Desire for Reunion
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malariṉu mellitu kāmañ cilarataṉ / cevvi talaippaṭu vār.
Love's delight is finer than a flower. Few in the world come upon it at the one hour when it stands ready.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Love is tender as an opening flower. In season due / To gain its perfect bliss is rapture known to few.”
“Even tenderer than a flower is love: and few there be who know its delicacy and deal with it gently.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
காமம் மலரினும் மெல்லிது= காமவின்பம் மலரினும் மெல்லிதாய் இருக்கும்; அதன்செவ்வி தலைப்படுவார் சிலர்= அங்ஙனம் மெல்லிதாதலை அறிந்து அதன் செவ்வியைப் பெறுவார் உலகத்துச்சிலர் எ-று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The delight of love is more delicate than a flower. Those who know that it is delicate in that way, and who come upon it at the hour when it stands exactly ready, are few in the world.