Tirukkural Chapter 40 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 40 - Couplets 7,8,9,10



திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 40 - கல்வி
CHAPTER 40 - ON EDUCATION
***
40/07. யாதானும் நாடாமால் ஊராமால் என்னொருவன்
சாந்துணையும் கல்லாத வாறு?

40/07. Yaadhaanum naadaamaal uooraamaal ennoruvan
Saanthunnaiyum kalladha vaarru?

40/07. For an educated man, besides his country, all other countries will become his own.
In that case why one is spending his life time without education?
***
Sita: An educated man wherever he goes, people will respect him.

Lakshmi: Yes Sita, An educated man carries respect,
He goes in the world, whichever is its part,
But an uneducated has no interest
In his life time, to pursue it.

Most of the illiterates
Are in the labor classes,
Who put their thumb impressions,
As they can't even sign papers.

If they've minimum education,
Better their life will shine,
But they drink and lie down,
At the end of the day soon.
***
40/08. ஒருமைக்கண் தான்கற்ற கல்வி ஒருவற்கு
எழுமையும் ஏமாப்பு உடைத்து.

40/08. Orumaikkann thaankatrra kalvi oruvarrkku
Ezhumaiyum aemappum udaiththu.

40/08. One's education in his present life will
Be carried over to help him in his next seven lives.
***
Sita: One cannot steal other's education
Though he steal other's wealth.

Lakshmi: One carries his experiences,
In his coming several births,
Along with that his education
Also is carried over to join.

Some children are smart,
In picking up lessons,
And some show no interest
At all in their studies.

So, education is must,
If life should be best.
Better children start,
At the right age for it.
***
40/09. தாம்இன் புறுவது உலகின் புறக்கண்டு
காமுறுவர் கற்றறிந் தார்.

40/09. Thaamin burrvadhu ulagin purrakkanndu
Kaamurruvar katrrarindh dhaar.

40/09. Educated happy persons go for further studies
To make others also happy in listening to their lectures.
***
Sita: The duty of an educated person is
To make others also study like him.

Lakshmi: The value of one's education is lost,
If he doesn't create any interest
In other uneducated persons
To learn minimum subjects.

As he's very happy
He must make them happy
By imparting training
In the art of learning.

If this is gradually done,
The society will shine,
Without that silly word
‘Uneducated' in the land.
***
40/10. கேடில் விழுச்செல்வம் கல்வி ஒருவற்கு;
மாடல்ல மற்றை யவை.

40/10. Kedil vizhuchselvam kalvi oruvarrkku
Madalla matrrai yavai.

40/10. One's indestructible wealth is education.
Other wealth is not superior and also not permanent.
***
Sita: Education is superior wealth and remains permanently.

Lakshmi: Education is more important
To make one competent
In solving many problems,
Which are confronting him.

So, of all the available wealth,
The most superior wealth
Is education on this earth,
All must learn before death.

Where Goddess Saraswathi is there
Goddess Lakshmi will not be there,
People used say like this.
May be true in some cases!

(Note: Saraswati is Goddess of Education
Lakshmi is Goddess of Wealth)
***

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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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