d0|gMgOd

Kalithokai d0|gMgOd

Kalithokai is one of the Eight Anthologies. It is Akam literature, which deals with all the 5 phases of love
experience. This book has 150 songs in the kali meter, of 12 to 80 lines by 5 poets, each of whom has
treated a different akam theme. Kalithokai and Thirumuruktrupadai are the later books, and could be
from the 5th century A.D.

Views about the authors: According to S. V. Damodaram Pillai, the entire Kalithokai was written by poet
Nallanthuvar. He found these original manuscripts and wrote urai for them.

Also, the Sangam poet Kapilar lived a few centuries earlier. Dr. Kamil Zvelebil is also of the view that the
whole book was written by one person in the Pandiyan kingdom. K.N. Sivaraja Pillai, Rajamanickam,
Takanobu Takahashi and others hold the same view. Others believe that it was compiled by
00@OG, and there were 5 poets in total. dLl0 sang the kurinji thinai songs, LO0
L ML@0d_dGd sang the Palai thinai songs, 00@OG sang the Neythal thinai
songs, 0@@gg|[G sang the Mullai thinai songs, and u@gu @udG sang the
marutham thinai songs. Kalithokai was compiled much later, around the 5th century.

Dr. Zvelebil also writes that if this poet is a Kapilar, it is another Kapilar , and not the same one who was
a prolific poet in the earlier books since Kalithokai was written a couple of centuries later than the
other Sangam books. There are more Sanskrit origin words in Kalithokai than in most of the other
anthologies. Much more influence of Hinduism can be seen here, than in the earlier books.

__|OM 00 @@MgOd , @0@@@@, ggg Lg|_@LLg@ @0@
LLL0, d___|g g@u d0|G_, du, Q_u OG@ @gg|_gg
OL_g MgOd.

The five land tracts (divisions) are used in Akam poems. Each poem will belong to one of these five
divisions. They are Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neythal and Plai - named after plants in the tract that
they grow in. The birds, animals, trees and flowers in that tract are described in the poem. The terrain in
that tract is the scenery in the poem. Each tract has a god, but there is no role of creator and created
here. The gods are just part of the scene; they preside, but only as natives of the landscape. Each tract is
associated with a phase of love.

Kurinji lovers union, and mountain country, Plai - separation, and the dry desert, Mullai patient
waiting for the lover, and the forest, Neythal anxious waiting and the seashore, Marutham lovers
infidelity and the beloveds resentment, and the land is cultivated agricultural land or lowland.

These songs are the voices of the hero, his male friend, the heroine, her girl friend, her girl friends
mother (foster mother), her own mother, the concubine and the passers-by. The Akam poet does not
speak in his own voice. The reader only overhears what the characters say to each other, or to
themselves, or to a natural element. There are no names or places mentioned in such poems. They were
written to be love poems for all times, and for all the readers to feel that it applies to them. Poems in
this tradition imply, evoke, and enact drama in a monologue.

OL_gMgOd @0du|0 gG@ Please read the opinions of scholars about the
authorship. Kalithokai is a later book (possibly 4th or 5th century A.D.), and Kapilar is not the same
Kapilar who sang in the much earlier Puram, Akam, Natrinai, Ainkurunuru and Kurunthokai. It is either a
later day Kapilar, or later commentators just assigned Kurinji thinai to Kapilar because he was quite an
expert in writing Kurinji poems. Thamodaram Pillai was of the opinion that the entire book is written by
00@OG.


Songs - 9, 37, 38, 48, 51, 55, 57, 58, 59, 62, 65, 115, 135

d0|gMgOd 9 LO0 9, @__|O- 00@OG M8Ol0|lG
OlGO@u gMG Og|LL_g@u GL8u (Dr. Rukmanis urai)
O_|gg@ dg| g0d| g| @OL g0,
2_|g ggg d[d@u, 2O[8G_ @dGd@u,
M_|LLL8 O0 O8@, GO@ @[ M@8g@d
@_|LQ O0 M80 uO08 MdOuOL gM !
MOO@OL8 M800 uO0 g@ddgg ; @O@OL,
OGudu g@gg|u, Ll_uudG g@O@u,
gu@Gu QMg gu _|QM88|;
GG @@OO[d dM G[? ML@u!
dGMu 0G0u; dMLGu, dLgg|OL;
_M Og|0 MMG0_ @@[u @GG|
uM @Og uLO[0 gl GL_|
L0 2@ @u 8gu L_LLOd@ 00Og,
uO0Gu Ll_LLl@u, uO0d@ OOgu OG M8u?
|OG0d0, @uudu @ud@u _0@ OGGu.
8 Md@ MOM @ggu MlLOd@ 00Og,
@Gu Ll_LLl@u, d@ OO gu OG M8u?
Gg@0d0, @uudu @ud@ _0@ OGGu.
g QM @G @O8 @[0LOd@ 00Og,
@Gu Ll_LLl@u, gd@ OO gu OG M8u?
@@0d0, @u udu @ud@ _0@ OGGu
OG _0@
@_g d_LlGL@ OOOu LL[Gu|G;
8|_gOG Og|Lk@8 M8G_Gu;
_u gO0LLl _@u u_@ @GO.

d@g@O[ O_|ggO0 g@d|G_ @l__|G MOuOuOg
g0@Og_dd g| @OLlG |g0|0 2_|lG0 OOgg
duML0@u, Qd@d@8 8G_d Olu0@u @dGdO0u @O_d
Ggu|G0 OOg@d MdM_ GO@ gG@u _|g M@8|G[,
@_|ggO@ O0 M8u @uML_|dOuu, 2udMdG@
MduOdlOGu g@ddgg|OGu 2OL gM !
O MOuOuG dLLgGg M80@d|G_O OGLg0 2uOud
GdLd|GG_G. @ddL_Og|lG0 OG udu g@gg|u GOM_@gg|
udG g@O@u gud@uGu Ll_[_|gO@ G. @LML@@
Odu OgL Ll_@u _|@OlLLG. Odu @@OO[u O
dMkG[?ML@u! OG_QLG O@u,
dMu0 @@GgG 0G0G. dMGLG. dLOLG
_Mud@d@ gd|OGOL gO0OGG_ [gOgd dL@
GLdd d@g| uL8|OuLLLL Mld0GdOu Mlg
uLLLgOgOL MLMMlG g GL0O !
@uMLML@Ldu Ol[Ol 8gGu, 2LuLl0 _8|d MduLO@d@L
LG Md_dd|_Gg gOl[, uO0lLg@ Ll_g|@g@u 88gGu
uO0d@ OGG M8u? |OGg@L Lgg0 2u udgu @ud@
OgL GLG_OGu!
8|_LLG MOM@ggu MlOd@L LGL_d|_Gg gg|, dL0 G0
Ll_ggl@u @d@ OO OGG M8d|G_G? _[0d0, @u
udgu 2ud@ ggGOuGOGu!
@[uQdu0 LLLLLL @G| @O8 L_GO@dGd LG|OGg
g@d|G_@. @ @G0 Ll_g|@g@u @d@ @ OOg8
M8d|G_@? 8|g|g@L Ldd|G @u udgu 2ud@ OgL
GLG_OGu! OGLg0, u|d 2g d_LlOGOL LMLM@d@g
@GLgOgg g[g ! OGu, 8|_gOG LlGGG M8G_Gu.
_gg|0|@@ u@LL@ M80@u 8|_g Og|u @GO@u.
OG_.

