IV
TRANSLATIONS AND COMMENTARIES Translation can be considered as an art by itself. An authentic translation cannot be produced by the mere substitution of equivalent words for the original. During translation the ideas and not words are most important. True translation cannot omit or include even a minute detail. Adherence to the original is very essential. To translate is even more difficult, than writing the original. The translator has to assimilate the ideas in the original, then he has to enter into the very spirit of the author and almost identify himself with him and act as if it were in unison with him. Only then will the translation reveal the true spirit of the original work. A translation will be a dull and mechanical one, if it is done solely with the aid of a lexicon. But it has to be interesting and lively and hence the translator has to discover the original author and reveal him completely and authentically. DIDACTIC POEMS Books in Tamil - chiefly the Kur̠aḷ-have been translated into many European languages. The Kur̠aḷ of Tiruvaḷḷuvar has arrested the attention of foreigners and has held a deep fascination for them. The undisputed credit for first revealing to the European nations by his Latin translation the great and unique language and culture of the Tamils belongs to Rev. Beschi. Beschi’s knowledge of the Kur̠aḷ was profound. In his grammar book of High Tamil, he quotes this work eighteen times.1 In his Ton̠n̠ūl Viḷakkam also we find the Kur̠aḷ often cited.2 One wonders whether these were given by Beschi himself or by the first publisher Vētakiri Mutaliār. To illustrate a cūttiram in his Ton̠n̠ūl Viḷakkam,
1. B.S.T.; Rule: 1, 5, 6, 8, 13, 21, 23, 33, 37, 50, 70, 72, 73, 95, 101. 2. B.A.T.V.; Cūttiram; 100, 123, 124, 158, 160, 195, 205, 207, 215. |