Chapter 8 – The Possession of Love / Anputaimai
Couplets / kuratpaakal
Couplet 71
And is there bar that can even love restrain?
The tiny tear shall make the lover’s secret plain.
Explanation
Is there any fastening that can shut in love? Tears of the affectionate will publish the love that is within.
Transliteration
Anpirkum Unto Ataikkundhaazh Aarvalar
Punkaneer Poosal Tharum.
Couplet 72
The loveless to themselves belong alone;
The loving men are others’ to the very bone.
Explanation
Those who are destitute of love appropriate all they have to themselves; but those who possess love consider even their bones to belong to others.
Transliteration
Anpilaar Ellaam Thamakkuriyar Anputaiyaar
Enpum Uriyar Pirarkku.
Couplet 73
Of precious soul with body’s flesh and bone,
The union yields one fruit, the life of love alone.
Explanation
They say that the union of soul and body in man is the fruit of the union of love and virtue (in a former birth).
Transliteration
Anpotu Iyaindha Vazhakkenpa Aaruyirkku
Enpotu Iyaindha Thotarpu.
Couplet 74
From love fond yearning springs for union sweet of minds;
And that the bond of rare excelling friendship binds.
Explanation
Love begets desire: and that (desire) begets the immeasureable excellence of friendship.
Transliteration
Anpu Eenum Aarvam Utaimai Adhueenum
Nanpu Ennum Naataach Chirappu.
Couplet 75
Sweetness on earth and rarest bliss above,
These are the fruits of tranquil life of love.
Explanation
These are the fruits of tranquil life of love.
Transliteration
Anputru Amarndha Vazhakkenpa Vaiyakaththu
Inputraar Eydhum Sirappu.
Couplet 76
The unwise deem love virtue only can sustain,
It also helps the man who evil would restrain.
Explanation
The ignorant say that love is an ally to virtue only, but it is also a help to get out of vice.
Transliteration
Araththirke Anpusaar Penpa Ariyaar
Maraththirkum Aqdhe Thunai.
Couplet 77
As sun’s fierce ray dries up the boneless things,
So loveless beings virtue’s power to nothing brings.
Explanation
Virtue will burn up the soul which is without love, even as the sun burns up the creature which is without bone, ie worms.
Transliteration
Enpi Ladhanai Veyilpolak Kaayume
Anpi Ladhanai Aram.
Couplet 78
The loveless soul, the very joys of life may know,
When flowers, in barren soil, on sapless trees, shall blow.
Explanation
The domestic state of that man whose mind is without love is like the flourishing of a withered tree upon the parched desert.
Transliteration
Anpakath Thillaa Uyirvaazhkkai Vanpaarkan
Vatral Marandhalirth Thatru.
Couplet 79
Though every outward part complete, the body’s fitly framed;
What good, when soul within, of love devoid, lies halt and maimed.
Explanation
Of what avail are all the external members (of the body) to those who are destitute of love, the internal member.
Transliteration
Puraththurup Pellaam Evanseyyum Yaakkai
Akaththuruppu Anpi Lavarkku.
Couplet 80
Bodies of loveless men are bony framework clad with skin;
Then is the body seat of life, when love resides within.
Explanation
That body alone which is inspired with love contains a living soul: if void of it, (the body) is bone overlaid with skin.
Transliteration
Anpin Vazhiyadhu Uyirnilai Aqdhilaarkku
Enpudhol Porththa Utampu.
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