M8_ML@u Oluddu - O_|gg@ O_|ggO0 g@d|G_, dg|g0d|-
@l__|G MOuOuOg g0@Og_dd, g| @OL g0- g|
@OLlG |g0|0, 2_|gggg d[d@u- 2_|lG0 OOgg
duML0@u, 2O[8G_ @dGd@u- Qd@d@8 8G_d Olu0@u
g|gML@u,M_|LLL8 @O_d ,O0 O8@- Ggu|G0 OOg@d
MdM_ , GO@ @[ M@8g@d- GO@ gG@u _|g
M@8|G[,@_|LQ O0 M80-@uML_|dgu uG@ud| __|G
Mg@g|, uO08 @0Q, MdOu MduOd, OL-g@ddu, gM !
gMG[! MOO@OL8 M800- MOuOuG dLLgGg
M80@d|G_O, uO0 @0Q, g@ddgg -M80@gO0 2OL ;
@O@OL- @ddLLgGg, OGudu g@gg|u, Ll_uudG g@O@u
OG udgu GOM_@gg|lG ud@u, gu@Gu gud@uGu, QMg-
G, gu Odu|G LLu, _|QM88| 0@u Odu|G
QM88|O _|gG ;GG @@OO[d dM G[? Odu
@@OO[u dMk[? ML@u!-ML@uGu, dGMu 0G0u Lddu0
@@GgG OG@ u@LLOl0O0 ; dMLGu-dMGLG, dLgg|OL-
dLOLG; _M Og|0 gd| _MudG, MMG0_
gO0OGG_, @@[u-dLgg_d d_, @GG|-GLdg @Mlg,
uM @Og uLO[0 uL8|OuLLLL Mld0GdOu Mlg MLM,
gl g, GL_|-GLd|G_ , L02@ @@8gu
@uMLML@Ldu Ol[Ol uMu O u 8gGu, L_LLOd@
00Og- _8|d MduLO@d@L LG Md_dd|_Gg gOl[, uO0Gu
Ll_LLl@u uO0lG0 Ll_g@u, uO0d@ OOgu OG M8u?-
uO0d@ OO OGG M8d|G_G? |OG0d0- |OGg@L Lgg0,
@uudu- 2G udgu, @ud@u _0@ OGGu 2Gd@
ggGOuGu, 8Md@ 8|_LLG gu|O u, MOM@ggu
MOMOuG @g@, MlLOd@ 00Og- MlLOd@ 00u0,
@Gu Ll_LLl@u dL0 G0 Ll_g@u, d@ OOgu- @d@
OO gu, OG M8u-OGG M8 @u? Gg@0d0-_@
Mgu|g0, @uudu 2G udgu, @ud@-2Gd@, _0@ OGGu-
ggGOuGu, gQM @ [uQdu0 LLLL_u, @G@O8 @G|
@O8, @[0LOd@ 00Og L_GOd@ 00@, @Gu
Ll_LLl@u-g|Lg@L Ll_g@u, gd@-@d@, OOgu OG
M8u?-OO OGG M8d|G_G? @@0d0-_[g0, @u udu
@ud@ _0@ OGGu-2G udgu 2Gd@ ggGOuGOGu,OG
_0@ OG_L0, @_g 2g ML@ud|, d_LlGL@ d_Q
OgOO Gu_MdMLOgd@,(duOlG0 gG dM_ LQ
MdMLOGG_ @00_ OgOOu Gu_MduuOGg _u OG@
d@g|G gu|g. @GO d_Q OgQ OG@u @_|ggG.) OOOu @GLu,
LL[Gu|G-ML@ddg , 8|_gOG 8|_g gO0OOG, Og|Lk@8
LlGL__|, M8G_Gu-M8G_|@dd|G_u; _u @00_u, gO0 8|_g,
Ll GO@LLg, _@u-(@00_gg|G) @0Qu , u_@ @GO-
Gu@u @GOu.

d0|gMgOd 37, dLl0, @_|@8| g|OM 1, gO0Ol Ggg|lLu M8GG@
d u0 2M dMM! dM; g@OG
O uG g GgOG GL0g, MgOL uML
dMMlG, Ol00G, O@u; OGOG Gd@Q,
@GGgg|G dL_g0 00@, gG 2__
G 2O[dd00G ML@uuG, L0 gu!
L0 MLG_ OG, LL @, OG OlG,
G8GG uG @u @ 2gLGLG; _lOLd
dM |G@ @g0 ___G, OG _lG;
MLM G@, 2O[gg0 ud@ _lG; @GG@2u
dMG, dg|g@u 2M_ OG@, g@ u, OG
Ggu Md|gQ 2__ @[0 @Mlg@, @
M @GOu M8GgG, @ @g0! G0
@Gd d|u| u d@ @uQu QGg@ 0,
280 2@ _L, g@ @G@ OgOG,
@! 8|_|@ OGOG 2dd| OGd _g,
Og0! G@ OG@ OG 2ddd, Od Md|gQ,
MLd O gGgG, OG uLl0; O8 M8g@,
gMG _0Gd O_ggGG; MdMLG Gu0
Mu _|GgG GL0 d|LGgGuG; _lOL
Mu _|@ _@ O@GOG _lG, u_@ gMG,
gM @g! M80d OGd _| Ol_u LMLlG
0dM 2OLG OG!

Listen, my friend with kohl painted eyes
that look like dark lily flowers!
A peerless man carrying a bow on his shoulder
and wearing well-made flower garlands,
came to see me in the woods every day,
pretending that he was tracking wild animal pug marks.
His face expressed his painful love affliction for me,
but he chose to say nothing.

I was unable to sleep
seeing this man plunged in deep sorrow.
He did not express his love to me;
my feminine modesty prevented me
from consoling him.

Thinking that he was wasting away,
my shoulders got thin with sorrow,
and I did a shameless thing.

Oh, my friend with fragrant forehead!
Near the millet field where I stood guard,
driving clusters of parrots, and protecting grain,
I sat on a swing and swayed about;
he came there on that day,
Sir, push my swing a little bit, I said,
Alright lady, Ill do that, he said.
Pretending that my hands slipped,
I fell on his bosom.
He thought that I really fell from the swing,
grabbed me quickly, and held me close to his chest.
I lay there pretending.

If I rose up, hed have said, Lady of shining ornaments! please leave,
Such a refined gentleman he was. Translated by Vaidehi

d u0 dark lily, 2M dMM eyes painted with kohl, dM you see,
g@OG a man, O uG g GgOG GL0 like hes searching for wild
animal pug marks, MgOL uML well woven, dMMlG garland, O@u;
OGOG Gd@Q, will come to see me, @GGgg|G dL_g0 00@ he does
not show any sign or, gG 2__ G 2O[dd00G ML@uuG does not tell
about the (love) disease that hes afflicted with, L0 gu for many days, L0
MLG_OG could not sleep, LL @ sadness grew, OG OlG toward him,
G8GGuG @u I took pity, @ 2gLGLG became sad, _lOLd dM
from there,
@g0 ___G OG he would not talk, _lG but, MLM G@ being a
woman, , 2O[gg0 ud@ _lG speaking, my mind is not for me, @GG@2u
dMG doesnt find a solution, dg|g@u 2M_ wasting himself, g@ u g@
u, OG Ggu Md|gQ 2__ @[0 due to the pain my shoudlers became thin,
@Mlg@ courageously, @ M @GOu M8GgG I indulged in a shameless act,
@ @g0 one with a fragrant forehead, G0 millet field, @Gd d|u| cluster of
parrots, u d@ @uQu where I guard and chase, QGg@ 0 near the fields,
280 2@ _L swinging in the swing, g@ @G@ OgOG one day when he
came, @! 8|_|@ OGOG 2dd| Sir, push me a little bit, Og0! G@ Good,
lady, OG@ OG 2ddd and he pushed, Od Md|gQ hands slipped, MLd
O gGgG acted like I fell down, OG uLl0 OG uLl0, O8
truth, M8g@ thinking, gMG _0Gd O_ggGG MdMLG he caught me
with a sound & held me, Gu0 Mu _|GgG GL0 d|LGgGuG I lay on him
like I wasnt aware of my body, _lOL Mu _|@ for if I realize the truth, _@
O@GOG _lG if I get up, u_@ gMG hell say quickly, gM @g!
M80d lady of shining jewels leave, OGd _| Ol_u LMLlG he had the
class/character to say this, 0dM refiinement, 2OLG OG - he had this.

d0|gMgOd 38, dLl0, @_|@8| 2, Ggg| gO0OG|Lu gG _|OgL
L__| gO0OllLu M8GG@ the last paragraph is when we see the heroines friend
addresses the heroine directly. The rest are her words to the hero which she quotes to the heroine.
@Ou Ol0 O0d| @ 8OL gMG
2Ou u@ 2 uO0 @@gGG _d,
@ @@ gO0lG [dd GduG
MgL ML0| gLd OdlG dg Q@g@, u uO0
O_dd0 M800@ 2gLLOG GL0 -
2@ Q0| 2@ LLL _gg GO0OdOd
d@Q MdM_, gG @g0 @gg| ug OG,
_ @@ OlL du 8|0uLd g, gG
Gd_ Qdd00@, 2gd@u L! Gdu;

_ @OL OGG [Q @8 Ogdd0,
__ Q0Gu GL0 Q0M0G_u, OOdO_,
d ML__ Q0Gu GL0, dOlG ML@u; d dOlG
g [u0 dLL@ @ g|_G 2MGL0 2O[gOgd dM!

