The Solitary Anguish
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vīḻunar vīḻap paṭuvārk kamaiyumē / vāḻuna meṉṉuñ cerukku.
The settled pride that says 'we shall live well' belongs only to those who are loved by the very people they love.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who love and are beloved to them alone / Belongs the boast, 'We've made life's very joys our own.'”
“They alone can pride themselves on their happiness who are loved in return by those whom they love.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வீழுநர் வீழப்படுவார்க்கு அமையுமே= தாம் விழையும் கணவரான் விழையப்படும் மகளிர்க்கு ஏற்புடைத்து; வாழுநம் என்னும் செருக்கு= காதலர் பிரிந்தாராயினும் நம்மை நினைந்து கடிதின் வருவர், வந்தால் நாம் இன்புற்று வாழ்தும் என்றிருக்கும் தருக்கு, எ-று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar begins by fixing who this applies to: women who are desired by the very husbands they themselves desire. The state of mind he then describes is the assurance that even if he has gone away he is thinking of her and will come back quickly, and that when he does they will live in happiness. He names that state தருக்கு, elation. It is not courage a person works up alone; it is the steadiness that comes of love standing on both sides. That is why the commentary keeps it narrow — it is fitting for those loved in return, and not for everyone.