Tirukkural Chapter 89 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 89 - உட் பகை
CHAPTER 89 - INTERNAL ENEMIES
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89/07. செப்பின் புணர்ச்சிபோல் கூடினும் கூடாதே
உட்பகை உற்ற குடி.

89/07. Seppin punnarchchipoal koodinum koodaadhe
Utpaghai utrra kudi.

89/07. If in a family internal enemies are there,
they will have no unity like vessels
kept one above the other but are not
attached to each other.
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Harshini: Though vessels are kept one above the other,
Those are not attached together.

Nalini: When they have internal enmity
No one will have any pity.
Each one will claim their right,
And to get it, they will fight.

If they stand divided
And do not stand united,
It is easy for outsiders,
To spoil those insiders.

Internal disputes, if any,
Or, internal enemies, if any,
Must be solved then and there
Without dragging it forever.
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89/08. அரம்பொருத பொன்போலத் தேயும் உரம்பொருது
உட்பகை உற்ற குடி.

89/08. Aramporudha ponpolath theyum uramporudhu
Utpagai utrra kudi.

89/08. In a family having internal enemies,
there will be no co-operation day by day,
Just like an iron piece cut by a saw slowly.
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Harshini: Iron is strong, but it can be cut by a saw
Like that a strong family can be split by internal enmity.

Nalini: If a piece of strong iron
Can be cut by a slender saw,
A family's strong unity,
Can be split by their enmity.

When one was born
Nothing was brought by him
Or at the time of death
Nothing is taken with him

In between his birth,
And his ensuing death,
They create internal enemies,
Just for division of properties.
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89/09. எட்பகவு அன்ன சிறுமைத்தே ஆயினும்
உட்பகை உள்ளதாம் கேடு.

89/09. Etpagavu anna sirrumaiththe aayinum
Utpagai ulladhaam kedu.

89/09. If the internal enmity is of a small sesame seed size,
that is enough to spoil a family relationship.
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Harshini: It is not the size that counts.
The dispute may be the size of a mustard seed,
Yet, that is sufficient to spoil a family unity.

Nalini: Even a small dispute
Can make a family split,
As each one has his or her ego.
That will never let it go.

It may lead to a divorce,
Of a couple having difference,
Or it may lead to a fight
In the crowded open street.

Some even take knife to kill
And prefer to go to jail,
Rather than compromising
Small issues that are hanging.
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89/10. உடம்பாடு இலாதவர் வாழ்க்கை குடங்கருள்
பாம்போடு உடனுறைந் தற்று.

89/10. Udampaadu ilaadhavar vazhkkai kudangkarull
Pambhodu udanurraindh thatrru.

89/10. If a family lives without mental harmony
It is like living with a cobra in a small room.
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Harshini: Always a cobra will be hissing in an attacking mood.
Like that if a family lives rubbing each other on the wrong side,
what will happen then?

Nalini: A cobra is hissing rarely,
But a family is fighting daily,
For one reason or the other,
With no peace prevailing there.

They disturb their neighbors.
There is no internal peace,
Only internal enmity remains.
What kind of family is this?

To these unsolved questions
Of their tired neighbors
Who can find proper answers
When they create nuisance?
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