Reserve Overcome
நாணம் எனும் கதவை உடைத்துக் கொண்டு பொங்கி எழும் காதலின் வேகத்தை உரைத்தல். — Admitting that the strong door of self-possession has been shattered by the axe of desire.
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kāmak kaṇicci yuṭaikku niṟaiyeṉṉu / nāṇuttāḻ vīḻtta katavu.
“Of womanly reserve love's axe breaks through the door, / Barred by the bolt of shame before.”
“The door that is bolted with the bolt of modesty will yet yield to the axe of an overpowering love.”
The axe that is desire breaks the door called self-command, for all that the bolt of shame was drawn across it.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நாணுத்தாழ் வீழ்த்த நிறை என்னும் கதவு= நாணாகிய தாழினைக் கோத்த நிறையென்னும் கதவினை; காமக் கணிச்சி உடைக்கும்= காமவேட்கையாகிய கணிச்சி முறியாநின்றது, இனி அவை நிற்றலும் இல்லை, யான் ஆற்றலும் இல்லை,; எ-று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The bolt of modesty that held the door of my reserve securely barred has been shattered and thrown open by the relentless axe of desire.