எனக்குத் தும்மல் வருவது போல் வந்து அடங்கி விடுகிறது. அவர் என்னை நினைக்கத் தொடங்கி, நினைக்காமல் விடுவாரோ?

வருவது போலிருந்து வராமல் நின்று விடுகிறதே தும்மல்; அதுபோலவே என் காதலரும் என்னை நினைப்பது போலிருந்து, நினைக்காது விடுகின்றாரோ?

தும்மல் வருவது போலிருந்து வாராமல் அடங்குகின்றதே! என் காதலர் என்னை நினைப்பவர் போலிருந்து நினையாமல் விடுகின்றாரோ?

I feel as if I am going to sneeze but do not, and (therefore) my beloved is about to think (of me) but does not

This Kural uses a metaphor to express the poet's anticipation and subsequent disappointment. The sensation of an impending sneeze that never comes is compared to the expectation that his beloved will think of him, which also never happens. The sneeze metaphor is relevant because it's a natural reflex that is almost uncontrollable, and the sensation that precedes it creates a sense of anticipation. Similarly, the poet is waiting for his beloved to think of him, a thought he believes is as natural and inevitable as a sneeze. However, just as a sneeze that doesn't come leaves one feeling unfulfilled and uncomfortable, the poet feels a similar disappointment when his beloved doesn't think of him as he anticipated. The moment of pause, the build-up of expectation, and the subsequent let-down are beautifully captured in this verse. The verse underscores the agony of unreciprocated love and the longing one feels in the absence of their beloved. It's a poignant reminder of the vulnerability and the emotional roller-coaster that love often brings with it.