Tirukkural Chapter 30 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 30 - வாய்மை
CHAPTER 30 - ON TRUTH
***
30/07. பொய்யாமை பொய்யாமை ஆற்றின் அறம்பிற
செய்யாமை செய்யாமை நன்று.

30/07. Poiyaamai poiyamai aarrtrin arrampirra
Seiyaamai seiyaamai nandru.

30/07. If one speaks always truth he can also follow other virtues for good.
If he tells lies, other virtues will become harmful.
***
Devan: One can practice all virtues including speaking truth.

Narayan: One should have that aim,
That speaking truth for him
Is of primary importance
Among all the virtues.

If he says, 'I'll speak truth
Until I leave this earth,
But I'll not give up stealing
As it gives my earning.'

Then it is of no use
As all the virtues
Will give him fame
If he follows them.
***
30/08. புறந்தூய்மை நீரான் அமையும்; அகந்தூய்மை
வாய்மையால் காணப் படும்.

30/08. Puranthoomai neeraan amaiyum; aganthoomai
Vaamaiyaal kaanap padum.

30/08. To remove dirt from body water is used.
If heart should be pure, when he speaks truth, it can be found.
***
Devan: Face is the index of the mind.

Narayan: Yes, from one's face
We can easily trace
His words are true or not.
Then we can judge his conduct.

He gives charity to others,
But if he speaks all lies,
The benefit of charitable act
Will, forever, be lost.

So, he should think twice,
Before he starts telling lies,
As he can be easily caught
Bu his own foolish act,
***
30/09. எல்லா விளக்கும் விளக்கல்ல; சான்றோர்க்குப்
பொய்யா விளக்கே விளக்கு.

30/09. Ellaa villakkum villakkala; Sandrorkkup
Poyyaa villakke vellakku.

30/09. All lamps removing darkness are not lamps.
For great men the truth is a lamp that removes darkness from the mind.
***
Devan: How nicely it is said that truth is a lamp for the wise men
That removes darkness from the mind?

Narayan: Yes, if the mind should be pure
A wise man must be sure
Of speaking the truth always
That keeps it free from lies.

Truth is a lamp that gives light,
To the mind to make it bright,
As lies keep it in darkness,
Never to come out of ignorance.

The truth is one and only.
Lies will become too many
When one lie he forgets,
He may tell more lies.
***
30/10. யாம்மெய்யாக் கண்டவற்றுள் இல்லை எனைத்தொன்றும்
வாய்மையின் நல்ல பிற.

30/10. Yammeiyaak kanndavatrrull illai enaiththondrum
Vaamaiyin nalla pirra.

30/10. There is no greater virtue than the truth.
This is what we have seen in all our scriptures.
***
Devan: What our scriptures say about the truth?

Narayan: Among all the divine virtues,
Truth is the best, every great man says,
And if this is known to all
The truth will shine well.

Like the one moon and one sun
The truth shines as only one,
Just like stars borrow light from one sun
From one truth, many lies take their origin.

All lies undergo many distortions
While going from place to place,
And the truth remains the same
From where, all the way, it came.
***