Tirukkural Chapter 116 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 116 - Couplets 1,2,3

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 116 - பிரிவாற்றாமை
CHAPTER 116 - PANGS OF SEPARATION.
***
116/01. செல்லாமை உண்டேல் எனக்குரை; மற்றுநின்
வல்வரவு வாழ்வார்க்கு உரை.

116/01. Sellaamai unndael enakkurai; matrrunin
Valvaravu vazhvaarkku urai.

116/01. Wife tells husband: "If you are not going out tell me.
Otherwise, if you say that you will return soon, you tell this
To those who are alive when you return."
(Meaning: I will not be alive till you return)
***
Chittranjan: Wife is unable to bear the separation of
Her husband when he is going out on official work.

Girish: In the ancient days the life
Of a husband and his wife
Was compared to finger nail
And flesh attached to the nail.

(நகமும் சதையும் போல)
(Like nail and flesh)

The finger nail can't be pulled out,
From the flesh attached to it,
It is so painful to a person
Who'll cry out of severe pain.

So, a newly married wife
Says, she'll give up her life
If her husband goes out,
As, for him, she can't wait.
***
116/02. இன்கண் உடைத்தவர் பார்வல்; பிரிவஞ்சும்
புன்கண் உடைத்தால் புணர்வு.

116/02. Inkann udaiththavar paarval; pirivanchum
Punkann udaiththaal punnarvu.

116/02. Wife to Husband: "By seeing him continuously I get happiness.
If I give him leave, I am afraid of a fearful harm."
***
Chittranjan: She is almost scared to be alone without him.

Girish: Separation increases the bondage.
Immediately after the marriage,
Her husband leaves for work.
She feels for him, until he comes back.

When a husband goes overseas
For trading, it'll take days
For a trip and his return,
Until then, his wife is alone.

The pang of separation
It is more for a woman
Until children are born
To pay them her attention.
***
116/03. அரிதரோ தேற்றம் அறிவுடையார் கண்ணும்
பிரிவோர் இடத்துண்மை யான்.

116/03. Aridharo thotrram arrvudaiyaar kannum
Pirivoar idaththunnmai yaan.

116/03. Even though a wife is an intelligent girl
When her husband says he is leaving,
She breaks down because of her chastity.
***
Chittranjan: It is natural for a girl to feel upset
When her husband is leaving even for a short while.

Girish: It is that lovable attachment,
That binds them both very tight,
So, it is but natural for her to feel
If he goes out even for a short while.

She may be intelligent,
That does not form part
Of her emotional feelings,
Which are natural for girls.

While men are strong
In their emotional feelings,
Women, as weaker sex,
Show quickly their feelings.
***

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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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