Tirukkural Chapter 34 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 34 - நிலையாமை
CHAPTER 34 - INSTABILITY
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34/04. நாள்என ஒன்றுபோல் காட்டி உயிர்ஈரும்
வாளது உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்.

34/04. Naallena ondrupol kaatti uyireerum
Valladhu unnarvaarp perin.

34/04. It appears that each day moves happily,
But the time cuts shorts one's life with its sword bit by bit.
***
Vinod: Time and tide wait for no man.
Both are unstable, moving on and on.

Kiahore: To say time is unstable,
Life also in not stable,
Time is shortening it
Miniute by minute.

If one is time conscious,
Life is unstable, he knows.
Also he's aware of his happiness,
That remains with him for a few days.

So, every day is a lesson
For him to learn
What's stable?
What's unstable?
***
34/05. நாச்செற்று விக்குள்மேல் வாராமுன் நல்வினை
மேற்சென்று செய்யப் படும்.

34/05. Naachchetru vikkullmel vaaraamun nalvinai
Merrchendru seiyap padum.

34/05. Before the tongue paralyzes and hiccup starts,
One should go forward to do virtuous deeds.
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Vinod: What is the use of saying ‘Sankara Sankara, '
Just before dying?

Kishore: You can see a notice
Hanging in some shops,
'Cash today cash, credit tomorrow'
That means no credit sales.

Like this 'Today no good deed,
But tomorrow good deed, '
Like this, if one declares,
Will there be good deeds?

If you want to do it tomorrow,
Do it today.
If you want to do it today
Do it now.
(This what elders say!)
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34/06. நெருநல் உளன்ஒருவன் இன்றில்லை என்னும்
பெருமை உடைத்திவ் வுலகு.

34/06. Nerunal ullanoruvan inrrillai ennum
Perumai udaiththiv vulagu.

34/06. Yesterday he was alive. Today he is no more.
The world says so of the unstable life.
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Vinod: This shows life is unstable
Any moment it can disappear.

Kishore: There is one song, 'Oh you body!
You're false, just a bag of air inside.'
'காயமே இது பொய்யடா
காற்றைடைத்த பையடா.' (In Tamil)

Some will say, 'It's a bag of bones,
Life is just a spark that moves
Into action the whole body
Till the date of its expiry.'

We feel sun and moon are moving.
We think earth is not moving.
But, in reality, it is not so
Earth only moves, we all know.

When we see in the horizon,
The sun and moon come down
And dive deep into the ocean
But, we know, it's an illusion.
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