Tirukkural Chapter 107 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 107 - இரவச்சம்
CHAPTER 107 - ON FEAR OF BEGGING.
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107/04. இடம்எல்லாம் கொள்ளாத் தகைத்தே இடம்இல்லாக்
காலும் இரவொல்லாச் சால்பு.

107/04. Idamellaam kollaath thagaiththe idamillaak
Kaalum iravollaach chaalbhu.

107/04. If one does not go for begging even at a time
There is no other alternative except to go for begging
His great decision is bigger than all the places in the Universe.
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Bindya: He has so much aversion for begging
He may starve and die rather than go for alms.

Chayya: He is really a great man
Who took a strong decision
Not to go out for alms
But stay starved in the house.

His neighbors heard his decision,
Gave him food in appreciation,
And opened for him a small shop,
That gave him some hope.

The world merits such great men,
Who hate begging profession,
And comes to his rescue then
Thro' some kind hearted person.
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107/05. தெண்ணீர் அடுபுற்கை யாயினும் தாள்தந்தது
உண்ணலின் ஊங்கினியது இல்.

107/05. Thenneer adupurrkkai yaayinum thallthandhadhu
Unnalin oonginiyadhu il.

107/05. Pure water and boiled gruel, both taken from
One's own earnings, gives him happiness,
Nothing else will give him more happiness.
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Bindya: If one takes a small meal
It appears to him as a big meal,
As he took it from his own earnings.

Chaaya: So long as he has not gone
For begging from anyone,
Instead of taking a begging bowl,
He took some self-earned-gruel.

Had he taken a begging bowl,
He might have got tasty meal,
Better than water and gruel,
What he took as small meal.

His own fear to beg he had,
But then he was so proud,
That he didn't beg for food,
But with gruel, he was satisfied.
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107/06. ஆவிற்கு நீரென்று இரப்பினும் நாவிற்கு
இரவின் இளிவந்தது இல்.

107/06. Avirrku neerendrru irappin naavirrku
Iravin illivandhadhu il.

107/06. If one begs for his cow "Please give water to cow, "
For his tongue it is the worst than anything else.
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Bindya: Water is available in plenty everywhere
And to beg for water for his cow is also very bad.

Chaaya: Will anyone beg for water
For his cow, when water
Is available everywhere?
That shows his silly behavior.

Some people ask for cheap things,
As their regular begging habits
Are so mixed in their bloods,
Which put words in their tongues

Better, they change their habits,
Not to make them confirmed beggars,
By asking others small favors,
Which they can do with their own hands.
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