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புலவி நுணுக்கம்: Feigned Anger
About this chapter
புலவி நுணுக்கம், feigned anger in its subtleties, is a collection of small domestic scenes in which a wife finds a reason to be cross with everything. Except for the first kural, which is her accusation, the speaker is the husband, who tells the stories with amusement.
Kural 1311 gives her complaint: all women, she says, enjoy his glances, and she will not go near him. Then come the husband's tales. In Kural 1312 he sneezes during a sulk, hoping she will say "long life to you". In Kural 1313 she sees the flowers in his hair and asks which woman he wore them for. In Kural 1314 he says he loves her more than anyone, and she asks, "More than whom?" In Kural 1315 he says he will not leave her in this life, and she weeps, reading a limit into "in this life". In Kural 1316 he says he thought of her, and she answers that he had forgotten her before. Kurals 1317 and 1318 return to the sneeze. She blesses him and then cries, "Whose thought made you sneeze?" and when he suppresses it, she cries, "You are hiding it from me." Kurals 1319 and 1320 end with her cross even when he tries to soothe her and when he simply looks at her.
Kural 1314 and Kural 1315 are the two to know for their humour.
The 10 kurals of புலவி நுணுக்கம்
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.
பெண்ணியலார் எல்லாரும் கண்ணின் பொதுஉண்பர்
நண்ணேன் பரத்தநின் மார்பு.
Penniyalaar Ellaarum Kannin Podhuunpar
Nannen Paraththanin Maarpu
From thy regard all womankind Enjoys an equal grace; O thou of wandering fickle mind, I shrink from thine embrace
ஊடி இருந்தேமாத் தும்மினார் யாம்தம்மை
நீடுவாழ் கென்பாக் கறிந்து.
Ooti Irundhemaath Thumminaar Yaamdhammai
Neetuvaazh Kenpaak Karindhu
One day we silent sulked; he sneezed: The reason well I knew; He thought that I, to speak well pleased, Would say, 'Long life to you!'
கோட்டுப்பூச் சூடினும் காயும் ஒருத்தியைக்
காட்டிய சூடினீர் என்று.
Kottup Pooch Chootinum Kaayum
Oruththiyaik Kaattiya Sootineer Endru
I wreathed with flowers one day my brow, The angry tempest lowers; She cries, 'Pray, for what woman now Do you put on your flowers?'
யாரினும் காதலம் என்றேனா ஊடினாள்
யாரினும் யாரினும் என்று.
Yaarinum Kaadhalam Endrenaa Ootinaal
Yaarinum Yaarinum Endru
'I love you more than all beside,' 'T was thus I gently spoke;'What all, what all?' she instant cried; And all her anger woke
இம்மைப் பிறப்பில் பிரியலம் என்றேனாக்
கண்நிறை நீர்கொண் டனள்.
Immaip Pirappil Piriyalam Endrenaak
Kannirai Neerkon Tanal
'While here I live, I leave you not,' I said to calm her fearsShe cried, 'There, then, I read your thought'; And straight dissolved in tears
உள்ளினேன் என்றேன்மற் றென்மறந்தீர் என்றென்னைப்
புல்லாள் புலத்தக் கனள்.
Ullinen Endrenmar Renmarandheer Endrennaip
Pullaal Pulaththak Kanal
'Each day I called to mind your charms,' 'O, then, you had forgot,'She cried, and then her opened arms, Forthwith embraced me not
வழுத்தினாள் தும்மினேன் ஆக அழித்தழுதாள்
யாருள்ளித் தும்மினீர் என்று.
Vazhuththinaal Thumminen Aaka Azhiththazhudhaal
Yaarullith Thummineer Endru
She hailed me when I sneezed one day; But straight with anger seized, She cried; 'Who was the woman, pray, Thinking of whom you sneezed?'
தும்முச் செறுப்ப அழுதாள் நுமர்உள்ளல்
எம்மை மறைத்திரோ என்று.
Thummuch Cheruppa Azhudhaal Numarullal
Emmai Maraiththiro Endru
And so next time I checked my sneeze; She forthwith wept and cried,(That woman difficult to please), 'Your thoughts from me you hide'
தன்னை உணர்த்தினும் காயும் பிறர்க்கும்நீர்
இந்நீரர் ஆகுதிர் என்று.
Thannai Unarththinum Kaayum Pirarkkumneer
Inneerar Aakudhir Endru
I then began to soothe and coax, To calm her jealous mind;'I see', quoth she, 'to other folks How you are wondrous kind
நினைத்திருந்து நோக்கினும் காயும் அனைத்துநீர்
யாருள்ளி நோக்கினீர் என்று.
Ninaiththirundhu Nokkinum Kaayum Anaiththuneer
Yaarulli Nokkineer Endru
I silent sat, but thought the more, And gazed on her Then sheCried out, 'While thus you eye me o'er, Tell me whose form you see'
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