நேரில் வந்து அன்பு செய்யாத இந்தக் கொடிய மனிதர் கனவில் மட்டும் நாளும் வந்து என்னை வருத்துவது ஏன்?

நேரில் வந்து அன்பு காட்டாத கொடிய நெஞ்சமுடையவர், கனவில் வந்து பிரிவுத் துயரைப் பெரிதாக்குவது என்ன காரணத்தால்?

நனவில் வந்து எமக்கு அன்பு செய்யாத கொடுமை உடைய அவர், கனவில் வந்து எம்மை வருத்துவது என்ன காரணத்தால்?

The cruel one who would not favour me in my wakefulness, what right has he to torture me in my dreams?

The verse 1217 from Thiru Kural is a reflection of human emotions and the impact of negative interactions on one's psyche. This verse is a rhetorical question that expresses the anguish and frustration of the speaker who is tormented by someone who shows no kindness in reality, and then continues to torment him even in his dreams. The verse reveals the profound influence that our waking interactions can have on our subconscious thoughts, surfacing in our dreams. The cruel person who shows no favor or kindness in the waking world has no right, says the poet, to inflict pain and suffering even in the dream world. The verse is a metaphor for the unwanted and persistent influence of tormentors in one's life. It underlines the importance of kindness, empathy, and compassion in our interactions with others, as it can have a significant emotional impact on them. The verse is also a call for respect for personal boundaries, even in the abstract world of dreams. In the cultural context, dreams are considered as an extension of one's subconscious thoughts and experiences in Tamil philosophy. Thus, a cruel person causing distress in one's dreams symbolizes the deep-seated impact of their cruelty on the individual's mind. In summary, the verse is a poignant commentary on the profound effect of cruelty and unkindness, and a call for empathy and compassion in our interactions with others.