Reading Unspoken Signs
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Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
mukanōkki niṟka vamaiyu makanōkki / yuṟṟa tuṇarvārp peṟiṉ.
If one gains a person who can look into the mind through signs, understand the distress that has befallen, and relieve it, merely standing face to face is enough.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To see the face is quite enough, in presence brought, / When men can look within and know the lurking thought.”
“If thou canst find a man that is able to read the inside of thy heart without words, it is enough that thou merely lookest towards him and thy wishes will be fulfilled.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அகம் நோக்கி உற்றது உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்- குறையுறுவானும் தன் மனத்தைக் குறிப்பான்அறிந்து தானுற்ற அதனைத் தீர்ப்பாரைப்பெறின்; முகம் நோக்கி நிற்க அமையும்- அவர் தன் முகம் நோக்கும் வகை, தானும் அவர் முகநோக்கி அவ்வெல்லைக்கண் நிற்க அமையும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that if a person in need has someone who can read the mind through signs and relieve the distress that has occurred, it is enough to stand facing that helper and let the helper see the face.