Tirukkural Chapter 32 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 32 - இன்னா செய்யாமை
CHAPTER 32 - NOT DOING EVIL
***
32/07. எனைத்தானும் எஞ்ஞான்றும் யார்க்கும் மனத்தானாம்
மாணாசெய் யாமை தலை.

32/07. Enaiththaanum engandrrum yaarkkum manaththaanaam
Maannaasei yaamai thalai.

32/07. Whatever harmful deeds one thinks of in his mind
Better he does not do it even a small part of the same.
***
Govind: Even one thinks of harming why should he show it in action?

Gopal: Don't harm others mentally,
As well as physically,
Even by a little part of it,
That'll be your generous act.

'Better you drink
A hot cup of milk,
There's only one drop
Of poison in that cup.'

Can you say like this?
One drop or ten drops,
Now milk also is poison.
And it's unfit for anyone.

Big or small harm, it may be,
Harm is harm, you must see,
And avoid harming anyone
Even if you're affected by then.
***
32/08. தன்னுயிர்க்கு இன்னாமை தான்அறிவான் என்கொலோ
மன்னுயிர்க்கு இன்னா செயல்.

32/08. Thannuyirkku innaamai thaanarrivaan enkolo
Mannuyirkku innaa seyal.

32/08. When one know what kind of harm he is facing
What for then he should harm others?
***
Govind: Gopal, already one is in trouble.
Why then he should trouble others?

Gopal: `When one knows how hard it is
To suffer harm done by others,
He should not make them suffer.
If he does it, what is it for?

Ten times one may harm
If you don't care for him
He'll get tired of doing
For the eleventh time.

You must be patient
Till eleventh time
In not taking part
In doing harm to him.
***
32/09. பிறர்க்கின்னா முற்பகல் செய்யின் தமக்கின்னா
பிற்பகல் தாமே வரும்.

32/09. Pirrarkkinnaa murrpagal seiyin thamakkinnaa
Pirrpagal thaame varum.

32/09. If one does harm in the morning,
By evening he will get harm of its own accord, without others doing it.
***
Govind: How quickly one gets harm
If he does harm to others?

Gopal: If one sows corn
It takes six months
For him to reap corn
More time a good deed takes.

Bad deed done by morning,
Its harm comes by evening,
Better avoid bad deeds.
Start doing good deeds.

Practice helping others,
You'll develop kindness,
At the bottom of your heart,
Then you'll never harm others
***
32/10. நோய்எல்லாம் நோய்செய்தார் மெலவாம்; நோய்செய்யார்
நோய்இன்மை வேண்டு பவர்.

32/10. Noyellaam noyseidhaar melavaam; noyseiyaar
Noyinmai venndu bavar.

32/10. Evil comes only to one, who does not harm others.
So, he should not harm others if he wishes no harm should come to him.
***
Govind: The poet finally says don't harm anyone
If no one should harm you.

Gopal: Yes Govind, this simple to look at
But difficult to practice it,
For one gets emotionally upset
When he's beaten overnight.

He can't even wait till morning
And starts at once attacking
The person who harmed him
It's but natural for him.

Tit for tat, evil for evil
Will not work well
As it prolongs the issues
In endless confrontations.
***