@@u @OL OGG @[Q @8 Ogdd0,
ML@u @00G @uOu GL0 Q0M0G_u, OOdO_,
@u O00G _ddu GL0 MlML@u; O Ml
Mg@uu0 dLL@ @ g|_G 2MGL0, 2O[gOgd dM;

u_g|@g OGG uO0 @OL Ogdd0,
_u 8[G @LGL GL0 g|gddu, OOdO_,
g|_u G8gG _ddu GL0 g|@gg@u; g g|@L
Q_0_@g g LL@ @ ML@u 2MGL0 2O[gOgd dM;

OG _0@,
|G 2@ Ol@uu _d GdL_
O@Gu, Ggg|! 0 uO0 LG -
GO0Od OlQ @Lu Gdd|,
O 0@ @O_L LOMg Ggu OO[gGG Mdu_Gd.

I said to him:
Man of the mountain country where such elephants live, listen!
The Brhmin with his curved bow and wet hair
is seated with Uma in the tall mountains;
the demon king with bright anklets puts his wide hands underneath
and struggles to lift that mountain and fails.
A forest elephant thinks that a vengai tree in bloom is a tiger,
thrusts his tusks into it in anger,
screams in frustration unable to pull them out,
and sounds echo between the mountain crevices.

You came through difficult paths at night and without fear;
my friend who was sad like land without rain before you came,
became beautiful in the morning, like land with rainfall.

That beauty
needs to be protected; there is a way. Listen to me!

You came in the dark night and without fear,
my friend who was like a young poor person before you came,
became beautiful in the morning, like a rich person with grace.

That beauty
needs to be protected; there is a way. Listen to me!

You came through rough forest tribal land,
my friend who was like an uncharitable old person before you came,
became beautiful like a smart and rich person with wealth.

That beauty
should not come under attack by slanderers; there is a way to end it. Listen to me!

And so my friend,
when he heard your pain, the good mountain man
awaits the vengai blooming season;
he with big forearms and wide shoulders, will be here to fix the wedding! Translated by Vaidehi

@Ou Ol0 Himalayan bow, O0d| curved, @ 8OL gMG wet hair
brahmin, 2Ou u@ sat with Uma, 2 uO0 @@gGG _d he was in the
tall mountains, @ lord, @@ gO0lG two headed, [dd GduG demon king,
MgL ML0| bright anklets, gLd OdlG with big hands, dg Q@g@ thrust it
under, u uO0 that mountain, O_dd0 M800@ unable to life, 2gLLOG
one who struggles, GL0 like, 2@ Q0| strong tiger, 2@ LLL form received him,
_gg GO0OdOd bloomed vengai trees (has yellow flowers, appears like a tiger), d@Q
MdM_, got angry gG @g0 @gg| ug OG elephant which pierced it,
_ @@ long two, OlL du wide mountain crevices, 8|0uLd loud sound, g,
gG it made loud noises, Gd_ tusks, Qdd00@ unable to remove, 2gd@u
exist, L man of such country, Gdu listen _ difficult, @OL path, [Q you
at night, @8 Ogdd0 came without fear, __ Q0Gu land without
water, GL0 like Q0M0G_u she lost her beauty, OOdO_ morning, d
ML__ Q0Gu GL0 like land which got rain, dOlG ML@u become beautiful, d
dOlG that beauty, g [u0 dLL@ protect it from being lost, @ g|_G 2MGL0
theres a method, 2O[gOgd dM listen to what I say, @@u dark, @OL path,
OGG @[Q @8 Ogdd0 you still came unafraid of the night, ML@u
@00G without material things, @uOu GL0 like the young, Q0M0G_u she
lost her beauty, OOdO_ morning, @u O00G one filled with grace, _ddu
GL0 MlML@u shell become beautiful like wealth, O Ml that beauty,
Mg@uu0 confused, dLL@ protect, @ g|_G 2MGL0 theres a method,
2O[gOgd dM listen to what I say, OG _0@ and thus, |G 2@ Ol@uu
_d GdL_ hearing the difficulties to go through, O@Gu to ger here, Ggg| my
friend, 0 uO0 LG our mountain country man, GO0Od OlQ @Lu
Gdd| she looks forward to vengai flowers blooming , O 0@ @O_L big forearms,
LOMg Ggu wide shoulders, OO[gGG Mdu_Gd will come to fim (marriage).

d0|gMgOd 48 - dLl0, @_|@8| g|OM 12, Ggg| gO0OG|Lu _|@
_u @g| Ml uO0 0 GO0Odg gOd GL0g,
Gg @, OG dQu, g|O8 dO0 Mdu_@ ggg
O |00 O0| @GLlG, OM_ 2@ Qd @du
L_ uOg _ddgg, u OluQ @0d|
d u[g @@gg|, dug dLu g|dgg@u
ML@ du|_@ @GgMg_, O 0@ O@g@ O@g @GLlG
@@u Q0| ud@__ @d0 uO0 0 L!

O g ML0 d0@0|G Olu| @gg g_ddgg0,
O@u u 8|_gOu O@@ Ggu gO@ 2MGL -
gg M8_| d_u dLLlG g @GG, |G 8[0
2@@ GdL0 GL0, O0 OOu 2@LO0?

@OG @@u @@ OG 0d|, |G O[0 O8@,
|OG @ 2gLLOu L_ @0 dM Lg| 2MGL -
@OGu OG@ O_g@ [_@u 0 @GG, |G OGd
dOG ML0 0u GL0, dM LG| d@gLO0?

L0 gu LL LL, L8O00 2MLLLLu
MLG 2O[ uMl GG, uOud dM Lg| 2MGL -
@G @O[8 M8@uQ [_@u M8OOlu, |G G8O0 -
u|G 2@ gu| GG, Mu0|Q O@ 2O[LLg0?

Mountain country man! You are from where water flows down
mountain slopes,
where the guarding spotted elephants face is like vengai flowers,
and bees swarm around flowing fragant musth.
Your lofty mountain ranges are filled with dense forests,
your streams are strewn with big boulders,
and big-necked fierce tigers attack elephant herds.

Do you know your lovers suffering?
Her mother has locked her up and stands guard at night,
her shoulders have drooped in sadness, her bangles
have dropped like spent kodal petals on your mountain.

When it is dark, she pines for you;
thinking of you, she is in great pain.
Slanderers gossip about her, who is not to be blamed.
She puts up with it like blue water lilies in your pond, that put up with heavy rain.

She has sufferered in pain for many days, and has withered.
Is the dark one whose skin is like gold embedded with gems to be blamed?
She is sad and thin like plants that have lost their brightness
in your garden, where waterfalls come down with sweet spray.

And so,
please give in, and come back to her.
I worry that her eyes are in pain, she
is grieving and is quite sad;
her pain is larger than your boundless mountains! Translated by Vaidehi

_u @g| water flowing down, Ml uO0 beautiful mountains, 0 bloomed,
GO0Odg gOd GL0g like nice vengai flowers, Gg @ sweet musk, OG
dQu wet cheeks, g|O8 dO0 Mdu_@ ggg protecting directions like, O
|00 unable to stand opposite, O0| @GLlG great strength, OM_ 2@ Qd
@du bees swarming around the face, L_ uOg _ddgg mountain range, u
OluQ tall skies, @0d| lofty, d u[g many trees, @@gg| boulders, dug
dLu fragrant musk, g|dgg@u very strong, ML@ du|_@ @GgMg_ big
elephant groups, O 0@ O@g@ thick neck, O@g @GLlG great strength, @@u Q0|
big tiger, ud@__ @d0 fighting, uO0 0 L -man from the good mountain
country

O g ML0 heavy rains, d0@0|G night, Olu| noise to wake her up, @gg
g_ddgg0 sad and thinking about you, O@u u 8|_gOu she is a nice
person, O@@ Ggu her shoulders have become thin, gO@ 2MGL is this her
fault, gg M8_| close doors, d_u dLLlG g @GG in front of her strict
guarding mother, |G 8[0 your mountain, 2@@ GdL0 GL0 like withered kodal
petals, O0 OOu 2@LO0 her bangles slip down

@OG @@u in this darkness, @@ OG 0d| yearning for you, |G O[0 your
arrival, O8@ loving it, |OG @ 2gLLOu thinking about you and is sad, L_
@0 without sleep, dM eyes, Lg| 2MGL is it at fault, @OGu OG@
O_g@ [_@u 0 @GG in front of others who slander her as such, |G
OGd your spring, dOG ML0 - heavy rains, 0u GL0 like blue (lily) flowers,
dM LG| d@gLO0 crying with tears in her eyes

L0 gu LL LL sad for many days, L8O00 2MLLLLu shes
afflicted with pain, MLG 2O[ uMl GG like gems embedded in gold, uOud
dark woman, dM Lg| 2MGL is she to blame, @G @O[8 foam, M8@uQ
[_@u noisy M8OOlu spring, |G G8O0 your garden,
u|G 2@ gu| GG like the plant without brightness, Mu0|Q O@
2O[LLg0 she has become thin I have to say

