Tirukkural Chapter 29 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 29 - Couplets 7,8,9,10

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 29 - கள்ளாமை
CHAPTER 29 - NON STEALING
***
29/07. களவென்னும் காரறி வாண்மை அளவென்னும்
ஆற்றல் புரிந்தார்கண் இல்.

29/07. Kallavennum kaararri vaannmai allavennum
Aatrral purindhaarkann il.

29/07. One who knows the value of life
He will not go for stealing.
***
Kamal: a man who has tasted virtuous life
Will not rob others.

Sunder: A man knows good and bad.
He's sure that stealing is not good.
He'll advise others not to steal,
Also help suffering people.

He'll not play Robinhood role.
Like ‘Rob Paul and Pay Peter' role,
He'll suffer, but will not steal,
When he can earn his daily dole.

God will punish, he knows,
If he cheats innocent persons,
So, he'll never even dream
Of cheating or looting them.
***
29/08. அளவறிந்தார் நெஞ்சத்துஅறம்போல நிற்கும்
களவறிந்தார் நெஞ்சில் கரவு.

29/08. Allavarrindhar nenjaththu arrampola nirrkkum
Kallavarrindhaar nenjil karavu.

29/08. When one knows the nature of things, his mind goes for virtue only.
Like this one habituated to steal, his mind goes for robbing only.
***
Kamal: A robber knows how to loot people.
A virtuous man knows how to help people.

Sunder: Kamal, what you say is correct.
Each man knows how to act
In the field he has chosen
To loot or help anyone?

Like a night time owl
A thief has to prowl
Here and there to find
On whom to lay his hand

Unlike a thief loots a man
For the benefit of his own,
Here people go to a man
Who wants to help everyone.
***
29/09. அளவல்ல செய்தாங்கே வீவர் களவல்ல
மற்றைய தேற்றா தவர்.

29/09. Allavalla seithange veevar kallavalla
Marraiya thotrraa thavar.

29/09. A man not knowing anything else excepting dreaming
When he thinks of illegal things, he'll destroy himself.
***
Kamal: What a day dreamer knows except bad things?

Sunder: A dreamer when he thinks,
All the while of illegal matters,
He'll involve himself in crimes
That'll destroy him and his dreams.

Cheating, robbing, stealing, looting,
He's an expert in these things,
And as a dreamer he has plans
To execute them one by one.

How many chit funds
Have gone underground
Cheating poor investors
Of their lifetime savings?

How many big companies
Have cheated commercial Banks,
By not repaying heavy loans,
And escaping to foreign countries?
***

29/10. கள்வார்க்குத் தள்ளும் உயிர்நிலை; கள்ளார்க்குத்
தள்ளாது புத்தேள் உலகு.

29/10. Kallvaarkkuth thallium uyirnilay; kallaarkkuth
Thallaadhu puththell ulagu.

29/10. Those who steal will be punished by the law court.
Those who do not steal will not miss going to heaven.
***
Kamal: Punishment to a thief and award to a virtuous man
This is the end of this chapter.

Sunder: Punish the offender,
And reward the helper,
This rule is everywhere,
Thus it's is no wonder.

If everyone follows virtues
Will there be criminal cases?
Will there be so many courts?
Will there be any news?

One can steal hearts,
Which endear people,
But not other's assets,
Which harm people.
***

Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Topic(s) of this poem: poem
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
Close
Error Success