Tirukkural Chapter 11 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 11 - செய்ந்நன்றி அறிதல்
CHAPTER 11 - GRATITUDE
***
11/07. எழுமை எழுபிறப்பும் உள்ளுவர் தங்கண்
விழுமம் துடைத்தவர் நட்பு.

11/07. Ezhumai Ezhupirappum ulluvar thangann
Vzhumam thudaithavar natpu.

11/07. One should remember for seven generations
The help rendered by his friend at the time of trouble.
***
Disciple: We should never forget the help
Rendered by our friends in time.

Guru: Yes, not only in this birth
But also in the coming seven births,
One should not forget his friend
For the help what he did.

Even a dog wags its tail
To show how does it feel
As a sense of gratitude,
When you offer its food.

God created this man,
More with a good plan,
That he would help all,
In His place, he'll do it well.
***
11/08. நன்றி மறப்பது நன்றன்று; நன்றல்லது
அன்றே மறப்பது நன்று.

11/08. Nandri marrappadhu nanrrandru; nanrralladhu
Andrre marrppadhu nandru.

11/08. While one should remember good deeds of a person,
Whose bad deeds he should forget then and there itself.
***
Disciple: Guru, what one should remember?
What he should forget?

Guru: One should remember the person
Who in time helped.
He should forget the bad deeds
Of that person and not that person.

None of us remember
Valmiki was once a decoit,
But we still know him as the poet,
Who wrote his Ramayana.

Basically all are good,
And no one is bad.
Situations make one,
In fact, good or bad.
***
11/09. கொன்றன்ன இன்னா செயினும் அவர்செய்த
ஒன்றுநன்று உள்ளக் கெடும்.

11/09. Konrranna inna seiyunum avarseidha
Ondrunandru ullak kedum.

11/09. One who has done many good things in the past,
If he does a bad deed like murder, one of his good deeds will wipe it out.
***
Disciple: Guruji, How can good deeds can
Wipe out a single bad deed like a murder?

Guru: Normally it doesn't happen,
But sympathy for that good man
Will be there, 'How is it
He could do this cruel act?

Bad deed is a bad deed.
It can't be easily condoned.
But here the poet glorifies
The man of many good deeds.

These are extreme cases
Not to be seen in the eyes
Of justice, fair or foul means,
But viewed on humanitarian grounds.
***
11/10. எந்நன்றி கொன்றார்க்கும் உய்வுண்டாம்; உய்வில்லை
செய்ந்நன்றி கொன்ற மகற்கு.

11/10.Ennandrri Konrraarkkum uyvunndaam; vyvillai
Seinandri kondra magarrkku.

11/10. There is a way out to condone a sin for a good man.
But for one without gratitude, there is no way to escape.
***
Diciple: Guruji, How a sin be condoned?

Guru: Normally no sin can be condoned.
But out of ignorance someone did,
If it is a minor one he did,
It'll be wiped out by his good deeds.

But there is no justification,
If bad deeds are purposely done,
To condone such criminal acts
Because of his high or low status.

The poet gives a high place,
To every one of those,
Who have sense of gratitude
For every help received.
***