Tirukkural Chapter 17 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 17 - Couplets 7,8,9,10

திருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 17 - அழுக்காறாமை
CHAPTER 17 - ON ENVY.
***
17/07. அவ்வித்து அழுக்காறு உடையானைச் செய்யவள்
தவ்வையைக் காட்டி விடும்.

17/07. Avvithu azhukkaarru udaiyaanaich seiyavall
Thavvaiyaik kaatti vidum.

17/07. One who envies other's wealth, Goddess Lakshmi will
Leave his house and send her elder sister Goddess Moodhevi to him.

(Laskshmi = Goddess of wealth and Moodhevi = Goddess of poverty)
***
Disciple: So, envy has got so much negative power?

Guru: Yes, it's the worst sin of all sins.
Most of the families it ruins.
Lakshmi is averse to envy
While Moodhevi gives poverty.

See how happy people are
When wealth is there?
And how unhappy they're
When poverty is there?

Now this is the reason
Why you should remain
Free from envy at all
For you should live well.
***
17/08. அழுக்காறு எனஒரு பாவி திருச்செற்றுத்
தீயுழி உய்த்து விடும்.

17/08. Azhukkarru enaoru paavi thiruchetrruth
Theeuzhi uyiththu vidum.

17/08. The word ‘Envy, ' the incomparable sinner, and its owner
Will spoil his wealth in this birth and lead him to hell next birth.
***

Disciple: How the ‘envy' leads one in this birth?

Guru: The ‘envy' is incomparable.
One's wealth, it'll spoil.
It'll lead one to hell
Like this, I can tell.

Not only in this birth
But also in the next birth
This envy will spoil one
Without any solution.

Better not envy others,
After hearing these words,
For the sake of peace
This is the poet's advice.
***
17/09. அவ்விய நெஞ்சத்தான் ஆக்கமும் செவ்வியான்
கேடும் நினைக்கப் படும்.

17/09. Avviya nenjathaan aakkamum sevviyaan
Kedum ninaikkap padum.

17/09. Why envious man gets wealth and a good man gets poverty,
Each case should be examined?
***
Disciple: Why a good man should suffer with poverty?

Guru: To generalize like that,
I feel, it's not correct,
As other reasons for it,
Not known, may exist.

Each individual case needs
A proper study to find out reasons
Why a good man suffers
While an envious man enjoys.

But in most of the cases
Envious man suffers
And a good man enjoys
That's the fact, know this.
***
17/10. அழுக்கற்று அகன்றாரும் இல்லை; அஃதில்லார்
பெருக்கத்தின் தீர்ந்தாரும் இல்.

17/10. Azhukkatru agannrraarum illai; agdhillaar
Perukkaththin theerndharum ill.

17/10. None has become a big wealthy man with his envy
Nor a man who does not envy lost his big wealth.
***
Disciple: Please explain in simple words these lines.

Guru: Envy thrives one never.
Fortune abandons one never
One should be free from both
To live happily on this earth.

On the whole one should,
Lead a life that is good,
Not to entertain envy,
Nor about one wealthy.

Be simple always.
Never judge others.
Envy not anyone.
Be a happy man.
***

Wednesday, August 10, 2016
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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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