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உறுப்புநலன் அழிதல்: Wasting Away
About this chapter
உறுப்புநலன் அழிதல், wasting away (the loss of bodily beauty), is about the signs of suffering that separation leaves on the body of the wife (தலைவி): dim eyes, thin shoulders, bracelets that slip off. The voices change as the chapter goes.
Kurals 1231 to 1235 read her eyes, shoulders and bracelets as witnesses. Her eyes are dim and ashamed to look at fragrant flowers (1231), her tear-wet eyes seem to proclaim that he has not been kind (1232), and her shoulders, which swelled on their wedding day, now announce the separation (1233). Loosened bracelets and faded shoulders tell of his absence and his cruelty (1234 and 1235). Kural 1236 gives a different answer. She grieves to hear him called cruel because her bracelets slipped. Kural 1237 turns to her own heart, asking what glory it expects from telling him about her wasted shoulders. Kurals 1238 to 1240 shift to a third-person scene. When the arms of an embrace were loosened even for a moment, the forehead of the woman turned pale (1238), and when a breath of wind passed between them her large eyes lost colour (1239). Kural 1240 asks whether the eyes' pallor was sorrow at what the forehead had done.
Kural 1236 is the one to read for its loyalty to him.
The 10 kurals of உறுப்புநலன் அழிதல்
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.
சிறுமை நமக்கொழியச் சேட்சென்றார் உள்ளி
நறுமலர் நாணின கண்.
Sirumai Namakkozhiyach Chetchendraar Ulli
Narumalar Naanina Kan
Thine eyes grown dim are now ashamed the fragrant flow'rs to see, Thinking on him, who wand'ring far, leaves us in misery
நயந்தவர் நல்காமை சொல்லுவ போலும்
பசந்து பனிவாரும் கண்.
Nayandhavar Nalkaamai Solluva Polum
Pasandhu Panivaarum Kan
The eye, with sorrow wan, all wet with dew of tears, As witness of the lover's lack of love appears
தணந்தமை சால அறிவிப்ப போலும்
மணந்தநாள் வீங்கிய தோள்.
Thanandhamai Saala Arivippa Polum
Manandhanaal Veengiya Thol
These withered arms, desertion's pangs abundantly display, That swelled with joy on that glad nuptial day
பணைநீங்கிப் பைந்தொடி சோரும் துணைநீங்கித்
தொல்கவின் வாடிய தோள்.
Panaineengip Paindhoti Sorum Thunaineengith
Tholkavin Vaatiya Thol
When lover went, then faded all their wonted charms, And armlets' golden round slips off from these poor wasted arms
கொடியார் கொடுமை உரைக்கும் தொடியொடு
தொல்கவின் வாடிய தோள்.
Kotiyaar Kotumai Uraikkum Thotiyotu
Tholkavin Vaatiya Thol
These wasted arms, the bracelet with their wonted beauty gone, The cruelty declare of that most cruel one
தொடியொடு தோள்நெகிழ நோவல் அவரைக்
கொடியர் எனக்கூறல் நொந்து.
Thotiyotu Tholnekizha Noval Avaraik
Kotiyar Enakkooral Nondhu
I grieve, 'tis pain to me to hear him cruel chid, Because the armlet from my wasted arm has slid
பாடு பெறுதியோ நெஞ்சே கொடியார்க்கென்
வாடுதோட் பூசல் உரைத்து.
Paatu Perudhiyo Nenje Kotiyaarkken
Vaatudhot Poosal Uraiththu
My heart! say ought of glory wilt thou gain, If to that cruel one thou of thy wasted arms complain
முயங்கிய கைகளை ஊக்கப் பசந்தது
பைந்தொடிப் பேதை நுதல்.
Muyangiya Kaikalai Ookkap Pasandhadhu
Paindhotip Pedhai Nudhal
One day the fervent pressure of embracing arms I checked, Grew wan the forehead of the maid with golden armlet decked
முயக்கிடைத் தண்வளி போழப் பசப்புற்ற
பேதை பெருமழைக் கண்.
Muyakkitaith Thanvali Pozhap Pasapputra
Pedhai Perumazhaik Kan
As we embraced a breath of wind found entrance there; The maid's large liquid eyes were dimmed with care
கண்ணின் பசப்போ பருவரல் எய்தின்றே
ஒண்ணுதல் செய்தது கண்டு.
Kannin Pasappo Paruvaral Eydhindre
Onnudhal Seydhadhu Kantu
The dimness of her eye felt sorrow now, Beholding what was done by that bright brow
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