Tirukkural Chapter 17 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 17 - Couplets 4,5,6

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 17 - அழுக்காறாமை
CHAPTER 17 - ON ENVY.
***
17/04. அழுக்காற்றின் அல்லவை செய்யார்; இழுக்காற்றின்
ஏதம் படுபாக்கு அறிந்து.

17/04. Azhukkaatrrin allavai seiyaar; izhukkatrrin
Edham padupaakku arrindhu.

17/04. Knowing that harm will come by doing wrong deeds
One will not do harm to others.
***
Disciple: Guruji, will anyone do harm knowing well it is wrong?

Guru: If you harm anyone
You'll reap harm, in return.
This is the truth well known
But who follows this one?

The entire story of Mahabharata
Is based on the envy of Duryodana,
And on the virtuous life of Pandavas,
Who were saved by Krishna.

The moral of the story is
No good thing envy pays,
Excepting loss, destruction,
Death and total annihilation.
***
17/05. அழுக்காறு உடையார்க்கு அதுசாலும் ஒன்னார்
வழுக்கியும் கேடீன் பது.

17/05. Azhukkaaru udaiyaarkku adhusaalum onnaar
Vazhukkiyum kedeen badhu.

17/05. Even if enemy has not spoiled, envy is sure to spoil,
So, this is enough to spoil one with envy.
***
Disciple: Guruji: Envy is worst than an enemy,
Who is far better than a jealousy person.

Guru: Enemy has some principle
While envy has no principle,
One can believe enemy even
But not a jealousy person.

'Whatever God gives me
That is sufficient for me.'
If one is satisfied like this
How the question of envy arises?

So, if one has blind faith,
In God henceforth,
He'll be rid of envy
And can live happily.
***
17/06. கொடுப்பது அழுக்கறுப்பான் சுற்றம் உடுப்பதூஉம்
உண்பதூஉம் இன்றிக் கெடும்.

17/06. Koduppadhu azhukkrruppaan surrtrram uduppadhuum
Unnbadhuum indrik kedum.

17/06. A man helps others, but on seeing this scene, his relatives feel envy.
For this they will suffer, with no clothes to wear and no food to eat.
***
Disciple: Guruji, Relatives will not allow a person
To help liberally the needy, why?

Guru: Yes, this is because
Of the envy of relatives
Who wants to grab those things
For them only, not for others.

They're also afraid
If like this he disposed,
He may become pauper
And will run as a beggar.

So, they've dual interest
One concerning them
Another concerning him
And also the family's interest.
***

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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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