OG _0@ and hence, LlG g0 GOM_u please give her, LlGgu LQ
your friendship to the lonely one OG OlL remove, _0 dM L_g@u @O0
Im afraid that her flower like eyes are sad, g0d| carrying, @u @ big sadness
O0u pain, @dd|G hurt, u@0@ _|O[ uO0l@u MLGg bigger
than the mountains without limits

d0|gMgOd 51, @_|@8| g|OM 51, gO0Ol Ggg|lLu M8GG@
L Mgk@! Gdu Mg@Ol0 u __u
uM0 8|__|0 d0|G 8|Og, OL88|
GdOg L@, OL L@ MdM_ @ ,
Ggdd M8u 8|@ LL, Gu0 @ u,
GOGu @u @@Ggu, @00|G[!
2M@ GOLGLG OG Og_@, GOG
L MLG 8|[dgg0 Odd|8, L @g!
2M@ 2L O OG_u; OG, @u
gGOG _|@ M8GG_G; u_@, OGOG
OOu @G Od L__| 0|g, Mg@ug|L_,
GG! @OG g@OG M8g@ dM! OGG_G,
GOG 0_|L LLg[, gGOG G,
2M@ Oldd|GG OGG_G, GOGu
gGOGL Q_uQ g|g@ O, u_@ OGOGd
dOLd dMM0 Md0OG GL0 Gdd|, Od LLu
M8gG, d duOG udG!

Listen my bright-bangled friend!
That wild brat
who used to kick our little sand houses
with his leg,
pull flower strands from our hair,
and yank striped balls from us
causing us agony,
came one day when mother and I were at home.
O, people of this house,
please give me some water to drink, he said.
Mother said to me, Pour water in the thick gold vessel,
and give it to him to drink, my daughter
with bright jewels.
And so I went unknowingly that he had come there.

He seized my bangled arm and pressed it,
shocking me.
Mother, see what he has done, I shouted.
My distressed mother came running
with a shriek,
and I said to her he had hiccups while drinking water.

Mother stroked his back gently,
and asked him to drink slowly.
He looked at me through the corners of his eyes,
smiled a lot, and gave me killer looks,
that thief. Translated by Vaidehi

L Mgk@ bright bangled one!, Gdu listen, Mg@Ol0 u __u when we
played on the street, uM0 8|__|0 little sand houses, d0|G 8|Og kick with his
feet, OL88| GdOg flower strands, L@ pulled, OL L@ MdM_ @
took away our striped ball, Ggdd M8u causes pain, 8|@ LL little brat, Gu0
@ u this one day, GOGu @u @@Ggu when mother and I were
together, @00|G[ house residents, 2M@ GOLGLG Im requesting drinking
water, OG Og_@ as he came, GOG mother, L MLG 8|[dgg0
Odd|8 give him in the thick golden bowl, L @g jewelled one, 2M@
2L O give him water to drink, OG_u OG_u, OG, @u and so I,
gGOG _|@ M8GG_G went unaware, u_@, OGOG OOu @GOd
L__| he grabbed my bangled forearm, L__| 0|g held and pressed, Mg@ug|L_
shocked, GG! @OG g@OG M8g@ dM mother, see what he has done,
GOG 0_|L mother cried, LLg[ - distressed, gGOG G I said,
2M@ Oldd|GG he hiccuped while drinking, GOGu gGOGL Q_uQ
g|g@ O mother stroked his back gently, u_@ OGOGd dOLd dMM0
Md0OG GL0 Gdd| subsequently, he looked at me through the corner of eyes giving
killer looks, Od smile, LLu many, lot, d duOG udG that thief

d0|gMgOd 55, dLl0, @_|@8| g|OM 19, gO0Ol Ggg|lLu M8GG@
u|G gu| Ol _0 @OL GL@u MLG0 GL0,
MLG Od gOd Od| OOd M_| O0d|L_L
GLg @OL @LL dug @u _0 GdOg,
@G Od, @00@ Ol_@g, GgMug|g, @O8 M8OO
0 @g0 |Gd@ gG@ @Ou; Gdu, @G|;

|0 OG, |@ggG; |@gGg O@.
@g@u, @d@u, Gggu, dM@u,
@@u, M80@u, Gd@Q |OG@,
@ GggG@, LlO_u G@;
Ou g gG@, ug|u G@;
GO uG_G@, uO0u G@;
_ uG_G@, OGu G@;
Mu00 @@u, ul@u G@;
M800g gu@u, d|u|u G@

OG _0@,
OGG L0 L[LL, OLMG,
OO0O GL08 G8 LgG g__|L,
QO0 GL0L QG dM Gdd|g,
Mgg@u Mg@gG; MgL@u MgLLG;
dg OO[ |00d d_u du|@ GGGG
Mg@2u; Mg_2u; OG gGOu
Ogg gGOuG @0O0, Ggg|!

O your hair, he said,
Its like rainclouds
moving between
branches of lightning.
It parts five ways
between gold ornaments,
braided with a length of flowers
and the fragrant screwpine.

O your smiles, your glistening teeth,
words sheer honey,
mouth red as coral,
O fair brow,
I want to tell you
something,
listen, stop and listen,

he said, and stopped me.

Came close,
to look closer
at my brow, my hands, my eyes
my walk, my speech,
and said, searching
for metaphors:
Amazed, it grows small, but it isnt the crescent.
Unspotted, it isnt the moon.
Like bamboo, yet it isnt on a hill.
Lotuses, yet theres no pool.
Walk mincing, yet no peacock.
The words languish, yet youre not a parrot,

On and on he praised my parts,
with words gentle and sly,
looked for my weakening
like a man with a net
stalking an animal.

watched me
as my heart melted,
stared at me
like a butcher at his prey,

O he saluted me, saluted me,
touched me O he touched me,
a senseless lusting elephant
no goad could hold back.

Salute and touch,
and touch again he did,

but believe me, friend,
I still think he is not really
a fool by nature. Translated by A.K. Ramanujan

u|G gu| shining bright, Ol branches, _0 lightning, @OL GL@u
moving between, MLG0 GL0 like the rainclouds, MLG gold, flourish, gOd
beauty, Od| parting hair, M_| O0d|L_L thick hair braided, GLg @OL @LL
screwpine (thaazampoo) tied between, dug @u _0 GdOg aromatic/fragrant flower
garland, @G Od sweet smile, @00@ Ol_@ shining teeth, GgMug|g honey
words, @O8 M8OO coral red mouth, 0 @g0 the one with a fair brow,
|Gd@ gG@ @Ou I want to tell you something, Gdu, @G| listen now, |0
OG, |@ggG he said stop and stopped me, |@gGg O@ came close,
@g@u, @d@u, Gggu, dM@u forehead, face, shoulders, eyes, @@u
M80@u walk and speech, Gd@Q |OG@ looking steadily, @ amazing,
GggG@ wanes, LlO_u G@ not the crescent moon, Ou g gG@ has
no spots, ug|u G@ not the moon, GO bamboo, uG_G@ resembles,
uO0u G@ not on the hill, _ uG_G@ resembling lotus, OGu
G@ not the pool, Mu00 @@u, ul@u G@ delicate walk, but not the
peacock, M800g gu@u, d|u|u G@ words languish, but not a parrot, OG
_0@, OGG L0 L[LL and there, he praised all my parts, OLMG gently,
OO0O GL08 like a hunter, G8 to be fatigued, LgG followed, stalked, g__|
spy, QO0 GL0L like a butcher, QGdM Gdd|g watched my melting eyes,
Mgg@u Mg@gG bowed to me, MgL@u MgLLG touched me, dg
goad, OO[ |00d unable to hold back, d_u du|@ GGGG like a senseless
male elephant, Mg@2u; Mg_2u; bow, touch, OG gGOu his nature, Ogg
gGOuG @0O0, Ggg|! not a fool, my friend

d0|gMgOd 57, dLl0, @_|@8| g|OM 21, gO0OG M8GG@
GO OGg g|[ML Ggu, MO_| dug OM @uL0,
u MOG_ uL Gdd|G, ul0 @0, guQ g0d| -
_ 8|0uQ _LL, Ol gu| @Og @OuLLd
Md OG, u|G OG, M0@ OG, @ gG@u
Mgd00 @OLlG dM dM dOQ g@0@ @L,
OuOu 80 2 8|_LLlG @Og Mg0 Ol0 d
@uOuG O_| LMg_ @dggg! Gdu @G|;

_u gM gL Q0 8g|G, MgGGOG 2 L0
Ggu L Olg 0g@ 0 MOG_ u 2M dM
@ GdL_ Og|0 OG gGGgd@ OG GO0|G,
G8@ @OGO0; gggGg? 8|G Mug|!

