Tirukkural Chapter 05 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 5 - இல்வாழ்க்கை
CHAPTER 5 - MARRIED LIFE
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5001. இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் இயல்புடய மூவர்க்கும்
நல்லாற்றின் நின்ற துணை,

5001. Ilvaazhvaan enbaan iyalbudaya muuvarkkum
Nallaatrin nindra thunai.

5001. It's the married man who can take care of
Bachelors, old people, and ascetics.
***
Wife: What does Tiruvalluvar say
In his opening couplet?

Husband: Only married couple can take
Care of Bachelors, old people and ascetics.
Who'll give them all food?
A married woman only can serve them.

It's one of the householder's dharma
To serve them as they cannot cook
And eat like a married couple
Who have a kitchen to cook.

So, it was laid down
In those days that
A householder can eat
Only after they eat.

Many hotels and canteens,
Old age homes have come
Now to serve most of them
Thus relieving householders.

Old people going to forests
For their retired life rests
Is no more now in practice
For lack of similar forests.

In the present living conditions
When every family suffers
How can they feed others?
Instead they now feed crows.
***

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 5 - இல்வாழ்க்கை
CHAPTER 5 - MARRIED LIFE
***
05/02. துறந்தார்க்கும் துவ்வா தவர்க்கும் இறந்தவர்க்கும்
இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் துணை.

05/02. Thurandhavarikkum thuvvaa dhavarkkum irrandhavarkkum
Illvazhvaan enbaan thunnai.

05/02. A householder should take care
Of cast away, poor and dead people.
***
Wife: In the present day cost of living
Can every family individually serve them?

Husband: There were very few people
In those days to make it possible.
In the present population explosion,
There's a change in family life style.

In the family life today
There's no other way
To serve such people
But a small donation is possible.

Many institutions are there
To take care of poor,
Householders can share
By donating their might.

This can be done collectively.
In this way, every family
Can serve them indirectly,
With food and shelter homely.
***

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 5 - இல்வாழ்க்கை
CHAPTER 5 - MARRIED LIFE
***
05/03. தென்புலத்தார் தெய்வம் விருந்தொக்கல் தான் என்றாங்கு
ஐம்புலத்தாரறூ ஒம்பல் தலை

05/03. Thenpulathaar Deivam virundhokkal than endraangu
Aimpulaththaru OOmbal thalai.

05/03. A householder should fulfill his obligation
To forefathers, gods, guests, relatives and himself.
***
Wife: All these obligations we are able to
Fulfill to the extent possible, is it not?

Husband: It's true, we perform
Ceremonies to our forefathers,
We do worship Gods,
We welcome our guests.

We entertain our relatives,
And yes, we enjoy ourselves
In the normal family life
As children, husband and wife.

Most of these things
Are in our social lives
Laid down as duties
In our day to day lives.

How far it's possible
For the poor people
To fulfill these obligations
In their living conditions?

But still a householder
Should at least know here
The rules of the game,
If not playing the game.
***