Tirukkural Chapter 18 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 18 - வெஃகாமை
CHAPTER 18 - NON-COVETING
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18/07. வேண்டற்க வெஃகியாம் ஆக்கம்; விளைவயின்
மாண்டற்கு அரிதாம் பயன்.

18/07. Vendarrka vekkiyaam aakkam; vllaivaiyin
Maandarku aridhaam payan.

18/07. No special benefit one will get when using other's things
Better don't entertain any desire for the same.
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Disciple: Using other's things is really bad.

Guru: Yes, What do they gain by it?
It may be a temporary benefit,
As finally they're exposed
To wild criticism in the end.

Instead of honey, bees' bit
A mischievous boy when he hit
The honeycomb with a stone,
That fell down and broke his bone.

The same thing will happen
To a man cheating anyone.
He'll gain other's blame
And punishment for the crime.
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18/08. அக்காமை செல்வத்திற்கு யாதெனின் வெஃகாமை
வேண்டும் பிறன்கைப் பொருள்.

18/08. Akkaamai selvaththirrku yadhenin vekkaamai
Venndum pirankaip porull.

18/08. When a man's wealth is not reducing,
It means that he's not coveted others' things.
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Disciple: How can a man's wealth reduce?

Guru: When a man wants
To grab anyone's assets
No benefit comes to him
Other than one's blame.

Gradually his own assets
Will go down the drains
For his own mistakes
In cheating others.

This is the lesson
You should learn.
Be happy with what
You've as your asset.
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18/09. அறன்அறிந்து வெஃகா அறிவுடையார்ச் சேரும்
திறன்அறிந்து ஆங்கே திரு.

18/09. Arranarrindhu vekkaa arrvudaiyarch cherum,
Thirranarrindhu aagngay thiru.

18/09. Goddess Lakshmi will recognize and join
The virtuous man, who does not covet other's properties.
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Disciple: What benefit a virtuous man will get?

Guru: When a virtuous man
Doesn't cheat any other person
Lakshmi will join that man
Without any hesitation.

If this much one understands
He'll never cheat others,
But will be always honest
In this world till his last.

Rich or poor, no matter,
Be kind, that is better,
To everyone you know,
Or you don't know.
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18/10. இறல்ஈனும் எண்ணாது வெஃகின் விறல்ஈனும்
வேண்டாமை என்னும் செருக்கு.

18/10. Erraleenum ennaadhu vekkin virraleenum
Venndaamai ennum serukku.

18/10. If one plans to take over other man's wealth, his very thought
Will destroy him. If he doesn't do it, it's well and good.
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Disciple: Even thinking of coveting other's property is bad.

Guru: Yes, you're right
Even one's thought
Should be correct,
In all respect.

A thought leads one
To go for an action,
So, any adverse thought
Must go away on the spot.

'A thought leads to a desire.
A desire leads to an action,
An action leads to a habit.
A habit leads to a character.
A character to a destiny.
So, curb the thought in its bud.'
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