Thirukkural · காமத்துப்பால் · கற்பியல்

நெஞ்சொடு கிளத்தல்: Soliloquy

Chapter 125 of 133 (Nenjotukilaththal) · Love · The Post-marital love · Kurals 1241 to 1250

About this chapter

நெஞ்சொடு கிளத்தல், soliloquy (speaking with one's own heart), has the wife (தலைவி) talk to her heart (நெஞ்சு) as to a separate person, one that is her companion, her advisor, and sometimes her fool. Her husband is away and the chapter is a debate with herself.

Kural 1241 begins with a request: can her heart think of some medicine to cure this sickness? Kurals 1242 and 1243 argue that it is foolish to grieve for one who does not love her, and that sitting at home thinking of him is useless, since he thinks nothing of her. Kural 1244 asks the heart to take her eyes along when it goes, since they eat away at her with their longing to see him. Kural 1245 asks whether she can give him up, saying he hates her, though she still loves him. Kural 1246 scolds the heart for pretending to be angry and melting when it sees him. Kural 1247 poses the dilemma. Either desire or shame must go, because she cannot bear both. Kural 1248 calls her heart a fool for following the one who left. Kural 1249 asks to whom the heart is going when he already lives within it, and Kural 1250 ends with the thought that to keep him in mind would be to lose even the beauty that remains.

Kural 1249 and Kural 1247 are the two to read.

The 10 kurals of நெஞ்சொடு கிளத்தல்

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.

Kural 1241

நினைத்தொன்று சொல்லாயோ நெஞ்சே எனைத்தொன்றும்
எவ்வநோய் தீர்க்கும் மருந்து.

Ninaiththondru Sollaayo Nenje Enaiththondrum
Evvanoi Theerkkum Marundhu

My heart, canst thou not thinking of some med'cine tell, Not any one, to drive away this grief incurable

Kural 1242

காதல் அவரிலர் ஆகநீ நோவது
பேதைமை வாழியென் நெஞ்சு.

Kaadhal Avarilar Aakanee Novadhu
Pedhaimai Vaazhiyen Nenju

Since he loves not, thy smartIs folly, fare thee well my heart

Kural 1243

இருந்துள்ளி என்பரிதல் நெஞ்சே பரிந்துள்ளல்
பைதல்நோய் செய்தார்கண் இல்.

Irundhulli Enparidhal Nenje Parindhullal
Paidhalnoi Seydhaarkan Il

What comes of sitting here in pining thought, O heart? He knowsNo pitying thought, the cause of all these wasting woes

Kural 1244

கண்ணும் கொளச்சேறி நெஞ்சே இவையென்னைத்
தின்னும் அவர்க்காணல் உற்று.

Kannum Kolachcheri Nenje Ivaiyennaith
Thinnum Avarkkaanal Utru

O rid me of these eyes, my heart; for they, Longing to see him, wear my life away

Kural 1245

செற்றார் எனக்கை விடல்உண்டோ நெஞ்சேயாம்
உற்றால் உறாஅ தவர்.

Setraar Enakkai Vitalunto Nenjeyaam
Utraal Uraaa Thavar

O heart, as a foe, can I abandon utterlyHim who, though I long for him, longs not for me

Kural 1246

கலந்துணர்த்தும் காதலர்க் கண்டாற் புலந்துணராய்
பொய்க்காய்வு காய்திஎன் நெஞ்சு.

Kalandhunarththum Kaadhalark Kantaar Pulandhunaraai
Poikkaaivu Kaaidhien Nenju

My heart, false is the fire that burns; thou canst not wrath maintain, If thou thy love behold, embracing, soothing all thy pain

Kural 1247

காமம் விடுஒன்றோ நாண்விடு நன்னெஞ்சே
யானோ பொறேன்இவ் விரண்டு.

Kaamam Vituondro Naanvitu Nannenje
Yaano Poreniv Virantu

Or bid thy love, or bid thy shame depart; For me, I cannot bear them both, my worthy heart

Kural 1248

பரிந்தவர் நல்காரென்று ஏங்கிப் பிரிந்தவர்
பின்செல்வாய் பேதைஎன் நெஞ்சு.

Parindhavar Nalkaarendru Engip Pirindhavar
Pinselvaai Pedhaien Nenju

Thou art befooled, my heart, thou followest him who flees from thee; And still thou yearning criest: 'He will nor pity show nor love to me.'

Kural 1249

உள்ளத்தார் காத லவரால் உள்ளிநீ
யாருழைச் சேறியென் நெஞ்சு.

Ullaththaar Kaadha Lavaraal Ullinee
Yaaruzhaich Cheriyen Nenju

My heart! my lover lives within my mind; Roaming, whom dost thou think to find

Kural 1250

துன்னாத் துறந்தாரை நெஞ்சத்து உடையேமா
இன்னும் இழத்தும் கவின்.

Thunnaath Thurandhaarai Nenjaththu Utaiyemaa
Innum Izhaththum Kavin

If I should keep in mind the man who utterly renounces me, My soul must suffer further loss of dignity

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