Its time to move on to Kaamaththuppaal, the forbidden part of Thirukkural.

In this part, he talks about love and relationship, I think. I haven't read before. Many haven't. it is tamil equivalent for kaamasutra, as heard from people. but, I beleive that kaamaththuppaal of thirukkural is not about positions, but about relationship. Let us see.


There are seven chapters,70 kurals covering love, relationships... in this third and the most unread part of Thirukkural.

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III Kaamaththuppaal / Inbaththuppaal

III.1 Kalaviyal


Athikaaram 109 Thahaiyananguruththal

Kural 1081

Anangukol aaymayil kolloh kanangulai
Maatharkol maalum-en nenju.


English translation:

III. Love

III.1 The Permarital Love


Chapter. 109. Mental Disturbance caused by the Beauty of the Princess (girl)


Kural 1081

Goddess? or peafowl rare? She whose ears rich jewels wear,
Is she a maid of human kind? All wildered is my mind!
Is this jewelled female a celestial, a choice peahen, or a human being ? My mind is perplexed.


my understanding

Kural - 1082
She of the beaming eyes, To my rash look her glance replies,
As if the matchless goddess' hand Led forth an armed band.
This female beauty returning my looks is like a celestial maiden coming with an army to contend against me.

Kural - 1083
Death's form I formerly Knew not; but now 'tis plain to me;
He comes in lovely maiden's guise, With soul-subduing eyes.
I never knew before what is called Yama; I see it now; it is the eyes that carry on a great fight with (the help of) female qualities.

my understanding:
I never knew before what is death/pain-equivalent-to-death, now I know, it is the pain caused by those sharp eyes of a beautiful girl

note: thiruvalluvar doesn't mention "yama".


Kural - 1084
In sweet simplicity, A woman's gracious form hath she;
But yet those eyes, that drink my life, Are with the form at strife!
These eyes that seem to kill those who look at them are as it were in hostilities with this feminine simplicity.

Kural - 1085
The light that on me gleams, Is it death's dart? or eye's bright beams?
Or fawn's shy glance? All three appear In form of maiden here.
Is it Yama, (a pair of) eyes or a hind ?- Are not all these three in the looks of this maid ?

not: again no mention of "yama" in kural. it is "death" that is mentioned.


Kural - 1086
If cruel eye-brow's bow, Unbent, would veil those glances now;
The shafts that wound this trembling heart Her eyes no more would dart.
Her eyes will cause (me) no trembling sorrow, if they are properly hidden by her cruel arched eye-brows.


Kural - 1087
As veil o'er angry eyes Of raging elephant that lies,
The silken cincture's folds invest This maiden's panting breast.
The cloth that covers the firm bosom of this maiden is (like) that which covers the eyes of a rutting elephant.

Kural - 1088
Ah! woe is me! my might, That awed my foemen in the fight,
By lustre of that beaming brow Borne down, lies broken now!
On her bright brow alone is destroyed even that power of mine that used to terrify the most fearless foes in the battlefield.


Kural - 1089
Like tender fawn's her eye; Clothed on is she with modesty;
What added beauty can be lent; By alien ornament?
Of what use are other jewels to her who is adorned with modesty, and the meek looks of a hind ?


Kural - 1090
The palm-tree's fragrant wine, To those who taste yields joys divine;
But love hath rare felicity For those that only see!
Unlike boiled honey which yields delight only when it is drunk, love gives pleasure even when looked at.





Premalatha Balan

[premalathakombai.blogspot.com]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2005 07:04AM by prema1.