Patinathar’s poem on life- Part 1 – Birth -Utarkurruvanam

Utarkurruvanam or The harmony of components parts of the Human body is poem written by the great Cittar Patinathar. This poems retains the cynical view of life typical to him. The poem details life from an embryo to death and finally ashes.  I am posting the translation of this poem in 4 parts – Life, Youth,Old Age,Death. 

The first part of the beautiful translation of the Patinathar poem by Kamil Zvelebil follows,

உடற்கூற்றுவண்ணம்

 

ஒருமடமாதுமொருவனுமாகி, 

இன்பசுகந்தருமன்புபொருந்தி

யுணர்வுகலங்கிஒழுகியவிந்து, 

வூறுசுரோணிதமீதுகலந்து.

When

an infatued woman

and

and enamored man

come together

and unite in affection

which yields the pleasures of sweet passion,

out of his agitation

his white semen spurts

and springs forth

and soaks her womb

mixing with her flow,(1)

பனியிலொர்பாதிசிறுதுளிமாது, 

பண்டியில்வந்துபுகுந்து

ண்டு, பதுமவரும்புகமடமிதென்று, 

பார்வைமெய்வாய்செவிக[***]கைகளென்ற.

and a small drop,

not bigger than a dew drop,

enters and gyrates in her womb-

and behold,

that which was like a lotus-bud,

and like a tiny tortoise,

has eyes and body, mouth,

and ears and legs and arms,

a human shape!(2)

உருவமுமாகியுயிர்வளர்மாத, 

மொன்பதுமொன்றுநிறைந்துமடந்[***]

யுதரமகன்றுபுவியில்விழுந்து, 

யோகமும்வாரமுநாளுமறிந்து,

It grows, the life inside,

and after ten months

the womb of the woman opens,

and a man is born.

They set his horoscopy, his destiny,

an army of serfs around prepare his bed,(3)

மகளிர்கள்சேனைதரவணையாடை, 

மண்படவுந்தியுதைந்துகவிழ்ந்து

மடமயில்கொங்கையமுதமருந்தி, 

யோரறிவீரறிவாகிவளர்ந்து.

and women dress him, caress him,

and he jumps and leaps and kicks and crawls

and falls upon the floor

and turns legs up and upside down

and sucks the nectar from the breasts

which are like a pair of young peacocks.

And day by day he grows,

and gathers knowledge, this and that.(4)

ஒளிநகையூறலிதழ்மடவாரு, 

வந்துமுகந்திடவந்துதவழ்ந்து

மடியிலிருந்துமழலைமொழிந்து, 

வாவிருபோலெனநாமம்விளம்ப.

His wet lips with radiant smile

kiss happily the female servants; round,

he sits in their laps and babbles,

saying such simple words like

‘come’ and ‘go’ and ‘stay’

and utters a few names:

thus his speech is born.(5)

உடைமணியாடையரைவடமாட, 

வுண்பவர்தின்பவர்தங்க ளொடுண்டு, 

தெருவிலிருந்து புழுதியளைந்து, 

தேடியபாலரொடோடிநடந்து

அஞ்சுவயதாகிவிளையாடியே.

And then he runs about,

in lovely dress, and with a belt of gems,

cats with the grown-ups,

and in the street plays games

with dust and clay,

and with his friends runs here and there

and so, in games and frolicking,

reaches the age of five.(6)

 

Poet: Patinathar

Translated by Kamil Zvelebil

 

Part 2: Youth

Part 3: Old age

part 4: Death

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Other Patinathar poems in my blog:

 

• Lines of a misogynist – Pattinathar Poem  
• How many father,mother,wife,children I had – Pattinathar poem
• Save me from the Lust for women -Patinathar poem 
• Patinathar Poem 

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