Translations from Tamil


Teesta Review: A Journal of Poetry, Volume 1, Number 2. November 2018. ISSN: 2581-7094



Nachiyar Thirumozhi 8.3 - Message through the Clouds

--- Andal

(Andal’s message to Govinda the lord of Thirupathi. She is in love with him and he is not visiting her. The poem is reflection of her love sickness and loneliness.)

ஒளிவண்ணம் வளைசிந்தை உறக்கத்தோ டிவையெல்லாம்
எளிமையா லிட்டென்னை ஈடழியப் போயினவால்
குளிரருவி வேங்கடத்தென் கோவிந்தன் குணம்பாடி
அளியத்த மேகங்காள் ஆவிகாத் திருப்பேனே

My glow, color, bangles, thought and sleep
Have all left me with ease
And I am ruined!
Oh clouds bestowing rains,
I will await his arrival by protecting my soul
by singing the praise of Govinda of Tirupathi with cool waterfalls!


[Brief background on the poem: Nachiyar Thirumozhi is one of the best-known poem from Vaisnava Tamil Canon written by Saint Poet Kothai popularly known as Andal. She expresses her love for Krishna in her poems.]







Ainkurunooru 263

(What she said to her friend when her lover returned after short separation)

--- Kapilar


நன் பொன் அன்ன புனிறு தீர் ஏனல்,
கட்டளை அன்ன கேழல் மாந்தும்,
குன்று கெழு நாடன், தானும்
வந்தனன், வந்தன்று தோழி, என் நலனே.

My man from radiant hillock,
where pig appears like touchstone
after eating ripe gold like red millet!
has come my friend!
Along with him came my beauty!



[Background of the poem: Ainkurunooru is part of Tamil classical literature and is one of the earliest available literature in Tamil. Ainkurunooru is collections of 500 poems on love. Kapilar is author of 100 poems in this collection. Kapilar is considered as one of the greatest poets in Tamil Language.]


(Translation: Palaniappan Vairam Sarathy)