MLg| ML0 OMOuG G8du gM dOl@u,
dg| dOlG @u uOlG gu| GG! gG gO0L
LOM Ou L uG Gg OG M8__ |_u Lg
dOMl@u, G M8g0 dLLQ GG_? dGu @g!

OOd Ou gM g[G Gd_ 2 ML@LLlG Gu0,
gOd @M @u GO0Od u0 GG M0d|G!
ug O0| u|@ dLg@ OG OG u@LLl@u
dgOO0 gddGg? dg MdML @u @O0!

OG _0@,
@OGG _, @O_@Q |0u Gdd|,
|OGQ, M@ gG@ |OGLLu GL0, u_@ _0Gd,
@OM Ou Ggg|d@ ugg dMMu,
uOG _0@L MLgu, OG _|Q dLL_gGg!

Shoulders like rounded bamboo,
fragrance filled five wavy braids,
gentle glances of the deer,
peacock looks, swaying walk,
fine anklet bells jingling,
glittering jewels shining,
like a delicate vine, like lightning,
like a deity, with slender waists
not visible that my eyes seek in secrecy.
Wealthy man of high status
is your father, his house a mansion,
you ran out chasing the ball
your threw in your youthful zeal,
Let me tell you, listen now;

Your kohl painted wide eyes
are more beautiful
than those of the honey-filled,
blue lilies in bloom in lofty Koodal city,
where the Pandian king with cool
flower garlands and sandal smeared chest rules.
Your eyes cause me more pain
than that inflicted by the spears
of the Pandian king to his enemies,
as he rides his huge tusked elephant
Does this befit you, girl of few words?

The king showers gifts like the rain clouds,
and in his asoka grove,
are very beautiful tender leaves of the mango trees
which are of your gentle complexion.
Your eyes cause me great agony -
like that given by the king to his enemies,
when he shoots arrows and makes them bleed,
from his horse driven chariot.
Does this befit you, damsel of big ornaments?

The yellow spots on your skin resemble
the delicate vengai flowers
that bloom in bunches on the high mountains with peaks,
owned by the Pandian king wearing cool flower garlands.
Your breasts draped with pearl strands attack me.
The hurt is more than that inflicted
by the kings strong elephants with huge tusks.
Does this befit you?

As I said all these,
she bent down looking at the earth below,
lost in her thoughts,
did not utter a word for a long time.
She saw her companions who were nearby
went back into her house,
taking my mind with her. Translated by Vaidehi

GO bamboo, OGg g|[ML Ggu like rounded shoulders, MO_| dug strong
fragrance, OM @uL0 wavy five braids, u MOG_ uL Gdd|G glaces like the
deer, ul0 @0 peacock looks, guQ g0d| swaying slender walk, _ beautiful,
8|0uQ anklets with bells, anklets, _LL jingle, Ol glitter, gu| light,
@Og jewels, @OuLL shine, Md OG like a vine, u|G OG like lightning,
M0@ OG- like a goddess, @ gG@u Mgd00 @OLlG dM waists
that are not even noticeable, dM dOQ g@0@ @L my eyes were attracted and they
went there, OuOu 80 2 8|_LLlG @Og rich and highly esteemed
(your) father, Mg0 Ol0 d ancient large mansion, @uOuG youthful, O_|
LMg_ throwing the ball, @dggg what youve given here
Gdu @G| listen now.

_ -_, gM cool, gL garland, Q0 8g|G smeared sandal, MgGGOG 2
L0 Pandiyans lofty Koodal city, Ggu L honey flowing, Olg 0g@ bloomed
blue (lily), 0 enemies, u battle, MOG_ won, 2M dM eyes with kohl, @
GdL_ large tusks, Og|0 OG Og|0 OG, gGGgd@ enemies,
OG GO0|G his spear, G8@ anger, @OGO0 your torment,
gggGg? does this suit?, 8|G Mug| few words.

MLg| ML0 gift showering, OMOuG liberal donor, G8du Asoka trees,
gM cool, dOl@u grove, dg| dOlG very beautiful, @u uOlG gu|
GG woman (with complexion like) tender mango leaves, gG gO0L there,
LOM horse stables, Ou lined, L leaping, uG horses, Gg chariot,
OG his, M8__ |_u Lg blood color, dOMl@u more than the
spears, G M8g0 causing pain, dLLQ GG_ is it not cruel, dGu @g
one with heavy jewels.

OOd Ou gM g[G one wearing many colored garlands, Gd_ mountain -
2 high, ML@LLlG Gu0 on the hill slopes, gOd beautiful, @M bunch,
@u GO0Od u0 GG like fresh vengai flowers, M0d|G one with yellow
spots, ug O0| u|@ dLg@ strong elephants with musk, OG OG
u@LLl@u elephant tusks, dgOO0 attack, gddGg is this proper, dg
MdML @u @O0 young breasts draped with 3 pearl strands (dg).

OG _0@ OG _0@, @OGG _ as I said all these, @O_@Q |0u
Gdd| bent down and looked at the earth, |OGQ thought, M@ gG@
|OGLLu GL0 like she thought about something for a long time, u_@ _0Gd
then there, @OM Ou Ggg|d@ ugg dMMu she saw her friends who
were there, uOG _0@L MLgu went into her house, OG _|Q
dLL_gGg my mind went with her.

d0|gMgOd 58, dLl0 , @_|@8| g|OM gO0OG M8GG@
O 2@ OM @uL0, OM0@ @O_ M_ MuG Ggu,
GL Og|0 u0 2M dM, LlOM Og|0 uG Gdd|G,
d Og| gu| GuG|d, dOlG ML@ L @g0,
Ol_@ @Od MOM L0, Md QO[u @LLlG,
G 8|0uQ _LL |O[ Mgd Od O 8|OG,
_ 2l MOuOldMdM_ _|g @ @_LL! Gdu;

2uG, OG 2lO[ 2M_, 2Q G Oduu|d,
@uOuG 2M[g! |G gO@ @00@u,
dOu @0 G M8u dOlG _|@, Ml@, gu
OuOuG GLggg @u gO@ @0 OGL;

OL Mu0|@, Q 2_ @, gu OG 0|u G
uLOuG 2M[g! |G gO@ @00@u,
@OL |00@ Od@u |G 2@ _|@, Ml@, gu
2OLOu0 GLggg @u gO@ @0 OGL;

000 @ g|Q_, M0@ _d| L@u G
M800|@u _|g! |G gO@ @00@u,
g0O0G 2l MOuQu 2@ _|@, Ml@, gu
M80Ogg0 GLggg @u gO@ @0 OGL;

OG _0@,
g@LLlG, G g@LL@ @uO[; G, u_@ @ G
ML@dd0u OO[g@ G_|L ML@ _lG, ML0u @g!
u@g@ @O 2 uG_g@ uL0 _|,
|@d@MOG GL0O0 G, L_ Lg|G

Listen!
You beautiful girl with flowing curly hair
with five-part braids,
collyrium laden flower-like eyes,
bent forearms, long delicate shoulders,
body like the rainy seasons new sprouts,
beautiful bright forehead,
bud-like sharp teeth and vine-like slender waist
and jingling anklets,
you walk away swaying your bangle filled hands
without knowing that you are hurting me.

This painful disease is too much to bear
and it is eating away my life.
You are young and dont understand
that its your fault
and that this disease cannot be cured by itself.
Your wealthy family has allowed you to step out
knowing that your beauty could cause this.
You might say that it is not their fault.

I am tired and depressed as days go by
because of this painful disease.
You are innocent and dont understand
this constant pain.
Your wealthy family has allowed you to step out
knowing that your delicate body can cause this.
You might say that it is not their fault.

I try to tell you of my increasing
and fearful spreading disease
and you dont understand me.
Even though it is not your mistake
this disease is hurting my life very much.
Your wealthy family has allowed you to step out
knowing that your body can cause this.
You might say that it is not their fault.

