Reserve Overcome
நாணம் எனும் கதவை உடைத்துக் கொண்டு பொங்கி எழும் காதலின் வேகத்தை உரைத்தல். — Admitting that the strong door of self-possession has been shattered by the axe of desire.
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paṉmāyak kaḷvaṉ paṇimoḻi yaṉṟōnam / peṇmai yuṭaikkum paṭai.
“The words of that deceiver, versed in every wily art, / Are instruments that break through every guard of woman's heart!”
“It is the subdued speech of that false one skilled in many a wily art, that breaketh through all the defences of our womanly decorum.”
The soft, self-lowering speech of that thief who is master of a hundred deceptions — is that not the very army that breaks our womanhood open?
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நம் பெண்மை உடைக்கும் படை= நம் நிறையாகி அவர் அணை அழிக்கும் தானை; பன்மாயக் கள்வன் பணிமொழி அன்றோ= பல பொய்களை வல்ல கள்வனுடைய தாழ்ந்த சொற்கள் அன்றோ; ஆனபின் அது நிற்குமாறு என்னை, எ-று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
When the flattering, humble words of that deceitful thief advance like an overwhelming army, how can a woman's frail dam of reserve ever hold?
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