Rejoicing in the Embrace
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ūṭa luṇartal puṇarta livaikāmaṅ / kūṭiyār peṟṟa payaṉ.
Falling out, understanding each other again, and coming back together are not interruptions to love — they are what love actually pays out. The quarrel is part of the reward, not a flaw in it.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The jealous variance, the healing of the strife, reunion gained: / These are the fruits from wedded love obtained.”
“The pettish frown, the softening of the heart, and the new embrace, these are the sweets that lovers enjoy.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஊடல் உணர்தல் புணர்தல் இவை= புணர்ச்சி இனிதாதற் பொருட்டு வேண்டுவதாய ஊடலும், அதனை அளவறிந்து நீங்குதலும், அதன்பின் நிகழ்வதாய அப்புணர்ச்சிதானும் என இவையன்றே; காமம் கூடியார் பெற்ற பயன்= வரைந்துகொண்டு காமத்தை இடைவிடாது எய்தியவர் பெற்ற பயன்கள்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the sulking (ūdal) exists so that union may be sweet; that knowing its right measure and letting it go is uṇartal; and that the union which follows is puṇartal. These three together, he says, are the fruits gained by those who have married and enjoy love without interruption.