And so,
I have been punished, and I will punish you
if I am unable to bear this disease.
Girl with gold earrings!
If this pain increases, I will lose restraint
and climb the palmyra horse in the town square,
and you are the one to be blamed. Translated by Vaidehi

O 2@ flowing, OM curly, @uL0 five-braided hairstyle, OM0@ @O_
bent forearms, M_ MuG Ggu long delicate shoulders, GL Og|0 great beauty,
u0 flower (like), 2M dM eyes with dM Ou, LlOM female, Og|0 beautiful,
uG Gdd|G deer looks, d Og| like the rainy season, gu| delicate sprouts,
GuG| body, dOlG ML@ L @g0 beauty filled bright forehead, Ol_@
sharp teeth, @Od MOM L0 bud (like) teeth, Md QO[u @LLlG waist
like a delicate vine, G 8|0uQ fitting anklets, _LL bells jingling, |O[ Mgd
stacked (with) bangles, Od O 8|OG moved your hands, _ 2l precious life,
MOuOldMdM_ hurting me (by attracting), _|g @ without knowing, @_LL
you move away, Gdu listen

2uG, OG 2lO[ 2M_ eating away my life, 2Q G sorrowful disease,
Oduu|d too much, @uOuG because of youth, 2M[g you dont
understand, |G gO@ @00@u even though its not your mistake, dOu @0
G diseases that cannot be cured, M8u will cause, dOlG _|@ Ml@
knowing your beauty, gu their, OuOuG wealthy, GLggg allowed you to go out,
@u your family, gO@ @0 not at fault, OGL you might say

OL Mu0|@ slow walk, Q 2_ @ have become tired, gu daily, OG
0|u G my painful disease, uLOuG innocent girl, 2M[g dont
understand, |G gO@ @00@u even though its not your mistake, @OL |00@
without gap, Od@u |G 2@ your delicate body, _|@ Ml@ knowing well,
gu their, 2OLOu0 wealthy, GLggg allowed you to go out, @u your
relatives, gO@ @0 not their fault, OGL you might say

000 pain, @ increasing, g|Q_ destructive, M0@ _d| L@u
G fearful spreading disease, M800|@u even when I tell, _|g you dont
understand, |G gO@ @00@u even though its not your mistake, g0O0G
rapidly, 2l life, MOuQu hurting, 2@ _|@ Ml@ knowing that your body
(will hurt others), gu their, M80Ogg0 wealth, GLggg allowed you to go out,
@u your family, gO@ @0 not their fault, OGL you might say

OG _0@ and thus, g@LLlG if punished, G g@LL@ @uO[ I will punish
you, G I, u_@ @ G with this disease, ML@dd0u OO[g@
G_|L if I am unable to bear it, ML@ _lG and it increases, ML0u @g
one with gold earrings, u@g@ I will oppose, @O 2 (in) this town, uG_g@ uL0
_| climb on a palmyra horse in this towns square, |@d@MOG to have (the disease)
stopped, GL0O0 G I will go and do it, L_ Lg|G you are going to be blamed

d0|gMgOd 59, dLl0, @_|@8| g|OM 23, gO0OG M8GG@
gOu Md|g, LlMl |Og L OLg guO[
@Ou |u|gOO GL@u @g@d Gd0 Ol Mg,
_ddu @ 0 dgu @M gM 2@OlG
@_LQ OGL QO[u |G g|[ML, G @GOd8
L Ol OlOG Og @Ogu LOOu
OlOuL, L MLg g@ Ou QOG OlOG
_ 8|0uQ O@@ _LL, u 8|0 @@u |G
LlG@ OlL_ @@u| @uL0 dM_, OG L0
OGOG OlL_ @dgg[, @_g O! Gdu, @G|;

u@u|, G u@u 2_ @OG 2__@ OOG? OG@u
@u @O0 @OL@ OG 0 |G Lg|d@ud,
OO Ol__O LLM, OOd MlL ML0|@,
Ogl0 _ gOu gO0LL_OG?

2@u @g! gu| OL, @OG 2u G @ OG@u
@u @O0 @OL@ OG 0 |G Lg|d@ud0,
MLg0 udOuL, Ll_ uOGL L,
Og| L0d@ gg Lu Ldd|_LGg?

_ Mg! @@ 2lg@, @OG 2u G @? OG@u
G @O0 @OL@ OG M@u0 Lg|d@u d0,
8|@ @ggOGL GLMl8 8|@ G8@ u_g@,
@ @g0OM[_ dd@ G@ @OOGg?

OG _0@,
OGOO 2OuQu, G |Gd@ 2O[ggOg
@OG M8g@ 2gO _lG, G8 @g!
M8ggG Lu L_@ OlL@;
u L_@ OlG @0O0 O8@G g|_gGg.

The one who wears pearl-studded gold bangles that look like decked lotus petals in bloom!
The one who has beautiful fingers that are like the fragrant delicate knthal flowers of the mountain
slopes!
The one who has slender long arms like ladles!
Did you come to play with your red striped clay toys and dolls?
I saw your beautiful hair flowing down your shoulders when you walked by, with your jingling beautiful
anklets.
I lost my senses as you ignored me with your silence. Listen to me!

I am confused and infatuated with you.
What happened to him?, Has she no grace? is how others will accuse you,
wearing lots of jewels, you play with your sharp toothed girlfriends.
Will your thai month ritual bath help you now?

One with jewels on your head!
I lose luster, and others ask, What happened to him?, Has she no grace? and blame you.
Do you benefit from the playful rituals that you did,
and the songs that you sang in strangers houses, and giving away charity gifts?

Beautiful jeweled one! Watching me sigh, What inner disease does he have?, No he does not have a
disease
is how others will slander you,
while you are playing with your little male doll and feeding him rice
with your friends with fragrant foreheads. Is this good to do?

I have expressed my pain and my thoughts
Beautifully jeweled one!
Your cruel act will effect you.
Having no grace will not help you.
I have come to you with love. Is this how you ignore me? Translated by Vaidehi

gOu Md|g petals opening, LlMl fastened, tightly set, |Og spread, L green
leaf, OL surrounded, guO[ lotus, @Ou buds, |u|gOO -lifted, GL@u
-like, @g@d Gd0 pearl set in gold, Ol Mg beautiful bangle, _ddu
mountain slopes, @ fragrant, 0 dgu bloomed kanthal, @M delicate
beautiful, gM cool beautiful, 2@OlG fingers, @_LQ OGL like a ladle,
QO[u appearing like, |G g|[ML |G g|[ML, G straight beautiful,
@GOd @GOd, L Ol red lines, OlOG Og created, made,
@Ogu small clay toys, LOOu doll, OlOuL to play, L MLg
beauty fillled, g@ g@, Ou excellent, QOG OlOG well made, _
8|0uQ pretty anklets, O@@ walk, _LL jingle, u 8|0 @@u such
beautiful attributes, |G your, LlG@ OlL_ hair braid, @@u| black, @uL0
five part braid, dM_ dM_, OG L0 my ability, OGOG OlL_ OGOG
OlL_, @dgg[ left, @_g O quiet mouthed one, Gdu, @G| listen now,

u@u|, G u@u 2_ Im confused, @OG 2__@ OOG what happened to
him, OG@u OG@, @u @O0 @OL@ she has no grace, OG OG,
0 others, |G Lg|d@ud0 they will blame you, OO Ol__O sharp
teeth, LLM in the middle, OOd MlL ML0|@ wearing many jewels, you,
Ogl0 thai month, _ bathed in holy stream, gOu gO0LL_OG
will the penance help you,

2@u @g one with a round hair jewel, gu| OL lost luster, @OG 2u G
@ what is his disease, OG@u OG@, @u @O0 @OL@ she has no grace,
OG OG, 0 others, |G Lg|d@ud0 they will blame you, ML
playfully, g0udOuL worshipping a deity, Ll_ uOGL L sing in other
homes, you, Og| attained, L0d@ gg give to some, Lu Ldd|_LGg
does that benefit you?

_ Mg beautiful bangled one, @@ 2lg@ sighing, @OG 2u G @
what is his inner disease, OG@u OG@, G @O0 @OL@ he is not diseased,
OG M@u0 Lg|d@ud0 when slanderers blame you like this, 8|@ @ggG
small play boy doll, OGL GLMl8 tend to it, 8|@ G8@ u_g@ feed the rice ,
you, @ @g0OM[_ lady friends with fragrant foreheads, dd@ G@ @OOGg
-

OG _0@ there, OGOO everything, 2OuQu saddened, G
|Gd@ 2O[ggOg said what I thought, @OG M8g@ 2gO _lG
if you dont help me, G8 @g beautiful jewelled one, M8ggG Lu the result of
your actions, L_@ OlL@ will not go away, u desire, L_@ attachment, OlG
destroy, hurt, @0O0 @0O0, O8@G one who loves, g|_gGg is proper

d0|gMgOd 62, dLl0, @_|@8| g|OM 26, gO0Olu gO0O@u
M8GG@
O! @@ gggG, M @0G gGMG_
GuGOu OGLO[u GuOlGG OdLL_@u;
GuOl@u, GuOddOLu @ O00u
_|g|; G @ _|d0G0G; _ uG_
Mu0 @M M800d Md GG! |GOG G
Q0 @G|@ _d0|G, Q00|MGG; O00!
gud@ @G|@ OG@, O0|g|G Ll_d@ @GG
M8O@ G@ _Gu u_@?

