Relations [from 'proverbs 400' In Tamil] Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

348. O, chief of the hills with falls and shining gold!
The evil attained by those who sought our help
will reach us. If we don't rid of this, no use
to them. The hand that pestles the chaff feels pain.

349. Treat him who joined you not as related.
Knowing him well, if you don't relieve him
from want, where will he go? Everything is false.
Cooking and giving food alone is real.

350. When one is in misery, his good kin
attempts to bail him out by artificial
means. It likens a tree of medicinal
value present in the house.

351. O, maid with black locks wearing golden bangles!
Whom you can help if you don't have relations?
None will help you but the close kin. The rain
may fail in the season but comes later.

352. O, chief of the fertile lands! Someone born in
the same clan with a cruel past becomes helpful
when grief grips him. One from a different clan
doesn't help even if you adore one as gold.

353. O, chief of paddy fields and ponds where the birds
crowd together, step on flowers and be glad!
If a mother steps on th' leg, it won't go lame.
Though scolding, your kin will give good advice.

354. O, chief of the hills with sweet sounds! When someone
declares you as his kin, help him by all means.
The thread follows the path of the stitching
needle. Is there any harm of it?

355. O, chief of the waves embracing cool coast! Life
e'en with goddess of wealth on Lotus will be
painful. The sibylings of the same embryo
are in squabbles if they live long together.

356. From the book of Bharath[India], we know one hundred
Gaurovs and five Pandavs bet their goods, gambled,
became foes and died in middle age. The wise
don't gamble with close friends even for a joke.