Tirukkural Chapter 106 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 106 - Couplets 7,8,9,10



திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 106 - இரவு.
CHAPTER 106 - ON BEGGING.
***
106/07. இகழ்ந் தெள்ளாது ஈவாரைக் காணின் மகிழ்ந்துள்ளம்
உள்ளுள் உவப்பது உடைத்து.

106/07. Ighazhnd thellaadhu eevaaraik kaannin maghizhndhullam
Uollull uovappadhu uodaiththu.

106/07. A beggar will be happy if there is one
Who gives alms happily without disgracing him.
***
Revathi: From the beggar side one must think.
He is happy when some donor gives without abusing him.

Nivedita: If a donor can't give alms
To a beggar knocking his doors,
He can ask him to go politely
Instead of shouting loudly.

If a donor wants to give alms,
He must not use abusing words,
But gently give the beggar,
Whatever little he can offer.

Then the beggar will go happily,
Blessing the donor liberally;
That will give donor happiness,
For having fulfilled his duties
***
106/08. இரப்பாரை இல்லாயின் ஈர்ங்கண்மா ஞாலம்
மரப்பாவை சென்றுவந் தற்று.

106/08. Irappaarai illaayin eerngkannmaa gnaalam
Marappavai sendrruvindh dhatrru.

106/08. In this world full of wet land with greenery,
If it does not own persons asking alms
Then lives will be like mechanized wooden dolls.
***
Revathi: If the world is full of wet land
The poet expects the mind of its occupants
Must be wet and cool like all green plants.

Nivedita: Here the poet gives importance
To all the beggar-tribes
As the true value of donors
Comes out because of beggars.

If there are no beggars,
Where will be these donors?
The donors' merits come out
Because of these beggars exist.

If the minds of persons
Set like wooden dolls,
All will walk like robots,
With no beggars or donors.
***
106/09. ஈவார்கண் என்னுண்டாம் தோற்றம் இரந்துகோள்
மேவார் இலாஅக் கடை?

106/09. Evvarkann ennunndaam thotrram irandhukoll
Meavaar ilaak kadai?

106/09. If there are no persons to beg for alms,
How the reputation of donors will come out?
***
Revathi: The same question we dealt with
In the previous couplet that
Without beggars there are donors.

Nivedita: That man has kind heart
How it will come out?
It is because of beggars
Men turn as donors.

Otherwise, it'll be a world,
Full of jungles and greenery,
With men as mere moving objects,
Like automatic mechanical dolls.

There will be no interaction
Between man to man,
The nature man will
Remain unknown to all.
***
106/10. இரப்பான் வெகுளாமை வேண்டும்; நிரப்பிடும்பை
தானேயும் சாலும் கரி.

106/10. Irappaan vegullaamai venndum; nirappidumbhai
Thaaneyum saalum kari.

106/10. No man should drive away beggars
When they come to him, as they are the living examples
For all sufferings due to poverty.
***
Revathi: One who drives away today a beggar
May himself become tomorrow a beggar.

Nivedita: Beggars are living examples
For all the human sufferings
Due to their utter poverty
That solicits others' pity.

So, they must not be driven out
When they come for alms
But knowing their pitiable plights
One must give them what they want.

After all they beg for
A handful of grains
Or a few small coins
For their food expenses.
***

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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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