Tirukkural Chapter 27 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 27 - தவம்
CHAPTER 27 - PENANCE
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27/07. சுடச்சுடரும் பொன்போல் ஒளிவிடும் துன்பம்
சுடச்சுட நோக்கிற் பவர்க்கு.

27/07. Chudachudarum ponpol olividum thunbam
Chudachuda nokkirr pavarkku.

27/07. When gold is heated it shines dropping its impurity.
Similarly an ascetic, who suffers difficulties, will become more pure.
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Disciple: The sufferings of an ascetic make him pure, is it so?

Guru: Yes, the more troubles he faces,
The more pure he becomes.
As penance keeps him busy,
He takes all troubles easy.

Just like gold when heated
It becomes pure gold,
His will power increases
His concentration on penance.

His face shines bright,
When he takes light,
Even the big obstacles,
As tests for his penance.
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27/08. தன்னுயிர் தான்அறப் பெற்றானை ஏனைய
மன்னுயிர் எல்லாம் தொழும்.

27/08. Thannuyir Thaanarap petrraanai enaiya
Mannuyir ellaam thozhum

27/08. An ascetic who has given up his self ego
Will be worshiped by all other living beings.
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Disciple: Guruji, How is it an ascetic is worshiped by all?

Guru: An ascetic has no self-ego,
And wherever he wants to go,
People welcome him there
For his very humble nature.

He walks with a grace.
He keeps a smiling face.
He speaks to others
In a very soft voice.

He's such a divine person,
With a sweet voice to listen,
People fall at his feet,
When they go to meet.
***
27/09. கூற்றம் குதித்தாலும் கைகூடும் நோற்றலின்
ஆற்றல் தலைப்பட் டவர்க்கு.

27/09. Kutrram kudhithaalum kaikoodum notrralin
Aartralin thalaipat tavarkku.

27/09. An ascetic who has more spiritual power
He can easily win over Yama, the Lord of death.
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Disciple: How can an ascetic win over death?

Guru: A young boy, Markandeya,
A devotee of Lord Shiva,
Was to die at sixteen years of age,
Lord of death came at that stage.

Lord Shiva saved the child
And a boon He granted
That he would remain
Forever at his sixteen.

He's sixteen even today
And is still alive to pray
God Shiva, his Lord,
For his penance as a child.

This story goes to say
By true penance one may
Even escape death
And this is the truth.
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27/10. இலர்பலர் ஆகிய காரணம் நோற்பார்
சிலர்; பலர் நோலா தவர்.

27/10. Ilarpalar aagiya kaarannam norrpaar
Silar; palar nolaa dhavar.

27/10. Why the world has a few rich and more poor
Because rich did penance and poor didn't do it.
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Disciple: Guruji, Why rich remains rich
And poor remains poor?

Guru: Rich did more penance,
And poor, not even once.
This is the reason why a few rich
And more poor to say so much.

A few chosen men
Select spiritual path,
While more greedy men
Go for material path.

Spiritual path is tough like
Swimming against the current
While material path is easy like
Going along with the current.
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