Tirukkural Chapter 14 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 14- ஒழுக்கமுடைமை
CHAPTER 13 - GOOD CONDUCT.
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14/01. ஒழுக்கம் விழுப்பம் தரலான் ஒழுக்கம்
உயிரினும் ஓம்பப் படும்.

14/01. Ozhukkam vizhuppam tharalaan ozhukkam
Uyirinum ompap padum.

14/01. Good conduct will give greatness to all.
So, more than one's life, that good conduct should be well protected.
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Son: Papa, Good conduct is a must in one's life.

Father: Yes my son, Good conduct
Is more than one's life in fact,
Otherwise, he's like a serpent
With its poison to bite.

The society will condemn,
Such an unwanted bad person,
'When honor is lost better to die, '
This is what our elders say.

For a person with good conduct,
People give him high respect.
For the image he has built,
He also earns their trust.
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14/02. பரிந்தோம்பிக் காக்க ஒழுக்கம்; தெரிந்தோம்பித்
தேரினும் அஃதே துணை.

14/02. Parindhombik kaakka ozhukkam; therindhombith
Therinum akkdhe thunai.

14/02. Of all the tested virtues, good conduct is the best
That should never be lost, but safeguarded.
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Son: Papa, what's the best virtue?

Father, My son, of all the virtues known,
Good conduct stands as the first one,
For its demand in any family,
As well as by our society.

Food with no salt has no taste,
And is thrown out as a waste,
A person with no good conduct
Is also discarded like dust.

For Pandavas good conduct
And Kouravas misconduct
Finally Pandavas ruled,
And Kouravas died.

This is a typical example,
Known to the people.
Won't they well appreciate
The good conduct first?
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14/03. ஒழுக்கம் உடைமை குடிமை; இழுக்கம்
இழிந்த பிறப்பாய் விடும்.

14/03. Ozhukkam udaimai kudimai; izhukkam
Izhindha pirrappai vidum.

14/03. If a low caste man has good conduct, he's a great man.
If a high caste man has no good conduct, he's a bad man.
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Son: Papa, How one is treated as a good or bad man?

Father: For observing good conduct,
There's no lower or upper caste,
As all are men doing their duty,
And must behave well in the society.

But food mixed with poison,
Is no food at all for anyone,
When pure food one wants to eat
Should he not go for good conduct?

One can't partly be good,
And partly be bad,
That is equal to nice food,
With a little poison mixed.
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