Tirukkural Chapter 33 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 33 - Couplets 7,8,9,10

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 33 - கொல்லாமை
CHAPTER 33 - NOT KILLING
***
33/07. தன்னுயிர் நீப்பினும் செய்யற்க தான்பிறிது
இன்னுயிர் நீக்கும் வினை.

33/07. Thannuyir neeppinum seiyarrkka thaanpirridhu
Innuyir neekkum vinai.

33/07. Even one's life will be lost,
He shouldn't take out other man's life.
***
Prabhu: What a noble act to say
One should save another life at the cost his life.

Nataraj: There were several heroes
Who went to do rescue services
But they died saving other lives
And thus became martyrs.

A boy was drowning in the sea
People around did see
But couldn't rush there
For fear of the deep sea.

One brave man went
And pulled the boy out,
But in that rescuing process,
He was swallowed by waves.

How many fire fighters
Laid down their lives
When the fire fighting
Operation was going?
***
33/08. நன்றாகும் ஆக்கம் பெரிதெனினும் சான்றோர்க்குக்
கொன்றாகும் ஆக்கம் கடை.

33/08. Nanrraagum aakkam peridheninum saandrorkkuk
Kondraagum aakkam kadai.

33/08. Some scriptures say that one can drop lives in sacrificial fire
To get good benefits, but great men consider such wealth as inferior.
***
Prabhu: Human sacrifices
Or animal sacrifices
Were practiced in olden days
For getting some benefits.

Lord Buddha stopped it
As it was a cruel act
But still some animals
Are offered in sacrifice.

But whatever benefits
From that one receives
Is considered low things
Got at the cost of other lives.
***
33/09. கொலைவினையர் ஆகிய மாக்கள் புலைவினையர்
புன்மை தெரிவார் அகத்து.

33/09. Kolaivinaiyar aagiya maakkall pulaivinaiyar
Punmai therivaar agaththu.

33/09. Those low class people in killing profession may not know
That it is the lowest one, wise men will consider it as meanest butcher's job.
***
Prabhu: Killing is not a profession
But it is meanest job of a butcher.

Nataraj: I agree, it just happens,
But they're called contract killers,
Engaged in killing persons
On regular cash paid basis.

It's a dirty profession
Merciless people run
All over the world,
Knowing well, it's bad.

Sin or no sin, a killer does it
With no mercy in his heart,
And then drinks to forget
How he did that cruel act.
***
33/10. உயிருடம்பின் நீக்கியார் என்ப செயிருடம்பின்
செல்லாத்தீ வாழ்க்கை யவர்.

33/10. Uyirudambin neekkiyaar enba seiyirudambin
Sellaaththee vaazhkkai yavar.

33/10. The poor people doing menial jobs with their sickly features
Are called by wise men as murderers in their previous births.
***
Prabhu: Murderers in their previous births
Are born poor doing meanest jobs in their present births

Nataraj: Had they done virtuous deeds
In their previous births
They may be in a better place
In their present births.

But how can a murderer
In his previous birth
Expect a position better
In his current birth?

With his sickly face,
Like a skeleton he looks,
Without any wealth,
Or even fair health.
***

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
Close
Error Success