The Rumour
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tāmvēṇṭi ṉalkuvar kātalar yāmvēṇṭuṅ / kauvai yeṭukkumiv vūr.
The talk I was waiting for, the town has started on its own. Now I only have to ask him, and he will say yes.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“If we desire, who loves will grant what we require; / This town sends forth the rumour we desire!”
“This clamour which I in my heart so much desire, the village rabble hath raised for me: verily my beloved will not refuse it me if I should beg it of him.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
யாம் வேண்டும் கௌவை இவ்வூர் எடுக்கும்= உடன்போகற்கு ஏதுவாகல் நோக்கி யாம் பண்டே விரும்புவதாய அலரை இவ்வூர் தானே எடாநின்றது; காதலர்தாம் வேண்டின் நல்குவர்= இனிக் காதலர்தாமும் யாம் வேண்டியக்கால் அதனை இனிதின் நேர்வர், அதனால் இவ்வலர் நமக்கு நன்றாய் வந்தது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The woman had long wanted the town to talk, because such talk would open the way for her to leave with the man she loves; and now the town has raised that very talk of its own accord. If she asks him, he will gladly consent. So this rumour, says Parimelazhagar, has come to her as a good thing.