Four Pearls Inlaid Ornament [from 'naanmanikadigai 2- 4 In Tamil] Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

4. The Asunama birds live no more on hearing the sound
of drums. When the status falls, the wise breathe last.
Once the bamboos in a forest give the grains,
they die. Words of insult make the great to fall.

5. Wash and know the kind of the pearls. Saddle up
and rein in the horse to know its nature.
Melt gold to see its worth. Know the character
of your relations, when you ruin.

6. The perfumes are born in th' womb of the Cactus.
The womb of the deer bears the musk.
The pearls are born from the deep sea. But who knows
the clan from which good people arise?