Tirukkural Chapter 74 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 74 - நாடு
CHAPTER 74 - KINGDOM (COUNTRY)
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74/07. இருபுனலும் வாய்ந்த மலையும் வருபுனலும்
வல்லரணும் நாட்டிற்கு உறுப்பு.

74/07. Above the earth lake and tank water, below the surface well and spring water, around the country safe hills, from those hills waterfalls and strongly built up forts, these are all essential parts of a country.
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Madhav: The poet has given details
For a country's essential requirements.

Nagesh: The Mother Nature has given
A country adequate protection,
In the form of mountains and hills,
Lakes and waterfalls, around its borders.

Provision of a built up fort
Besides a wide-deep-moat
Gives some more safety,
Adding to country's beauty.

Despite all these things,
Now of no use, kings after kings,
They went out for ground wars
And broke these barriers.

But in the present day wars,
Of dropping powerful aerial bombs,
Manmade forts and natural lakes
Protections have lost their values.
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74/08. பிணியின்மை செல்வம் விளைவின்பம் ஏமம்
அணிஎன்ப நாட்டிற்கிவ் வைந்து.

74/08. Pinniyinmai selvam villaivinbam eamam
Annienba naattirrkkiv vaindhu

74/08. Disease free, wealth in abundance, grains in plenty,
opportunities for happiness, strong security, all these five
add to the prosperity of a country.
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Madhav: The poet goes on adding items after items
For the safety and beauty of a country.

Nagesh: Yes, he's highly descriptive,
In his verses in order to give,
Most of the requirements
Those were essential in his days.
(Some 2000 Years ago)

But in the modern wars,
Unlike those ground wars
Aerial wars are fought
To destroy all things outright.

A ground war is just,
Hit and run fight,
Not much of use,
Against aerial wars.
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74/09. நாடென்ப நாடா வளத்தன; நாடல்ல
நாட வளந்தரும் நாடு.

74/09. Naadenba naadaa vallththana; naadalla
Naada vallantharum naadu.

74/09. If a country's resources are natural, then it is the best
if the resources are from toil, then it is not the best.
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Madhav: There are some places where natural products
Are available in plenty without much toil or expenses.

Nagesh: Where natural products are in plenty
The poet says, it is the best country,
Where by toil those things are ready,
That is not the best country.

Where there is plenty of fuel oil
Food items are not available.
Where food products are available,
We don't get sufficient fuel oil.

So, what is the best in one product,
It is not the best in another product.
So, what is the deciding point
To say a country is the best?
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74/10. ஆங்கமைவு எய்தியக் கண்ணும் பயம்இன்றே
வேந்தமைவு இல்லாத நாடு.

74/10. Aangamaivu eaithiyak kannum bayamindre
Vendhamaivu illaadha naadu.

74/10. If there is no harmony between a King and his people
all the best stated earlier are nothing but a waste.
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Madhav: The poet ends with a tone of regret
That everything earlier said is a waste
When there is no harmony among
The people and the royal King.

Harmony is more important,
Than one or the other product,
As without products one can survive.
With no harmony, one can't happily live.

People must love the King,
Who must, in turn, do everything
That'll keep his subjects
In peace and happiness
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