Speaking with the Heart
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kāta lavarila rākanī nōvatu / pētaimai vāḻiyeṉ ṉeñcu.
That you should ache for him while he holds no love is folly, and nothing else. Bless you, my heart.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Since he loves not, thy smart / Is folly, fare thee well my heart!”
“Bless thee, my Heart! Thou art a fool to grieve at his absence when he hath no love for thee.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
என் நெஞ்சு வாழி= என் நெஞ்சே வாழ்வாயாக; அவர் காதல் இலராக நீ நோவது= அவர் நம்கண் காதல் இலராகவும் நீ அவர் வரவு நோக்கி வருந்துதற்கு ஏது; பேதைமை= நின் பேதைமையே பிறிதில்லை, எ-று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar begins with the blessing and then delivers the charge. Live long, my heart, she says; and then, since he has no love for us, your aching in expectation of his coming has no cause outside you. What is it, the commentator asks in her voice, and answers in one word: your own foolishness, nothing besides. He does not soften the verdict, and he does not let the blessing be withdrawn either.