Tirukkural Chapter 73 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 73 - Couplets 7,8,9,10

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 73 - அவை அஞ்சாமை
CHAPTER 73 - NOT AFRAID OF ASSEMBLY
***
73/07. பகையகத்து பேடிகை ஒள்வாள் அவையகத்து
அஞ்சு மவன்கற்ற நூல்.

73/07. Pagaiyagaththu pedigai ollvaall avaiyagaththu
Anju mavankatrra nool.

73/07. A coward, who is afraid of war, like a woman,
His holding a sword is of no use.
All the scriptures one has learnt are a waste
When he is afraid of an assembly of wise men.
***
Gangadhar: The poet is telling repeatedly
That one's education is a waste
If he has stage fear to talk.

Mukul: Normally anyone feels like that
When an educated man hesitates
To talk with educated audience
For his lack of experience.

If he can't communicate
With another wise literate,
Any person will feel that
His education is a waste.

What is the use of a sword
When a soldier is afraid
Of fighting in the midst of war,
That can be justified how far?
***
73/08. பல்லவை கற்றும் பயமிலரே நல்லவையுள்
நன்கு செலச்சொல்லா தார்.

73/08. Pallavai katrrum bamilare nallavaiyull
Nangu selachchollaa dhaar.

73/08. A person who have learnt all the scriptures is useless to the world
if he cannot talk in the assembly of wise men due to stage fear.
***
Gangadhar: The poet says he is useless because of his stage fear,
As he cannot express himself to the outside world.

Mukul: What the poet says is correct.
If an educated man hesitates
To talk in midst of wise men,
What's the use of his education?

He's a burden on this world,
When he is not bold
To talk on the stage
Before men of knowledge.

He must change his attitude,
And on stage come forward
To talk before educated men,
Without fear or tension.
***
73/09. கல்லா தவரின் கடைஎன்ப கற்றறிந்தும்
நல்லார் அவையஞ்சு வார்.

73/09. Kallaa dhavarin kadaienba katrrarindhum
Nallaar avaiyanju vaar.

73/09. The world will criticize a person
Who has learnt many scriptures
But has stage fear stating
That he is inferior to an uneducated man.
***
Gangadhar: An educated man having stage fear
Is inferior to uneducated man,
As his education is of no use.

Mukul: What is the use of his education,
If he can't talk to wise men,
Who are the proper scholars
To judge his performances?

If he keeps his talents,
Not known to outsiders,
The world will condemn,
As he's an uneducated man.

The outside world will know,
Only when he can show,
With no fear, his talents,
To educated wise scholars.
***
73/10. உளர்எனினும் இல்லாரோடு ஒப்பர் களன்அஞ்சிக்
கற்ற செலச்சொல்லா தார்.

73/10. Ullareninum illaarodu oppar kallananjik
Katrra selachchollaa dhaar.

73/10. A learned person who has stage fear to talk is alive,
But the world will consider him as a dead person.
***
Gangadhar: The poet has gone to the extent of saying
That an educated man with stage fear is a dead person
Even though bodily he is still alive.

Mukul: It may be the poet's intention,
That every educated person,
With no stage fear, must come out
With his acquired talent.

The world will know then,
How many literate persons
Are there in nook and corner
Of the world of wise scholars.

He has gone too far to say
An educated man is alive today
But is considered as dead forever
When he can't talk, out of stage fear.
***

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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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