Reading the Signs
கண்நோக்கம்: அவளது பார்வை வெளிப்படுத்தும் உள்ளக்குறிப்பை அறிதல். — Glance reading: Discerning the secret love in her shy, sidelong glances.
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kuṟikkoṇṭu nōkkāmai yallā lorukaṇ / ciṟakkaṇittāḷ pōla nakum.
“She seemed to see me not; but yet the maid / Her love, by smiling side-long glance, betrayed.”
“She doth not seem to see me, it is true: but she smileth to me the while she affecteth but to wink an eye.”
She never looks straight, but casts a teasing sidelong glance and rejoices within.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
குறிக்கொண்டு நோக்காமை அல்லால்= நேரே குறிக்கொண்டு நோக்காத் துணையல்லது; ஒருகண் சிறக்கணித்தாள் போல நகும்= ஒருகண்ணைச் சிறக்கணித்தாள் போல என்னை நோக்கிப் பின் தன்னுள்ளே மகிழாநிற்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Rather than looking at me directly, she casts a teasing sidelong glance with half-closed eyes, and then rejoices quietly within her heart.