1111. Looking beyond decoration

ஒப்பனையை நாடுவார் ஒப்பறியார் ஒப்பறிந்தார்ஒப்பனையை நாடா தவர்

oppanaiyai naaduvaar oppariyaar opparindaaroppanaiyai naadaa thavar

Those who seek adornment do not know what fits; those who know what fits do not seek adornment.

In Tamil the word for adornment grows from the word for ‘match’ or ‘likeness’: to adorn is to make something match.

1112. Beauty beyond use

உண்ணாத பூவுக்கும் உண்டு மலராட்சிகண்ணுக்கு வேறோர் பசி

unnaadha poovukkum undu malaraadsikannukku veror pasi

Even an uneaten flower has its reign in bloom. The eye has a hunger of another kind.

The Tamil word for ‘eat’ also covers a bee drinking nectar, so the flower may be one nothing has taken from at all.

1113. Beauty without training

நெல்குத்தும் பெண்ணின் மிடறு விடும்ஓசையாரும் பயிற்றா இசை

nelkuthum pennin midaru vidumosaiyaarum payitraa isai

The sound that comes from the throat of a woman pounding paddy is music no one ever taught.

Paddy is rice still in its husk; women pounded it with a heavy pestle to free the grain.