நினைத்த அளவிலே உணர்வு அழியாமல் உள்ளம் கிளர்தலும், பார்த்த அளவிலே உணர்வு அழிய உள்ளம் கிளர்தலும் கள் உண்பவர்க்கு இல்லை; காதல் வசப்பட்டவர்க்கே உண்டு.

மதுவை அருந்தினால்தான் இன்பம், ஆனால் காதல் அப்படியல்ல; நினைத்தாலே இன்பம்; காதலர்கள் ஒருவரையொருவர் கண்டாலே இன்பம்

நினைத்த அளவிலே களிப்படைதலும் கண்ட அளவிலே மகிழ்ச்சி அடைதலும் ஆகிய இந்த இருவகை தன்மையும் கள்ளுக்கு இல்‌லை; காமத்திற்கு உண்டு

To please by thought and cheer by sight is peculiar, not to liquor but lust

Kural 1281 delves into the profound emotion of love, comparing it to the fleeting pleasure of intoxication. The verse emphasizes the unique characteristics of love, stating that it has the power to elicit joy both through mere thought and the visual presence of the beloved, a delight that surpasses the temporary pleasure induced by liquor. The verse begins with 'To please by thought and cheer by sight,' indicating the two-fold happiness that love brings. It signifies that the mere thought of the beloved can bring immense satisfaction and joy, an experience that does not require any physical consumption or presence. Similarly, witnessing the beloved's sight is enough to fill one with cheerfulness and delight. The verse then contrasts this deeper, more profound emotion of love with the transient pleasure of intoxication caused by liquor. Liquor, though it can provide temporary ecstasy, lacks the capacity to offer the lasting happiness and satisfaction that love can impart. It is external, consumed, and its effects wear off, unlike love, which is internal, felt deeply, and its effects are long-lasting. In essence, the Kural emphasizes that love is a potent inner emotion, capable of providing joy, both through thought and sight. It is a unique characteristic that is not found in fleeting, external pleasures like intoxication, underscoring the depth and significance of love in human life.