Thirukkural – In Praise of her Beauty

1114. காணின் குவளை கவிழ்ந்து நிலன்நோக்கும்
மாணிழை கண்ணொவ்வேம் என்று.

kāṇiṉ kuvaḷai kaviḻntu nilaṉnōkkum
māṇiḻai kaṇṇovvēm eṉṟu.

If it could see her, the blue water lily
would fall over, hang its head in shame,
and say: I can never be a match to the eyes of this beautiful, bejewelled woman.

ఈ కలికి కనులు నీలి కలువ చూసెనా,
‘నేనా మీ సాటి’ యని, సిగ్గిలి తలవంచదా!

1116. மதியும் மடந்தை முகனும் அறியா
பதியின் கலங்கிய மீன்.

matiyum maṭantai mukaṉum aṟiyā
patiyiṉ kalaṅkiya mīṉ.

Transfixed, shaken up,
the stars sink into confusion,
not knowing how to discern
a full moon from my woman’s face.

నివ్వెరపడి, తమ నెలవులు తప్పి,
కలవర పడవా తారలు,
ఈమె మోమును, నిండు జాబిలిని
ఒకే వేళ చూసి!

Thirukkural
The book of desire by Tiruvalluvar
English Tr. Meena Kandasamy
Telugu mine