தன்னை நீங்கினால் சுடும், நெருங்கினால் குளிரும் ஒரு தீயை என் உள்ளத்தில் ஏற்ற, இவள் அதை எங்கிருந்து பெற்றாள்?

நீங்கினால் சுடக்கூடியதும் நெருங்கினால் குளிரக் கூடியதுமான புதுமையான நெருப்பை இந்த மங்கை எங்கிருந்து பெற்றாள்

நீங்கினால் சுடுகின்றது, அணுகினால் குளிர்ச்சியாக இருக்கின்றது, இத்தகைய புதுமையானத் தீயை இவள் எவ்விடத்திலிருந்து பெற்றாள்.

From whence has she got this fire that burns when I withdraw and cools when I approach ?

This verse is a reflection of the poet's emotional state in relation to his beloved. In this Kural, Valluvar speaks of the paradoxical nature of love, where the beloved's absence causes a burning sensation of longing and her presence cools it down, providing comfort and relief. The poet asks, "From where did she get this unique fire?" Here, the fire symbolizes the passionate love and the emotional turmoil he experiences. It's a fire that burns when she is far and cools when she is near. It's a rhetorical question expressing his bewilderment at the inexplicable nature of love. The verse highlights the intense longing and yearning one feels when separated from their beloved, and the soothing comfort that their presence brings. It underscores the emotional fluctuations in love, and the powerful impact a beloved can have on one's emotional state. The profound mystery of love is further emphasized. Love is likened to an extraordinary fire - it possesses the unusual capability to both ignite passion when the beloved is away, and soothe when she is near. It's a vivid metaphorical representation of the dual aspects of love: the agony of separation and the ecstasy of union. The poet marvels at this unique phenomenon, wondering where his beloved obtained such a distinctive ability.