Tirukkural Chapter 43 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 43 -அறிவுடைமை
CHAPTER 43 - ON KNOWLEDGE
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43/01. அறிவற்றம் காக்கும் கருவி; செறுவார்க்கும்
உள்ளழிக்கல் ஆகா அரண்.

43/01. Arrivatrram kaakkum karuvi; serruvaarkkum
Ullazhikkal aagaa arann.

43/01. Knowledge is a weapon that saves one from destruction
And also a fortress where no enemy can penetrate into it.
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Chandran: What is knowledge?

Madhavan: This knowledge one knows,
A blanket is covering it.
When you remove the blanket,
Of its own accord it unfolds.

How to remove the blanket?
Yes, by studying great scriptures,
Listening to good lectures,
And moving with scholars.

It protects one like a fortress,
Well guarded from enemies,
And he's safe from destruction
As it serves like a weapon.

Once you gain knowledge
You can well manage
Your life style very easily
And spend your time happily.
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43/02. சென்ற இடத்தால் செலவிடா தீதொரீஇ
நன்றின்பால் உய்ப்பது அறிவு.

43/02. Sendra idaththaal selavidaa theethoriee
Nandrrinpaal uyippadhu arrive.

43/02. Knowledge controls the mind without going astray
And it goes on the right path, after knowing well good and bad?
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Chandran: God gave five senses to animals
But six senses to all men, what for?

Madhavan: An animal goes by its instinct,
While a man uses his discretion inbuilt,
Whether it's good for him or not
He thinks twice and then begins to act.

It's the knowledge that keeps one
Steady in his every action,
Without his mind wavering,
And here and there wandering.

Thus knowledge takes one
In the right path chosen
For one's own good,
As against what's bad.
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43/03. எப்பொருள் யார்யார்வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு.

43/03. Epporull yaaryaarvaaik ketpinum apporull
Meipporull kaanbadhu arrive.

43/03. Knowledge means to find out the truth in every thing
Instead of believing what other say about it.
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Chandran: Believe not what others say, it may be true or not.

Madhavan: Yes, the truth one should find out
Instead of blindly believing it
Then only his knowledge will be perfect,
Otherwise it will be imperfect.

One man said, "Hare has got three legs"
Another man said, "Hare has got four legs."
The first one saw one with three legs.
The other one with four legs.

If you see with your own eyes,
You'll see a hare with four legs,
And you'll not believe anyone
Until the truth you've seen.
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