Tirukkural Chapter 34 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 34 - நிலையாமை
CHAPTER 34 - INSTABILITY
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34/01. நில்லாத வற்றை நிலையின என்றுணரும்
புல்லறி வாண்மை கடை.

34/01. Nillaadha vatrrai nilaiena endrunnarum
Pullarri vaannmai kadai.

34/01. To take unstable things as stable
Shows low knowledge and foolishness.
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Vinod: How can one take unstable things as stable?

Kishore: Mind is unstable always
With some wavering thoughts.
Like a pendulum it oscillates.
Occasionally agitated in remains.

Sometime we mistake
A rope for a snake
A lamp post for ghost
Water for mirage in desert.

These illusions are in mind.
They're stable so we find.
But they're just unstable
Cheating our eyes as stable.
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34/02. கூத்தாட்டு அவைக்குழாத்து அற்றே பெருஞ்செல்வம்
போக்கும் அதுவிளிந் தற்று.

34/02. Kooththaattu avaikkuzhaaththu atrre purunselvam
Pokkum adhuvillindh thatrru.

34/02. A man gets more wealth means it'll slowly fade away,
Like in a drama people gather slowly and all go away at the end.
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Vinod: It's true Kishore, money comes, but suddenly it vanishes.

Kishore: Yes Vinod, In between a man
Thinks his wealth is stable one
But when time comes
In one lot it disappears.

A good example the poet gives,
In a drama when it starts
People gather one by one.
At the end no one remains.

When he was born,
He brought no money
Or when he was gone,
He didn't carry money.
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34/03. அற்கா இயல்பிற்றுச் செல்வம்; அதுபெற்றால்
அற்குப ஆங்கே செயல்.

34/03. Arrkaa iyalbitrruch selvam; adhupetrraal
Arrkuba aangey seyal.

34/03. Wealth is not stable. If it comes
Do virtuous deeds which are stable.
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Vinod: Money comes and goes.
Also poverty comes and goes.

Kiahore: Wealth and poverty both are
Unstable as they move here and there,
Making a poor, a rich man,
And a rich, a poor man.

Where there is money
Problems will be many,
But a rich man should be able
To face both, as they're unstable.

Virtuous deeds will help him,
To solve his every problem,
What the money creates
When its due turn comes.
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