L Mgk! GL__ dOu, |G @@d@O_Ou; GL__d Gdu
GOLLd@ @G|@ _lG 00@, d@ @G|@ OG@
2MLGO, 2MLO?

M8O@ _|d0G0G; @ M8GOG MdG0 -
@ O [OlG @OLLLL_, O O[?
Ou @0 ug|lG Olu0@u @dggO[
MOuOld Mdu@u _G OGd dMLG@;

_@u @ dML_@ _lG, g|_G @G_|d
@u M80 GduG, 0|g@u; LM_ u
GO@ 00u OGL@ gG@ 2ML0; OMG_
u@ 2MGL, M@G8! ud@?

Hey, boy, have you no shame?
Youre trying to unite me with you
by gripping my hand,
even if I dont want to.

Girl, you know all that.
I dont know about it.
You are like a delicate
vine with clusters of flowers.
I desired your sweet embrace, and
embraced you.

Boy, you cant cause distress
to others just because its sweet for you.
Is it good to do this?

Bright bangled one! Forget analyzing it.
Use your high intellect. Listen,
water is sweet to the thirsty person,
but its not sweet to the water itself.
I dont know what to do.
Bright one with a moon like face!
Old wisdom says that its okay
to steal and take a girl,
if shes distressed by a five headed snake.

He doesnt listen to my words.
Hes wasting away. If thats what is wisdom,
maybe we werent strangers in the past.
Maybe, I was united with him.
Is there a block to that thought, my heart? Translated by Vaidehi

Her O! @@ gggG hey, this guy, M @0G has no shame, gGMG_ with
him, GuGOu OGLO[u those refusing to unite with him, GuOlGG
OdLL_@u grip her hands to unite, GuOl@u, GuOddOLu even if she doesnt
want to unite.

Him @ O00u _|g| you know all that, G @ _|d0G0G I dont
know about it, _ flowers, uG_ close, Mu0 @M delicate clusters of flowers,
M800d Md delicate vine, GG! |GOG you, G me, Q0 @G|@
_d0|G desired for sweet embrace, Q00|MGG I embraced.

Her O00! hey, gud@ @G|@ OG@ just because its sweet for you, O0|g|G
Ll_d@ @GG causing pain to others, M8O@ G@ _Gu u_@? is it good
to do this?

Him L Mgk bright bangled one, GL__ dOu forget thinking about it, |G
@@d@O_Ou high intelligence, GL__d Gdu listen to it, GOLLd@ @G|@
_lG sweet for the thirsty ones, 00@ or, d@ @G|@ OG@ sweet to the
water, 2MLGO drink, 2MLO those who drink? M8O@ _|d0G0G;
@ M8GOG MdG0 I dont know what else to do, @ O [OlG 5 headed
snake, @OLLLL_ disturbance, O O[ be sad, Ou @0 ug|lG moon
without blemish, Olu0@u @dggO[ bright faced one, MOuOld Mdu@u
steal and take _G justice, OGd dMLG@ it appears.

Her _@u @ dML_@ _lG If thats what justice is, g|_G @G_|d
without the abilitity, @u M80 GduG doesnt listen to words, 0|g@u wasting
away, LM_ u in the past we, GO@ 00u OGL@ gG@ 2ML0
werent strangers, but unite, OMG_ with him, u@ 2MGL is there a block,
M@G8 ud@ my heart, for us.

d0|gMgOd 65, dLl0, @_|@8| g|OM 29, gO0Ol M8GG@
g|@@ @g! Gdu, u 2d@ O00u 8@u
ML@ Od! 0d0 |dgg@; g@ |O0G
uGLOg O00u ug @@u d0@0,
u @d|0 GLOO MlML_ Og@, u
@G 80 uLG @_| |GG_G G _dg -
g [g gO_g gO0u, gG duL@u
d[d @O_@, dO_LLL_ O@, u
G8lG GLd @L @g| LLLOGg,
Ggg|! GL_@g| OG_| OG _0Gd,
L[d, @_gL, LMlL, ML@@ G_|
@OM |G_ ? OGd _|L, OLMG
OO dM @@ LdLG, Lddgg|G GLd@,
Og0! guL0u g|G_|G? OG@, gG
Ld@ g|g@d, MdMk OGg g[@u @ gG@u
OOGuG |_Ld d@ dG@ Odu_|d
OdLL_ddLLLL 8|@u|! u_@, G
OG Ll8, @u OGOG 0|gG,
@O 2L L0| ML_u0 MduGOG
OGL L0Qu g0d@ O L |_L -
@@ LLLG @8|GG _g0 _|@, G, O@8@
g@ Od uM0 MdM_, Gu0 @Od dMGL
d@ [__|L _80 MgL0d|GG, _0Gd,
g_0d Ogg|G, Md_u Gdgd, d_0dM
@@u Q0| MdMu |@gg OO0u @
g|0 @@ LLL__0; dg0G
dL8| @0d, u 2d@ O0u
_@0u _d| OlOugOg OG@u gG
OgdOd @ _dd MdML @@ LLLG
O gdOdL ML@u d@u g@.

My friend wearing perfect jewels!
Listen!
This will get our town to laugh.
It happened last night.
When our townsfolk were asleep,
draping myself in beautiful clothing, I
waited for my handsome chested man.

The bald headed leper with his clothing
partially covering his face,
the blemished one who has landed in our town,
that lame old brhmin,
the one you warned me about, showed up,
spotted me, bowed to me and asked,
why are you here at this unsightly hour?.

Slowly, he stuck to my side like an old buffalo
that has sighted hay.
lady, will you eat my betel leaves and nuts?,
he asked me as he opened his pouch,
and said again, take these,
he tried to hand it to me.
I was speechless, he spoke without restraint,
and said
girl, you have fallen into my hands!
if you are one, I am the other spirit.
You better be gracious to me.
If you trouble me, Ill take away the offerings
you have received from this town.

He prattled on and on,
and I realized that the old fellow
was scared of me.

I picked up a fistful of sand
and threw it at him
and he immediately caused an uproar.

It was like a useless little fox
getting trapped
in a net spread out to catch a fierce-eyed
mightly tiger with curved stripes.
This old brahmin has deprived me
of my tryst with my lover,
has brought suffering to this village.
He has made this his way of life, and his downfall
last night was a big funny street drama. Translated by Vaidehi

g|@@ perfect, @g one wearing jewels, Gdu Gdu, 8@u ML@
Od! befitting laughter, 0d0 |dgg@ happened last night, g@ |O0G
when, uGLOg town people, O00u ug everyone in deep sleep, @@u d0@0
dark midnight, u beautiful, @d|0 GLOO wrapped clothing, MlML_ Og@
beautifully worn, @G 80 uLG @_| |GG_G G _dg waiting for the
handsomely chested man, g [g gO_g gO0u totally bald head, gG duL@u
his clothes, d[d @O_@ hiding his face, dO_LLL_ blemished, O@ O@,
u G8lG our town, @L @g| LLLOGg lame old brahmin, Ggg|!
GL_@g| OG_| friend, you warned me, OG _0Gd OG _0Gd, L[d,
@_gL, LMlL spotted, bent, and bowed, ML@@ G_| @OM |G_ ?
OGd _|L why are you, here at this untimely hour, he asked, OLMG slowly, OO
dM see hay, @@ LdLG old buffalo, GLd@ stayed, Og0! guL0u
g|G_|G? OG@ lady do you want betel leaves and nuts, gG Ld@ g|g@d
opened his pouch, MdMk OGg g[@u take he said and gave, @ gG@u
OOGuG |_Ld I stood without saying a word, d@ dG@ Odu_|d fast
and without restraint, OdLL_ddLLLL 8|@u|! girl, you have fallen into my hands,
u_@, G OG Ll8 if you are one Im the other spirit, @u OGOG
0|gG if you are not gracious to me, @O 2L L0| ML_u0 MduGOG
Ill take away the offerings given, to yo by this town, OGL L0Qu g0d@ O L
|_L as he rattled many words and I was unable to hear it, @@ LLLG @8|GG
_g0 _|@, G I realized that the old brahmin was scared, O@8@ didnt stop,
g@ Od uM0 MdM_ I took a handful of sand, Gu0 @Od dMGL seeing me
throw it, d@ [__|L _80 MgL0d|GG he caused an uproar and started to yell,
g_0d Ogg|G strong tiger, Md_u Gdgd curved lines, d_0dM @@u
Q0| tiger with fierce eyes, MdMu capture, |@gg OO0u @ g|0 @@
LLL__0 like an useless small fox captured in the net,
dg0G dL8| @0d seeing my lover was not possible any more, u 2d@
O0u _@0u _d| brought pain to our, town people, gG OgdOd @ _dd
MdML @@ LLLG this was the way of life for the old brahmin, O gdOdL his
downfall, ML@u d@u g@ big street drama

