Tirukkural Chapter 35 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 35 - துறவு
CHAPTER 35 - RENUNCIATION
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35/04. இயல்பாகும் நோன்பிற்கொன்று இல்லை; உடைமை
மயல்ஆகும் மற்றும் பெயர்ந்து.

35/04. Iyalbaakum nonbirrkondru illai; udaimai
Mayalaagum matrrum peyarndhu.

35/04. One who has renounced will have no desires.
If there is one desire, he'll lose his penance and be born again.
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Disciple: Is renunciation is so difficult?

Guru: Yes, one has to renounce all desires
For desires lead to many actions,
Actions lead to several habits
And his worldly life again starts.

He'll surrender to his senses,
That will create more desires,
The object of his renunciation
He'll not achieve then.

It's not easy to give up desires
As even renounced persons
Have mutts and offices
That leads them to wants.

They involve themselves
In several worldly affairs
And even join politics
In their saffron clothes.
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35/05. மற்றும் தொடர்ப்பாடு எவன்கொல்? பிறப்பறுக்கல்
உற்றார்க்கு உடம்பு மிகை.

35/05. Matrrum thodarppadu evankol? Pirrapparrukkal
Utrraarkku udambu migai.

35/05. A renounced person who wants no more births
Why he should involve himself with worldly things?
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Disciple: Guruji, why some ascetics involve themselves in worldly affairs?

Guru: They should not do like that
As such worldly affairs create
A chance for them to go for
Any single material desire.

This will spoil their penance,
Attached to their renunciation,
Pushing them from the spiritual side
Back to the material side.

So, renunciation is not an easy task
And one in million takes a risk
Of giving up all desires
Next to impossible that is.
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35/06. யான்எனது என்னும் செருக்கறுப்பான் வானோர்க்கு
உயர்ந்த உலகம் புகும்.

35/06. Yaanenadhu ennum serukkarruppaan vaanorkku
Uyarndha ulagam pugum

35/06. One has given up his self identity and his own things
Will reach that place where even celestial beings cannot reach.
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Disciple: Guruji, one should give his self identity and his things
As part of his penance, is it not?

Guru: If he says, ‘I' every time,
Self identity it becomes.
If he keeps things with him
Then he's attached to them.

It's like in a circus
A skilled person walks
Over a tight rope
Balancing himself up.

If there is a slight turn
He'll fall deep down.
Like this, an ascetic falls
If there is one move false.
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