World Colleges Information

Chapter. 115. The Announcement of the Rumour
Kural - 1141
By this same rumour's rise, my precious life stands fast;
Good fortune grant the many know this not!
Meaning : My precious life is saved by the raise of rumour, and this, to my good luck no others are aware of.
Kural - 1142
The village hath to us this rumour giv'n, that makes her mine;
Unweeting all the rareness of the maid with flower-like eyne.
Meaning : Not knowing the value of her whose eyes are like flowers this town has got up a rumour about me.
Kural - 1143
The rumour spread within the town, is it not gain to me?
It is as though that were obtained that may not be.
Meaning : Will I not get a rumour that is known to the (whole) town ? For what I have not got is as if I had got it (already).
Kural - 1144
The rumour rising makes my love to rise;
My love would lose its power and languish otherwise.
Meaning : Rumour increases the violence of my passion; without it it would grow weak and waste away.
Kural - 1145
The more man drinks, the more he ever drunk would be;
The more my love's revealed, the sweeter 'tis to me!
Meaning : As drinking liquor is delightful (to one) whenever one is in mirth, so is lust delightful to me whenever it is the subject of rumour.
Kural - 1146
I saw him but one single day: rumour spreads soon
As darkness, when the dragon seizes on the moon.
Meaning : It was but a single day that I looked on (my lover); but the rumour thereof has spread like the seizure of the moon by the serpent.
Kural - 1147
My anguish grows apace: the town's report
Manures it; my mother's word doth water it.
Meaning : This malady (of lust) is manured by the talk of women and watered by the (harsh) words of my mother.
Kural - 1148
With butter-oil extinguish fire! 'Twill prove
Harder by scandal to extinguish love.
Meaning : To say that one could extinguish passion by rumour is like extinguishing fire with ghee.
Kural - 1149
When he who said 'Fear not!' hath left me blamed,
While many shrink, can I from rumour hide ashamed?
Meaning : When the departure of him who said "fear not" has put me to shame before others, why need I be ashamed of scandal.
Kural - 1150
If we desire, who loves will grant what we require;
This town sends forth the rumour we desire!
Meaning : The rumour I desire is raised by the town (itself); and my lover would if desired consent (to my following him).