The Distress of Her Beauty
கண்டதும் காதல்: தலைவியின் அழகைக் கண்டு வியந்து திகைத்துக் கூறுதல். — Love at first sight: Struck with wonder and awe upon beholding her divine grace.
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kaṇṭā ruyiruṇṇun tōṟṟattāṟ peṇṭakaip / pētaik kamarttaṉa kaṇ
“In sweet simplicity, A woman's gracious form hath she; / But yet those eyes, that drink my life, Are with the form at strife!”
“She is simple and gracious, but yet her eyes are versed in the ways of waging war: for they drink the lives of those that look on her.”
The eyes of this gentle maiden seem drawn for battle, devouring the lives of all who look.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பெண்டகைப் பேதைக்குக் கண்= பெண்டகையையுடைய இப்பேதைக்கு உளவாய கண்கள்; கண்டார் உயிர் உண்ணும் தோற்றத்தான் அமர்த்தன= தம்மைக் கண்டார் உயிருண்ணும் தோற்றத்துடனே கூடி அமர்த்திருந்தன.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The eyes of this tender, innocent maiden are set like warriors drawn for combat, bearing a deadly charm that consumes the life of all who behold them.