Tkl 3 1 06

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 11 Oct 2011 11:14 and updated at 11 Oct 2011 11:14

TIRUKKURAL of Tiruvalluvar, the Tamil poet

BOOK 3

LOVE

DIVISION 1

3.1 The Pre marital Love

ADHIKARAM 6

3.1.6. The Abandonment of Reserve

1131
To those who ve proved Love s joy, and now afflicted mourn,
Except the helpful Horse of Palm no other strength remains.
To those who after enjoyment of sexual Pleasure suffer (for want of more), there is no help so efficient as the Palmyra Horse.

1132
My body and my soul, that can no more endure,
Will lay reserve aside, and mount the Horse of Palm
Having got rid of shame, the suffering body and Soul save themselves on the Palmyra Horse.

1133
I once retained reserve and seemly manliness;
To day I nought possess but Lovers Horse of Palm
Modesty and manliness were once my own; now, my own is the Palmyra Horse that is ridden by the lustful.

1134
Love s rushing tide will sweep away the raft
Of seemly manliness and shame combined.
The raft of Modesty and manliness, is, alas, carried off by the strong current of Lust.

1135
The maid that slender Armlets wears, like Flowers entwined,
Has brought me Horse of palm, and pangs of eventide!
She with the small garland like Bracelets has given me the Palmyra Horse and the Sorrow that is endured at night.

1136
Of climbing Horse of Palm in midnight hour, I think;
My Eyes know no repose for that same simple maid.
Mine Eyes will not close in sleep on your mistress s account; even at midnight will I think of mounting the Palmyra Horse.

1137
There s nought of greater worth than Woman s long enduring soul,
Who, vexed by Love like ocean waves, climbs not the Horse of Palm
There is nothing so noble as the Womanly nature that would not ride the Palmyra Horse, though plunged a Sea of Lust.

1138
In Virtue hard to move, yet very tender, too, are we;
Love deems not so, would rend the veil, and court publicity!
Even the Lust (of Women) transgresses its secrecy and appears in public, forgetting that they are too chaste and liberal (to be overcome by it).

1139
There s no one knows my Heart, so says my Love,
And thus, in public ways, perturbed will rove.
My Lust, feeling that it is not known by all, reels confused in the streets (of this Town).

1140
Before my Eyes the foolish make a mock of me,
Because they ne er endured the pangs I now must drie.
Even Strangers laugh (at us) so as to be seen by us, for they have not suffered.

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