Tirukkural Chapter 27 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 27 -தவம்
CHAPTER 27 -PENANCE
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27/01.உற்றநோய் நோன்றல் உயிர்க்குறுகண் செய்யாமை
அற்றே தவத்திர்க்கு உரு.

27/01. Utrranoyi nonrral uyirkkurrukann seiyaamai
Atrre thvaththirkku uru.

27/01. To bear with one's sufferings and to avoid doing any harm
To other lives, both give shape to penance.
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Disciple: Guruji, How to do penance in the present atmosphere?

Guru: One need not go to forest.
Wherever one stays for rest,
There he can do penance,
Without any disturbance.

If you control yourself
All hardships in your life
And do not harm other lives
Both shape your penance.

Once forests were there
For old people to retire
And spend their days
In the spiritual ways.

But now in forests
Only wild animals
Are allowed to roam,
But not for a man's home.
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27/02. தவமும் தவமுடையார்க்கு ஆகும் அவம்அதனை
அஃதிலார் மேற்கொள் வது.

27/02. Thavamum thavamudaiyaarkkum aagum avamadhanai
Agdhilaar merrkoll vadhu.

27/02. Penance can be taken only by one who did virtuous deeds previously.
Others trying to do penance is a waste.
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Disciple: Who can do penance and who cannot?

Guru: One should control his mind,
With no thoughts of any kind,
Meditate on the divine force
To reach the state of peace.

Non-virtuous persons
Have various bad thoughts,
And in that disturbed mind,
Peace they cannot find.

Once mind is in peace,
One can do penance,
Calmly in the absence
Of mental disturbance.
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27/03. துறந்தார்க்குத் துப்புரவு வேண்டி மறந்தார்கொல்
மற்றை யவர்கள் தவம்.

27/03. Thurrandhaarkku thuppuravu vendi marrandharkol
Matrrai yavargal thavam.

27/03. Family people wishing to give food, shelter, to renounced persons
Have they perhaps forgotten to do penance?
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Disciple: There is no use for one thinking of doing penance.

Guru: Yes, it requires good practice
To do intensive penance.
By giving ascetic food, shelter,
One cannot do it better.

To keep the mind calm,
Any drug will do harm,
That's not meditation,
But taking slow poison.

Living in a market place,
One can also do penance
If by meditation he controls,
Both his mind and senses.
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