Rejoicing in the Embrace
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vēṭṭa poḻuti ṉavaiyavai pōlumē / tōṭṭār katuppiṉā ṭōḷ.
The sweetest joy we know is the moment a long-wanted thing finally arrives. The beloved's nearness gives exactly that joy every single time, even though it is always there for the taking.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“In her embrace, whose locks with flowery wreaths are bound, / Each varied form of joy the soul can wish is found.”
“Behold the witchery of my love whose tresses are adorned with flowers! whatever thing my heart desireth, that very thing her form seemeth to me to be!”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வேட்ட பொழுதின் அவையவை போலுமே= மிக இனியவாய பொருள்களைப் பெறாது அவற்றின்மேல் விருப்பம் கூர்ந்தபொழுதின்கண், அவையவை தாமே வந்து இன்பம் செய்யுமாறுபோல் இன்பம் செய்யும்; தோட்டார் கதுப்பினார் தோள்= எப்பொழுதும் பெற்றுப் புணரினும், பூவினை அணிந்த தழைந்த கூந்தலினை உடையாள் தோள்கள்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains this as the man's own words: when we do not yet possess the sweetest things and our longing for them has grown keen, and then those very things come to us of themselves, they give delight. The shoulders of the woman whose thick hair is dressed with flowers give delight in just that way — even though he may embrace them at any hour and always has them.