A verse on the sea of love and the agony of separation.
From chapter 117, “Pining Away.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
author, poet, teacher, and performer
From and about The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural.
A verse on the sea of love and the agony of separation.
1164
Right here the sea of love and no vessel
To cross it safely
காமக் கடல்மன்னும் உண்டே அதுநீந்தும்
ஏமப் புணைமன்னும் இல்
From chapter 117, “Pining Away.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on having love and what love befriends.
76
It serves only virtue say those who don’t know—but love
Is friend to wrong too
அறத்திற்கே அன்புசார் பென்ப அறியார்
மறத்திற்கும் அஃதே துணை
From chapter 8, “Having Love.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on the interconnections between nature, company, and knowledge.
452
The nature of earth alters water—the nature
Of company alters what we know
நிலத்தியல்பால் நீர்திரிந் தற்றாகும் மாந்தர்க்
கினத்தியல்ப தாகும் அறிவு
From chapter 46, “Freedom from Smallness.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on the anguish of separation.
1157
Do these bangles that slip from my wrists not say
This captain is sailing
துறைவன் துறந்தமை தூற்றாகொல் முன்கை
இறைஇறவா நின்ற வளை
From chapter 116, “Unbearable Absence.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Mediacrop Tamil News in Singapore came to film the premiere of my new show, Riches of the Ear: A Celebration of Words and Wonder at the Singapore Writers Festival on Sunday, November 20, 2022. Here’s what they ran on the news later that evening.
Click on the picture below or visit https://seithi.mediacorp.sg/watch/tairaukakauralaai-maolaipaeyaratata-japapaanaiyara-629286.