Tirukkural Chapter 89 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 89 - உட் பகை
CHAPTER 89 - INTERNAL ENEMIES
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89/01. நிழல்நீரும் இன்னாத இன்னா; தமர்நீரும்
இன்னாவாம் இன்னா செயின்.

89/01. Nizhalneerum innaadha innaa; thamarneerum
Innaavaam innaa seiyin.

89/01. If one's living place and familiar water
Make one fall sick, both are harmful.
Like this, if close relatives behave
Like internal enemies, they are bad people.
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Harshini: When the water or relatives are bad
They must be treated as internal enemies and thrown out.

Nalini: Sometime gutter water
Get mixed up with drinking water,
That polluted water creates
Several kinds of diseases.

Likewise, some close relatives
Behave like internal enemies,
Who must be thrown out
When they come to visit.

Better are the open enemies,
Who choose to fight in front,
Than those hideous relatives,
Who prefer to stab one's back.
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89/02. வான்போல் பகைவரை அஞ்சற்க; அஞ்சுக
கேள்போல் பகைவர் தொடர்பு.

89/02. Vaanpoal paghaivarai anjarka; anjugha
Kellpoal pagaivar thodarbhu.

89/02. One need not be afraid of an enemy, who stands outside with sword. But he must be careful with a friend, who behaves like an internal enemy.
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Hashini: An open enemy is better
Than a cunning friend.

Nalini: We know, when an enemy
Will attack us from front side?
But we know not, when our cunning friend,
Like an enemy, will stab us behind?

So, one must be very cautious,
About friends who're dangerous,
While selecting initially friends,
Who'll not, later on, turn as enemies.

The poet is giving a sound advice
To be more cautious
With internal enemies
Who're dangerous always.
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89/03. உட்பகை அஞ்சித்தற் காக்க; உலைவிடத்து
மட்பகையின் மாணத் தெறும்.

89/03. Utpagai anjeeththarr kaakka; ulaividaththu
Matpaghaiyin mannath therrum.
‘
89/03. One should safeguard himself with internal enemies.
Otherwise, like the potter's knife
That cuts open to remove wet pot's bottom,
The internal enemy will tear him down.
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Harshini: To remove the wet pot from the wheel
A potter uses his knife to cut it at its bottom.
Like that a friend like enemy will cut one to pieces.

Nalini: All are not friends to count upon.
Some may have love and affection.
Some others may be jealous,
With inside burning feelings.

So, one must carefully identify,
Who is his friend or enemy,
And take care of that enemy,
Who is not trustworthy.

Later on, he must not regret,
Why he failed to select,
Among them, good friends,
And to reject bad friends.
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