoodhotu Vandha Kanavinukku
Yaadhusey Venkol Virundhu
It came and brought to me, that nightly vision rare, A message from my love,- what feast shall I prepare
கயலுண்கண் யானிரப்பத் துஞ்சிற் கலந்தார்க்கு
உயலுண்மை சாற்றுவேன் மன்.
Kayalunkan Yaanirappath Thunjir Kalandhaarkku
Uyalunmai Saatruven Man
If my dark, carp-like eye will close in sleep, as I implore, The tale of my long-suffering life I'll tell my loved one o'er
நனவினால் நல்கா தவரைக் கனவினால்
காண்டலின் உண்டென் உயிர்.
Nanavinaal Nalkaa Thavaraik Kanavinaal
Kaantalin Unten Uyir
Him, who in waking hour no kindness shows, In dreams I see; and so my lifetime goes
கனவினான் உண்டாகும் காமம் நனவினான்
நல்காரை நாடித் தரற்கு.
Kanavinaan Untaakum Kaamam Nanavinaan
Nalkaarai Naatith Thararku
Some pleasure I enjoy when him who loves not meIn waking hours, the vision searches out and makes me see
நனவினால் கண்டதூஉம் ஆங்கே கனவுந்தான்
கண்ட பொழுதே இனிது.
Nanavinaal Kantadhooum Aange Kanavundhaan
Kanta Pozhudhe Inidhu
As what I then beheld in waking hour was sweet, So pleasant dreams in hour of sleep my spirit greet
நனவென ஒன்றில்லை ஆயின் கனவினால்
காதலர் நீங்கலர் மன்.
Nanavena Ondrillai Aayin Kanavinaal
Kaadhalar Neengalar Man
And if there were no waking hour, my loveIn dreams would never from my side remove
நனவினால் நல்காக் கொடியார் கனவனால்
என்எம்மைப் பீழிப் பது.
Nanavinaal Nalkaak Kotiyaar Kanavanaal
Enemmaip Peezhip Padhu
The cruel one, in waking hour, who all ungracious seems, Why should he thus torment my soul in nightly dreams
துஞ்சுங்கால் தோள்மேலர் ஆகி விழிக்குங்கால்
நெஞ்சத்தர் ஆவர் விரைந்து.
Thunjungaal Tholmelar Aaki Vizhikkungaal
Nenjaththar Aavar Viraindhu
And when I sleep he holds my form embraced; And when I wake to fill my heart makes haste
நனவினால் நல்காரை நோவர் கனவினால்
காதலர்க் காணா தவர்.
Nanavinaal Nalkaarai Novar Kanavinaal
Kaadhalark Kaanaa Thavar
In dreams who ne'er their lover's form perceive, For those in waking hours who show no love will grieve
நனவினால் நம்நீத்தார் என்பர் கனவினால்
காணார்கொல் இவ்வூ ரவர்.
Nanavinaal Namneeththaar Enpar Kanavinaal
Kaanaarkol Ivvoo Ravar
They say, that he in waking hours has left me lone; In dreams they surely see him not,- these people of the town;
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