d0|gMgOd 115, @0O0 g|OM 15 gO0Olu Ggg|u M8GG@
Ggg|! u, dMOu 2ML d_u duOu, Mu [
M@ M8G@ _0d 2O[gg0@d
d[g@2u OdM_ Gdu LLLu, dML; u
Q0 @Gg@ _ udG @ Og@ @
@0O0 g@ d@u dMMlu, Mu00|0!
g@u ML@ @gGgG uG; Ggg|!
MOMMM 2O[@ Olgg d@LGLGL,
GOGu gg@u @00[, M,
GOG @G O ggG@ L _.
gOG OlGO@u M8u; 8|GO@u M8u;
M@LQd Od MgLLO GL0 Olg|gg|L_,
0d|L Q_0dOL GLlGu. @u, OG
8@ 2u Og @, |0u ggg
_u dO[ 0u gg @g, guQ g0d|L,
L0d@u dGg@ gu|gGgG. g_@, O00
0@ OOG @O@?
@80 OG dMMl QOGg _lG, u@u
OG dM OL @gg |GOG. d0 dM
OO[LLl0 uM0 ggL ML@, g|O[LLl0
O@OOu 0Gd L; @GO u
0d@u @gg OlOG!

Friend,
like someone who gets drunk secretly
on hard liquor until it oozes
from his body,
and goes on to brag shamelessly
till listeners shiver, and then gets caught
with the stolen liquor in his hand,

I too got caught
with my secret in my hands:

my goatherd lovers string of jasmine
that Id twined in my hair
fell before my foster-mother
as she loosened my hair to smear it with butter,
and embarassed her before Father, Mother,
and others in the house.
And she didnt ask a thing about it, or get angry,
but like someone shaking off a live coal
she shook it off and moved into the backyard.
Then I dried my hair perfumed with sandal,
knotted it,
and picking up the end
of my blue flower-border dress
that comes down to the floor
I tiptoed in fear and hid
in the thick of the forest.

O you got scared because of that? No fears.
Even as you wore your young mans garlands,
they too have conspired to give you to him.
Theyll pour soft sand in the wide yard,
put curtains all around, and make a wedding there very soon.
Not only all day today, but all night yesterday,
weve been scheming to do just that. Translated by A.K. Ramanujan

Ggg| friend, u, dMOu 2ML d_u duOu like liquor drunk in secret,
Mu body, [ lot, M@ without shame, M8G@ -go, _0d shiver,
2O[gg0@d tell about it, d[g@2u oozing, OdM_ Gdu LLLu got
caught with my secret, dML, u our, Q0 @Gg@ cattle, _ udG herder,
@ wore, Og@ came with @ one, @0O0 jasmine, g@ d@u a strand,
dMMlu garland, Mu00|0 the delicate one, g@u ML@
@gGgG uG I twined it in my hair, Ggg|, _ foster mother, MOMMM
butter, 2O[@ smear, Olgg spread, d@LGLGL in my hair, GOGu
gg@u @00[ since mother and father were there, _ M foster mother was
shamed, GOG @G O ggG@ L _. those flowers fell before mother,
gOG OlGO@u M8u she didnt ask about it, 8|GO@u M8u she
didnt get angry, M@LQd Od MgLLO GL0 Olg|gg|L_ like someone shaking
off live coal, 0d|LQ_0dOL GLlGu she went to the backyard, @u I too,
OG my, 8@ 2u with sandal, Og hair, @ knotted, |0u ggg
(dress) touching the ground, _u dO[ 0u flower border blue, gg @g flowing down,
guQ g0d|L saddened, L0d@u nearby, dGg@ gu|gGgG hid in the
forest, g_@, O00 0@ OOG @O@? Did you get scared of that?, @80
dont be scared, OG dMMl QOGg you wore his garland,
_lG so, u@u our folks, OG dM OL @gg |GOG have
conspired to give you to him, d0 dM OO[LLl0 in the wide yard, uM0 ggL
ML@ pour soft sand, g|O[LLl0 put curtains, O@OOu 0Gd L
conduct the ceremony there, @GO u thats what, 0d@u yesterday too, @gg
OlOG thinking of doing it.

d0|gMgOd 135, Mg0 g|OM 18 Ggg| M8GG@
@OM QM@ O@g@u @ |_ O0uQ
@OM g|[u u@LQ _d O_| Ou| LdG -
l0 g|Ml M_u dgQ Oug@, OLg@ Ml MdML
Ol0 @_ du|G_ GL0 @_ uM0 M_ GdLOLL
Ll0 g|O[, _ GGu, L@ 2@2u @O_O! Gdu:

d u0L QGOGd dg dOd Gg__Oug
Mg Md|ggg Gguug @_LL0, u_@ |G
@Oud dM ML@ @ @__ud d|LOGg?

_ u0L QGOGd dg Ml 0u Gg__Ou
G u0| |O0ug @_LL0, u_@ |G
OOud dM ML@ @ O@8ud d|LOGg?

g|dg u0L QGOGd dg g|@ 0u Gg__Ou
@dg u0d dMMug @_LL0, u_@ |G
QdgOud dM ML@ @ Qd _d| d|LOGg?

OG _0@;
M800d GdLLOG _lG, O0G0,
Ml d|u M_ OO[ O0d@u |G d0g@,
uMl d|u _[u gM[_ @0O[
20d|Gu 2ld@u OG Ggg|d@
@0@ g0| M_u g|M Gg dLQug| OlO[Gg!

You are from the seaport town
where the conch shells are like tusks
the fierce winds are like the elephant riders
the sand dunes are like forts
the loud waves are like tall doors with spear tips
that are attacked with force by elephants at midnight.

Listen:

Under the punnai trees with fragrant flowers,
she lost her beauty to you,
her armlets have slipped from her shoulder.
If you abandon her now,
will it not be shame to your family?

Under the punnai tree with beautiful flowers,
she lost her beauty to you,
shes afflicted with love for you.
If you abandon her now after promises,
will it not be betrayal by you?

Under the punnai tree with splendid flowers,
she lost her beauty to you,
if you abandon the one with petal like eyes,
wont it be a blame to your fame?

You have heard what I have to say,
strong man, one with chest like tall mountains
and wide oceans,
adorned with swaying gem-filled garland.
My friend is growing thin pining for your love.
Come here fast, with your loud and tall chariot. Translated by Vaidehi

@OM QM@ O@g@u combine with the partner and arise, @ |_ O0uQ
pure white colored (right-twisted) conch shell, @OM g|[u combined, u@LQ _d horns,
O_| Ou| LdG fierce wind as the elephant driver, l0 g|Ml arrow tips, M_u
dgQ Oug@, OLg@ tall doors, well-built and closed,Ml MdML beautiful,
Ol0 @_ du|G_ GL0 like fort attacked by elephtants, @_ uM0 M_
GdLOLL Ll0 g|O[ loud waves, _ GGu mid-night, L@ 2@2u
attack with force, @O_O man from such a seashore port! Gdu listen,

d u0L QGOGd fragrant flowered punnai tree, dg below, dOd
Gg__Oug lost her beauty to you, Mg bangles, Md|ggg slipping,
Gguug with shoulders, @_LL0 if you abandon her, u_@ |G and further,
you, @Oud dM ML@ @ @__ud d|LOGg isnt this a big fault to
your family?

_ u0L QGOGd beautiful flowered punnai tree, dg below, Ml 0u
Gg__Ou -lost her beauty to you, G u0| |O0ug @_LL0 if
youll abandon the afflicted girl, u_@ |G and further, you, OOud dM ML@
@ O@8ud d|LOGg isnt being not truthful a big betrayal?

g|dg u0L QGOGd splendid flowered punnai tree, dg below, g|@ 0u
Gg__Ou lost her beauty to you, @dg u0d dMMug @_LL0 if
you abandon the one with the petal like eyes, u_@ |G and then, your, QdgOud dM
ML@ @ Qd _d| d|LOGg wont it be a blame to your fame?

OG _0@ and there, M800d GdLLOG _lG you heard what I had to say,
O0G0 strong man, Ml beautiful, d|u M_ OO[ filled tall mountains,
O0d@u -moving, |G d0g@ your spread chests, uMl d|u _[u gem
filled garland, gM[_ @0 O[ garland moving, 20d|Gu 2ld@u growing
thin and pining, OG Ggg|d@ my friend, @0@ g0| loud sounding, M_u g|M
Gg tall strong chariot, dLQug| OlO[Gg come rapidly