Tirukkural Chapter 43 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 43 -அறிவுடைமை
CHAPTER 43 - ON KNOWLEDGE
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43/07. அறிவுடையார் ஆவது அறிவார்; அறிவிலார்
அஃதறி கல்லா தவர்.

43/07. Arrivudaiyaar aavadhu arrivaar; arrivilaar
Akdharri kallaa dhavar.

43/07. A wise man knows in advance what will happen?
A fool knows only after it had happened.
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Chandran: That is difference between a wise man and a fool.

Madhavan: There are three types
Of mindset persons,
In the world of wisdom
To differentiate them.

There was a pond full of water,
One fish swam out, before summer,
To a big lake thro' a canal
As it knew water will go to bottom level.

The second fish wanted to go out
At the time when summer starts
But it was caught in a net,
As the water level, down it went.

The water dried up in the heat.
The third fish was caught
By a vulture easily,
As the water dried up fully.

The story is based on Tamil saying:
வரும் முன் காப்போன்.
வருகின்ற பொழுது காப்போன்.
வந்த பின் காப்போன்.

One takes care before time.
One takes care at the time.
One takes care after the time.
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43/08. அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சாமை பேதைமை; அஞ்சுவது
அஞ்சல் அறிவார் தொழில்.

43/08. Anjuvadhu anjaamai pedhamai; anjuvadhu
Anjal arrivaar thozhil.

43/08. Where one should fear, if he is not afraid, it is foolishness.
Where one should fear, if he fears it is his wisdom.
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Chandran: One knows fire will burn his finger,
If he touches it wantonly, he is a fool.

Madhavan: Knowledge gives one,
A power of discretion,
By which he can make out,
What is good in his interest?

Where angels fear, devils tread.
Like this, a fool is not afraid
Where a wise man is afraid to act
But the fool is not correct.

When a light comes in
Darkness goes out.
When knowledge comes in
Ignorance goes out.
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43/09. எதிரதாக் காக்கும் அறிவினார்க்கு இல்லை
அதிர வருவதோர் நோய்.

43/09. Edhiradhak kaakkum arrivinaarkku illai
Adhira varuvadhor noay.

43/09. A wise man safeguards him-self against dangers ahead,
But he never gets any dangerous harms.
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Chandran: Knowledge is necessary at least to protect one from dangers.

Madhavan: Yes, you're correct,
But fools don't think like that.
They burn their fingers,
And then regret for their failures.

A man of wisdom knows
Sufficiently in advance
What kind of harms
He's likely to face?

So, knowledge is essential
If one's life must shine well,
If not, his life will be in hell,
By remaining idle like a fool.
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43/10. அறிவுடையார் எல்லாம் உடையார்; அறிவிலார்
என்னுடைய ரேனும் இலர்.

43/10. Arivudaiyaar ellaam udaiyaar; arrivilaar
Ennudaiya renum ilar.

43/10. A man of wisdom has nothing, but he has everything
A fool has everything, but he has nothing.
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Chandran: What is the difference between a fool and a wise?

Madhavan: A fool may be rich,
But his heart is poor,
While a wise may be poor,
But his heart is rich.

"Beware of dogs, " this board
Hangs over a fool's doors,
"All are welcome, " this board
Hangs over a wise's doors.

A fool with wealth,
Sleeps not at nights.
A wise with no wealth,
Sleeps well at nights.
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