The Rumour
ஊரார் தூற்றும் பழிச்சொல் (அலர்) காதலை அணைக்காமல் நெய்யாய் வளர்ப்பதைக் கூறுதல். — Remarking that village gossip acts not as water to quench love, but as ghee to kindle it.
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kavvaiyāṟ kavavitu kāma matuviṉṟēṟ / ṟavveṉṉun taṉmai yiḻantu.
“The rumour rising makes my love to rise; / My love would lose its power and languish otherwise.”
“This clamour hath increased my passion for her: without it it would have been but a stale affair.”
Nourished by the town's whispers, my love blooms; without it, it would have withered away.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
காமம் கவ்வையால் கவ்விது= என் காமம் இவ்வூர் எடுக்கின்ற அலரானே அலர்தலை உடைத்தாயிற்று; அது இன்றேல் தன்மை இழந்து தவ் என்னும்= அவ்வலர் இல்லையாயின் தன் இயல்பு இழந்து சுருங்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Fuelled by the town's gossip, my love flourishes with greater vigor; without this public stir, it would have withered away in silence.