Rejoicing in the Embrace
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vīḻu miruvark kiṉitē vaḷiyiṭai / pōḻap paṭāa muyakku.
The closest embrace is one so unbroken that not even air passes between — and it is sweet precisely because both people want it at the same moment. Closeness is measured not by how tight it is, but by how equally it is wished for.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Sweet is the strict embrace of those whom fond affection binds, / Where no dissevering breath of discord entrance finds.”
“Joyous to the loving pair is the embrace that alloweth not even the air to come between.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வளி இடை போழப் படா முயக்கு= ஒருபொழுது நெகிழாமையின் காற்றால் இடை அறுக்கப்படாத முயக்கம்; வீழும் இருவர்க்கு இனிதே= ஒருவரை ஒருவர் விழைவார் இருவர்க்கும் இனிதே.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that "the embrace the wind cannot cut through" means an embrace that never slackens for a moment, so that not even air can part it; and such an embrace is sweet to two people who desire each other — each one wanting the other.