Tirukkural Chapter 30 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 30 - வாய்மை
CHAPTER 30 - ON TRUTH
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30/01. வாய்மை எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
தீமை இலாத சொலல்

30/01. Vaaimai enappaduvadhu yaadhenin yaadhondrum
Theemai ilaadha solaal.

30/01. Truth means to speak those words
Which will not hurt other lives even slightly.
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Devan: Always speak the truth wise men say.
How is it practical in this world?

Narayan: What truth really means?
One should not hurt others,
Either by harsh words
Or by severe actions.

Truth is like a mirror,
Showing with no error,
The image of any object,
That is placed before it.

A sweet lie everyone likes.
A blunt truth many dislikes.
But one must speak words
Carrying truth but not lies.
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30/02. பொய்ம்மையும் வாய்மை இடத்த புரைதீர்ந்த
நன்மை பயக்கும் எனின்.

30/02. Poimaium vaimai idaththa puraitheerndha
Nanmai payakkum enin.

30/02. With no harm, if a lie gives something good
Those untrue words are equal to true words.
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Devan: Narayan, One can say a lie to save a person
Then it is not a lie but is equal to truth, is it so?

Narayan: If a mother says to her child,
'A ghost is there, if you go that field'
It's not a lie, but to save the child
From some danger ahead.

A doctor knows a patient will die,
But doctor, at that time, tells a lie,
That he'll live hundred years,
Just to give him better hopes.

Some lies to save persons
Cannot be taken as lies,
As they're truth almost
Told in their interest.
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30/03. தன்நெஞ்சு அறிவது பொய்யற்க; பொய்த்தபின்
தன்நெஞ்சே தன்னைச் சுடும்.

30/03. Thannenju arrivadhu poiyarkka; poiththapin
Thannenje thannai sudum.

30/03. If one thinks others may not know and tells false news
He will feel guilty conscience thereafter.
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Devan: Narayan, Why spread false news
When one knows it is a lie?

Narayan: 'I saw a cow with two horns,
I saw a cow with four horns,
I saw a cow four horns and two tails.'
This way the same news spreads.

Even though some are lies,
The news tempo increases,
When told mouth to mouth,
That goes from north to south.

Some feel guilty conscience,
Later on, after telling lies,
But what is told is told
And cannot be withheld.
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