Uruvu kaṇṭu eḷḷāmai vēṇṭum

It is obvious that Pope was not stuck for words in rendering it into English-since he was adept at it, but he wished to give the foreign reader a precise grasp of the original and hence an explanatory translation was inevitable.

Pope has often admirably translated certain words and phrases. For instance in ̰Kuṟaḷ eight, the word “antaṇaṉ” has been translated into “fair and bountiful”; in Kaṟaḷ twenty eight the word ‘maṟaimoḻi’ was given by Drew as “hidden word” and was translated by Pope as “secret word”. The word ceyyāḷ and “tiru” are synonymous in Kuṟaḷs 84, 108, and 179. Drew translated them into “Lakshmi”. Pope, on the contrary, writes “Fortune”. In Kuṟaḷ 167, the word ceyyavaḷ has been given as “Fortune's goddess” and for “tavvai” misfortune have been given by Pope. The word “Lakshmi” requires further amplification for a foreign reader while “Fortune” will be instantly understood by him. Pope has kept in view the requirements of the foreign reader. Again we see him converting the Tamil word “Kūṟṟam” into “death” instead of “Emaṉ” which Drew did.

Pope has not adopted the traditional interpretation of Parimēlaḻakar which was used by Drew for Kuṟaḷ 236. He has given his own individual interpretation which has added to the spectacularly unique quality of the original. The interpretation furnished is, “If man, you walk the stage, appear adorned with glorious grace; save glorious you can shine, it were better hide your face.” The traditional interpretation which was also accepted by Drew runs thus: “If you are born (in this world), be born with qualities conducive to fame. For those who are destitute of them it will be better not to be born.” The native commentator Parimēlaḻakar went one step further, when he said that it was better to be born as an animal instead of a human devoid of glory. When we realise that our appearance on this earth (birth) is not within our power, we know that the native commentator took rather as extreme step and that Pope on the other hand translated the Kuṟaḷ more appropriately.