Page Created by Jijith Nadumuri on 06 Dec 2011 17:44 and updated at 15 Dec 2011 16:05
SILAPPATIKARAM ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY JIJITH NADUMURI
CHAPTER 1
KANNAKI WEDS KOVALAN
THE SONG OF AUSPICIOUS PRAISE
mankala valttup patal
SUN, MOON, RAINS AND PUKAR
Let the Moon {thinkal} be applauded {pottu}. Let the Moon be applauded. This Moon is even like the cool {kulir} white Umbrella {ven kutai} of the Chola king having a garland {taar} of Konku flowers {konk-alar} on its head {chenni}. He shows his kindness {alittal} to the earth {ulaku} like a big eye {van kan}. Let the Sun {njayiru} be applauded. Let the Sun be applauded. He travels even like the lord {naatan, skt. naatha} of river Kaveri. He travels in circles {tikiri} around the mountain Meru in clockwise {valam tiri} direction.
Let the Rains {mamalai} be praised. Let the Rains be praised. For the dwellers of this world {ulaku} having great seas {naama neer} as its boundary {veli} he gives his waters with full of grace {ali} from the top {meninru} (sky). Let the famed city of Pukar {puum pukaar} be praised. Let the famed city of Pukar be praised. The fame {totu} of the lineages {kula} of its kings has risen {onki} and spread {parantu} flowing {ozhukal} all over the world {ulaku} with the swelling seas {vinku neer} as its boundary {veli}.
This city remains steady like the Potiyil {potiyil} mountains and like the great Himalaya {imayam} mountains. Those who possessed with knowledge {pati ezhu} knows it all {ariya}. It is known for its ancient families and their ancient abodes {pazhan kuti}. Pukar is a city with superior {potu aru} fame {chirappu}. It stays free of any attacks or trembling {natukkam} on its structures {nilai} for many ages. It stays free of any trouble {otukkam} for many ages. Many great men {uyarntor}with complete learning {mutitta-kelvi} are in existence {unmai} here for entirity {muzhutu}.
This city exceeds {atan} the tall {neel} city {nakar} of the Naakas {naaka} (the capital city of the Devas, up in the himalayan mountains). It exceeds {atan} the country {naatu} of the Nagas {naaka} in all kinds of high {neel} pleasures {pokam; skt. bhogam} (The capital city of the naagas was named bhogavati, the city of pleasures. This city is referred here). The fame {pukazh} of the city of Pukar {pukaar nakar} stays long {mannum}.
KANNAKI
In this city lived Manaykan, from a noble family {kula kompar} who was generous like {nikar} unto Makavan {maakavaan} (Indra). He was gifted {eekai} with a daughter.
She was twelve years {eer aaru aantu} old in age {akavaiyaal}. She was like the goddess Lakshmi {tiruvinaal} in the lotus bud {potilaar}. Her dress {utai} and beautifully shaped body {vativu} were subjects of daily praise {pukazh}. Her nature {tiram} was like that of Arundhati {vata-meen} who burns {tee} as the eighth Nakshatra (star) in the sky. She was always praised {tozhutu} by women {maataraar}. She shined {vayanki} with all great qualities {kunam; skt. gunam}. She was a lovely girl {kaatalaal}. Her ever lasting {mannum} name {peyar} in this world {manno} was Kannaki.
KOVALAN
Here {aanku} also lived another man named Macattuvan. The king {peru-makan} who rules {aalum} the whole {muzhutu} earth {peru-nilam} regarded him as a head {talai} without peers {oru-tani}. He was a noblemen {uyarnton} having many tenants {kutikal}. He was a man of great wealth {celvattaan} possessing many treasures {niti skt. nidhi}. He fed {aarttu} his wealth even to strangers {pirar} when they came asking for it. He was like unto Kubera {iru niti kizhavan}, the owner {kizhavan} of the two {iru} kinds of treasures {niti}.
