Tirukkural Chapter 99 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 99 - சான்றாண்மை
CHAPTER 99 - GOOD CONDUCT
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99/07. இன்னாசெய் தார்க்கும் இனியவே செய்யாக்கால்
என்ன பயத்ததோ சால்பு?

99/07. Innaasei dharkkum iniyave seiyaakkaal
Enna bayathatho saalbu.

99/07. If one does not do good to a man who has harmed him
What is the use of his having good conduct?
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Aruna: It is just like saying if one slaps you on your left cheek
Show him your right cheek.

Nirmala: "If one has harmed you
You don't harm him, "
This is what the poet says
Repeatedly in his couplets.

For a man who did harm,
One must be good to him,
That will open his eyes,
Then his mistake, he'll realize.

The "Tit for Tat" tendency
Doesn't show any mercy
And one's retaliation is not
A sign of good conduct.
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99/08. இன்மை ஒருவற்கு இளிவன்று சால்பென்னும்
திண்மையுண் டாகப் பெறின்.

99/08. Inmai oruvarrkku illivandrru saalbennum
Thinnmaiyunn daagap perrin.

99/08. Poverty does not reduce
A strong person of good conduct.
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Aruna: If one is mentally strong,
He doesn't mind if he is rich or poor.

Nirmala: That shows his good conduct,
When he doesn't mind it
If he is reduced to poverty,
But still maintaining his dignity.

A man who was helping financially,
After poverty, he'll help physically.
His helping nature will not disappear,
That is his inborn good nature.

Many Kind hearted rich people
Have constructed free hospitals,
Donated money to temples,
As well as charitable trusts.
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99/09. ஊழி பெயரினும் தாம்பெயரார் சான்றாண்மைக்கு
ஆழி எனப்பாடு வார்.

99/09. Great persons who have ocean of good conduct,
Will not lose their good conduct
Even if an era is coming to a close
Disturbing the whole world.
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Aruna: Let the world comes to an end,
But still great men will not lose their good conduct.

Nirmala: This is what the poet says,
"Great men will remain great always
Even if the era comes to a close
Throwing the world into deep seas."

Good conduct is in their blood
And they always feel it proud
That generation after generation
It is passed on from parents to sons.

Overnight one cannot be good,
Unless it is in their blood,
Brought up from their childhood,
To be too good, even if someone is bad.
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99/10. சான்றவர் சான்றாண்மை குன்றின் இருநிலந்தான்
தாங்காது மன்னோ பொறை.

99/10. If good people reduce their level of good conduct
It will appear as if this earth is unable to bear its entire load.
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Aruna: Good people are of settled characters
And they can't change their habits
Of being good to others.

Nirmala: The earth bears heavy load,
And it doesn't at any time mind,
Like that, good men won't bother
Even if the world is no more there.

Habits die hard and good persons
Cannot change their good habits,
And if they drop their good conduct,
It'll be like earth shedding its overload.

As it is, the earth will keep its load,
And good people will ever be good,
Unless some extraordinary incidents,
In the distant future that may take place.
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