Thirukkural Chapter 130 - Expostulation with Oneself


Couplet 1291 
You see his heart is his alone
O heart, why not be all my own
Explanation
O my soul! although you have seen how his soul stands by him, how is it you do not stand by me?

Couplet 1292 
'Tis plain, my heart, that he 's estranged from thee;
Why go to him as though he were not enemy
Explanation
O my soul! although you have known him who does not love me, still do you go to him, saying "he will not be displeased."

Couplet 1293 
'The ruined have no friends, 'they say; and so, my heart,
To follow him, at thy desire, from me thou dost depart
Explanation
O my soul! do you follow him at pleasure under the belief that the ruined have no friends?

Couplet 1294 
'See, thou first show offended pride, and then submit,' I bade;
Henceforth such council who will share with thee my heart
Explanation
O my soul! you would not first seem sulky and then enjoy (him); who then would in future consult you about such things?

Couplet 1295 
I fear I shall not gain, I fear to lose him when I gain;
And thus my heart endures unceasing pain
Explanation
My soul fears when it is without him; it also fears when it is with him; it is subject to incessant sorrow

Couplet 1296 
My heart consumes me when I ponder lone,
And all my lover's cruelty bemoan
Explanation
My mind has been (here) in order to eat me up (as it were) whenever I think of him in my solitude

Couplet 1297 
Fall'n 'neath the sway of this ignoble foolish heart,
Which will not him forget, I have forgotten shame
Explanation
I have even forgotten my modesty, having been caught in my foolish mind which is not dignified enough to forget him

Couplet 1298 
If I contemn him, then disgrace awaits me evermore;
My soul that seeks to live his virtues numbers o'er
Explanation
My soul which clings to life thinks only of his (own) gain in the belief that it would be disgraceful for it to despise him

Couplet 1299 
And who will aid me in my hour of grief,
If my own heart comes not to my relief
Explanation
Who would help me out of one's distress, when one's own soul refuses help to one?

Couplet 1300 
A trifle is unfriendliness by aliens shown,
When our own heart itself is not our own
Explanation
It is hardly possible for strangers to behave like relations, when one's own soul acts like a stranger