His son {makan} was sixteen years {eer ettu aantu} old in age {akavaiyaan}. His fame {pukazh} has spread {teyttu} the whole world {man}. Women {matavaar} of moon like faces {mati muka} praised {paaraatti} him in melodious voice {pan teytta mozhi} among their freinds {aayattu} thus:- 'He is Skanda having the red spear {chev vel} as his weapon, who blesses {ettum} with his looks {kantu}.' This they spoke with a subdued voice {icai pokku}. They spoke thus about him who had a handsome body {kizha mai} and who blesses {ettum} his lovers {kaatalaal} by his presence {kontu}. His name was Kovalan.
THE WEDDING
Both {iru per} fathers waited for that one favorable day {oru peru naal} when the ceremonial voices {kura} will be made and when Kannaki and Kovalan will get married. Imagining and seeing {kaana} that event in their minds {mana} they obtained great joy {makizhntu}. Girls adorned {ani} with ornamants {izhai} sat on top {mel} of the neck {eruttu} of elephants {yaanai}. They were then sent into various parts of the great city {maa nakar} to proclaim the news of the marriage {manam}.
Then Muracu drums reverberated {iyampina} and the Muruku (a horn like musical instrument) trembled {atirntana}. Conches {panilam} were sounded {ezhuntana} in order {murai}. Many white Umbrellas {ven kutai} were held up {ezhuntu} as if in the procession {ezhnuntat} of the king {aracu}.
The ornament {ani} for marriage ceremony {mankala} (for the bride) was taken in a procession {ezhuntatu} inside {ul} the inner city {akal}. Chains {maalai} were hung down {taazh} from the tops {chenni} of pillars {tuunam} adorned {ani} with Diamonds {vayiram}. The bottom {keezh} of the beautiful {puum} pavalion {pantar} was covered with blue {neela} canopy {vitaanam} decorated with Pearls {nittilam}.
In the sky {vaan uur}, the Moon {matiyam} was seen near {anaiya} Rohini, the fourth star {chakatu}, on the day of wedding.
Kannaki was like unto Vasistha's wife Arundhati {chaali} who became a star {meen}. Kovalan became her man {takai aal}. Guided by a Brahmana {paarppaan} priest of great ascetism {maamutu}, who shows the secret path {mari vazhi}, Kovalan circled around {valam} the ritual fire {tee}. Which penance {nonpu} did they do, those who saw {kan paarkkan} that wonderful sight?
Women wearing bright jewels {vilanku} on their bodies {meni} showered flowers {malar} on the couple with their quckly moving {virai} hands. The chattering {uraiyinar} elder women {paattinar} side glanced {ocinta nokku} them. Some women with curly hair {tayanku kotai} came with Sandalwood paste {chaantu} and some with Incense {pukai}. Women with heavy breasts {entu ila mulai} came with scented powders {chunnam}.
Some came with lamps {vilakku} and vessels {kalam} filled with rows {nirai} of bent twigs {mulai k kuta} of sprouted {viritta} Palikai. They had a flower bud {mukizh} like smile {muural} on their face. Those mothers {annaar} had expanded {viri} hair {kuuntal} well perfumed {narun} and adorned with flower buds {pot} which looked like creepers {koti}.
They blessed the couple saying this:- 'May you be inseparable {piriyaamal} from your lover {kaatalar}. May your embracing arms {kavavu-k-kai} never slip {nekizhaamal}. Be devoid of blemishes {teetu}!' There {ankan} on that day {annaalai} they led Kannaki, who was like the star Arundhati {aruntati} upon earth {ulakin}, into the graceful nuptial bed {mankala nal amali} on which fine flowers {chin malar} are showered {tuuvi}.
Then they chanted thus:- 'May the shining {vaal} emblem of Tiger {venkai} (sign of the Chola king) inscribed {iruttiya} on the mountain Himalaya {imaya} be protected {paal} and stay {tanki} without deformation {uzhayataa} on its golden crest {pon kottu} forever {eppazhum}. May (the Chola king) Cempiyan of great {miku} battles {cheru}, having a ferocious spear {china vel} for his weapon, spin {uruttu} his peerless {oru-tani} Discus {aazhi} forever.'
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