Tirukkural Chapter 12 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 12 - Couplets 4,5,6

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 12 - நடுவு நிலைமை
CHAPTER 12 - EQUALITY.
***
12/04. தக்கார் தகவிலர் என்பது அவரவர்
எச்சத்தால் காணப் படும்.

12/04. Thakkaar thagavilar enbadhu avaravar
Echathaal kaanap padum.

12/04. Who's impartial, who's partial, this can be found
From their wise and unwise children respectively.
***
Disciple: How to find who is fair
And who is not fair?

Guru: If one is impartial,
His children behave well.
Otherwise, if he's partial,
His children misbehave well.

'As father is
So is the son, '
Yes, the proverb one
Goes to say like this.

Fair means is always
Better than unfair means.
So, one should be careful
If he wants to live well.
***
12/05. கேடும் பெருக்கமும் இல்லல்ல நெஞ்சத்துக்
கோடாமை சான்றோர்க்கு அணி.

12/05. Kedum perukkamum illalla nenjathuk
Koadaamai sanrrorkku anni.

12/05. One gets bad things and wealth based on
His previous birth deeds; so, great men do not worry about it.
***
Disciple: Guruji, why some enjoy good life
And some suffer bad life?

Guru: The good or bad life is
Based on the good or bad deeds
One had done in his previous birth
So, he enjoys or suffers in this birth.

Why one is born in a rich family
And another in a poor family?
Why one is born sickly,
And another born healthy?

The previous birth's deeds,
Good or bad dictates,
One's present-life-birth,
And this is the truth.
***
12/06. கெடுவல்யான் என்பது அறிக; தன்நெஞ்சம்
நடுவொரீஇ அல்ல செயின்.

12/06. Keduvalyaan enbadhu arriga; thannenjam
Naduvoree alla seyin.

12/06. If one deviates from equality and think of doing bad deeds
Better let him know that his intention will soon spoil him.
***
Disciple: When one's mind thinks good
Why in action he does bad deeds?

Guru: One does bad deeds,
Against his conscience
Either out of compulsion,
Or out of his over ambition.

If children are starving,
One goes out for stealing,
Though it's wrong, he knows it,
But out of compulsion he does it.

For a luxurious life one steals
Though he very well knows
That what he is doing
Is not correct, but is wrong.
***

Friday, August 5, 2016
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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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