Tirukkural Chapter 107 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 107 - இரவச்சம்
CHAPTER 107 - ON FEAR OF BEGGING.
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107/07. இரப்பன் இரப்பாரை எல்லாம் இரப்பின்
கரப்பார் இரவன்மின் என்று.

107/07. Irappan irappaarai ellaam irappin
Karappaar iravanmin endrru.

107/07. "I humbly request those,
Who happen to go for begging,
Never go to a man who has things
But doesn't want to give."
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Bindya: First time one must make a trial,
To find out who gives or gives not,
And then he must not go to that man,
Who will not give.

Chaaya: What you say is correct.
He must first find out,
Who has larger heart,
To give what he wants.

He must avoid then,
Such a miserly person,
Who has plenty of money,
But he dislikes sparing any.

Only a man in wants,
Knows other man's wants.
Others have no chance
To know the word "wants."
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107/08. இரவென்னும் ஏமாப்பில் தோணி கரவென்னும்
பார்தாக்கப் பக்கு விடும்.

107/08. Iravennum aemaappil thoinni karavennum
Paarthaakkap pakku vidum.

107/08. If one goes to a person,
Who has things but refuses to give,
It is like one who sailed in a boat without anchor,
That dashed against a rock and broke.
***
Bindya: The poet is giving very good examples
While discouraging a beggar not to go to a miser.

Chaaya: A boat without any anchor
Will be drifting away in water
By the blowing winds,
And dash against rocks.

Likewise, if one goes to a miser,
He has money, but won't spare,
Even a coin from his pocket,
But drives first that beggar out.

So, the poet humbly requests,
Not to go to those misers,
Who'll never spare a coin,
To anyone, not even to his son.
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107/09. இரவுள்ள உள்ளம் உருகும்; கரவுள்ள
உள்ளதூஉம் இன்றிக் கெடும்.

107/09. Iravulla ullam urughum; karavulla
Ulladhoom indrrik kedum.

107/09. It is a pity that a poor man begs.
A rich man has wealth but he refuses to give.
The rich man when he says "No, "
His money also like that will "Go."
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Bindya: A rich man feels that if he gives to one beggar
Ten beggars will come behind him.
So, he doesn't want to give anyone.

Chaaya: That is also an acceptable fact.
But he can intelligently find out,
Who is a deserving beggar,
To whom money he can offer.

Outright if he says "No" to all,
It doesn't seem to be well,
For he must do some charity
To those men in dire poverty.

If rich becomes too rich,
And poor becomes too poor,
That situation is also unfair,
As it'll activate endless terror.
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107/10. கரப்பவர்க்கு யாங்கொளிக்கும் கொல்லோ? இரப்பவர்
சொல்லாடப் போஓம் உயிர்.

107/10. Karappavarkku yaangkollikkum kollo? Irappavar
Sollaadap poam uyir.

107/10. When a beggar narrates his difficulties
At that time where the life of rich man goes
When he has things but refuses to give him?
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Bindya: That rich man hardens his heart
And says "No" to the beggar.

Chaaya: When he said, "No, "
His life anywhere didn't go,
It was right with him only,
But it was dead partially.

He had no mind to give.
His body didn't move.
His mouth only said, "No, "
And his hands waved him to "Go."

Many rich kept dogs at their gates.
These dogs bark on seeing beggars.
So, the rich need not even say, "No."
The beggars seeing dogs, they "Go."
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