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புலவி: Pouting
About this chapter
புலவி, pouting, is the first of three chapters on lovers' quarrels (ஊடல்). Here the quarrel is mild, a pretended anger between husband and wife. The voices alternate: some kurals are the wife's resolve to stay aloof, and others are the husband's or a narrator's reflections on what pouting is worth.
Kural 1301 begins with the wife's plan to withhold her embrace for a while and watch his distress. Kural 1302 gives the chapter's best-known comparison: a little pouting is like the right measure of salt, and prolonging it is like too much. Kurals 1303 and 1304 give the opposite view. To leave one who is pouting without an embrace is to torment one who is already suffering, and not to win her back is like cutting a withering creeper at the root. Kural 1305 says the pouting of the flower-eyed is lovely even to the virtuous. Kural 1306 says that love without any sulking or lasting quarrel is like fruit that is unripe or overripe. Kural 1307 notes the pain in even a pretended quarrel: will union be delayed? Kural 1308 asks what use grief is when no loved one is there to know it, and Kural 1309 compares pouting to water in the shade, pleasant only for those who love. Kural 1310 ends with the speaker's heart still longing to unite with the one who lets the quarrel wither.
Kural 1302 is the one to start with.
The 10 kurals of புலவி
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.
புல்லா திராஅப் புலத்தை அவர்உறும்
அல்லல்நோய் காண்கம் சிறிது.
Pullaa Thiraaap Pulaththai Avar
Urum Allalnoi Kaankam Siridhu
Be still reserved, decline his profferred love; A little while his sore distress we 'll prove
உப்பமைந் தற்றால் புலவி அதுசிறிது
மிக்கற்றால் நீள விடல்.
Uppamain Thatraal Pulavi Adhusiridhu
Mikkatraal Neela Vital
A cool reserve is like the salt that seasons well the mess, Too long maintained, 'tis like the salt's excess
அலந்தாரை அல்லல்நோய் செய்தற்றால் தம்மைப்
புலந்தாரைப் புல்லா விடல்.
Alandhaarai Allalnoi Seydhatraal Thammaip
Pulandhaaraip Pullaa Vital
'Tis heaping griefs on those whose hearts are grieved; To leave the grieving one without a fond embrace
ஊடி யவரை உணராமை வாடிய
வள்ளி முதலரிந் தற்று.
Ooti Yavarai Unaraamai Vaatiya
Valli Mudhalarin Thatru
To use no kind conciliating art when lover grieves, Is cutting out the root of tender winding plant that droops
நலத்தகை நல்லவர்க்கு ஏஎர் புலத்தகை
பூஅன்ன கண்ணார் அகத்து.
Nalaththakai Nallavarkku Eer Pulaththakai
Pooanna Kannaar Akaththu
Even to men of good and worthy mind, the petulanceOf wives with flowery eyes lacks not a lovely grace
துனியும் புலவியும் இல்லாயின் காமம்
கனியும் கருக்காயும் அற்று.
Thuniyum Pulaviyum Illaayin Kaamam
Kaniyum Karukkaayum Atru
Love without hatred is ripened fruit; Without some lesser strife, fruit immature
ஊடலின் உண்டாங்கோர் துன்பம் புணர்வது
நீடுவ தன்று கொல் என்று.
Ootalin Untaangor Thunpam Punarvadhu
Neetuva Thandru Kol Endru
A lovers' quarrel brings its pain, when mind afraidAsks doubtful, 'Will reunion sweet be long delayed?'
நோதல் எவன்மற்று நொந்தாரென்று அஃதறியும்
காதலர் இல்லா வழி.
Nodhal Evanmatru Nondhaarendru Aqdhariyum
Kaadhalar Illaa Vazhi
What good can grieving do, when none who loveAre there to know the grief thy soul endures
நீரும் நிழலது இனிதே புலவியும்
வீழுநர் கண்ணே இனிது.
Neerum Nizhaladhu Inidhe Pulaviyum
Veezhunar Kanne Inidhu
Water is pleasant in the cooling shade; So coolness for a time with those we love
ஊடல் உணங்க விடுவாரோடு என்நெஞ்சம்
கூடுவேம் என்பது அவா.
Ootal Unanga Vituvaarotu Ennenjam
Kootuvem Enpadhu Avaa
Of her who leaves me thus in variance languishing, To think within my heart with love is fond desire
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