Tirukkural Chapter 48 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 48 - வலி அறிதல்.
CHAPTER 48 - KNOWING STRENGTH.
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48/07. ஆற்றின் அளவறிந்து ஈக; அதுபொருள்
போற்றி வழங்கும் நெறி.

48/07. Aatrrin allavarrindhu eega; adhuporull
Potrri vazhangum nerri.

48/07. One should know the strength of his wealth before donating to others.
This is the proper procedure to safeguard his money.
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Bhushan: It's like charity begins at home
And it should not end there.

Chaitanya: One should know the strength
Of his self earned wealth.
Then only he can donate
To the needy from it.

Without knowing the strength
If he starts donating his wealth
One day he may become a broke
And help from others he has to seek.

Knowing a thing is good,
And doing it blindly is bad.
One must know his wealth
How much is its strength?
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48/08. ஆகாறு அளவிட்டது ஆயினும் கேடில்லை;
போகாறு அகலாக் கடை.

48/08. Agaarru allavittadhu aayinum kedillai;
Pogaarru agalaak kadai.

48/08. If one's expenses are not too much
Even if his income is small, there is no harm in it.
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Bhushan: One should spend within his income
Even if it is a small income.

Chaitanya: one cannot spend more than
His income; then he has to take a loan.
He should restrict his expenses
Within the available resources.

Saving money for future,
It's always for better,
As one becomes older
His needs will be more.

Wealth is big or small
One should save it well
And also help people
To the extent possible.
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48/09. அளவறிந்து வாழாதான் வாழ்க்கை உளபோல
இல்லாகித் தோன்றாக் கெடும்.

48/09. Allavarrindhu vaazhaadhaan vaazhkkai ullapola
Illaaghi thonrraak kedum.

48/09. One not adjusting to his income, it'll appear as if he is rich,
But it's a false appearance that will also disappear.
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Bhushan: Appearance is deceptive in case of a rich man
Who is not spending within his income.

Chaitanya: It's true, he'll be in street
One day for having over spent
His money above his income.
Now helpless he has become.

He still wants to maintain
That he's a rich man
After spending all his wealth
Not knowing earlier its strength.

One day when a pauper he becomes
Then he'll regret for his failures
That led him to this condition
Which is beyond his imagination.
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48/10. உளவரை தூக்காத ஒப்புர வாண்மை
வளவரை வல்லைக் கெடும்.

48/10. Ullavarai thookkaadha oppura vaannmai
Vallavarai vallaik kedum.

48/10. Without knowing how much wealth one has, if he distributes it to others
All his wealth will soon be lost.
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Bhushan: One should know his wealth before donating to others.

Chaitanya: One should know well
His wealth in greater detail,
To limit all his expenses
Within the available resources.

Not knowing if he donates,
To the needy all his monies,
His entire wealth will be lost
And he'll later on regret for it.

The poet repeats once again
That care should be taken
To know one's strength,
Before spending his wealth
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