Tirukkural Chapter102 - Couplets 1,2,3 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 102 - நாணுடைமை
CHAPTER 102 - MODESTY
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102/01. கருமத்தால் நாணுதல் நாணுத் திருநுதல்
நல்லவர் நாணுப் பிற.

102/01. Karumaththaal naannudhal naannuth thirunudhal
Nallavar naannp pirra.

102/01. Modesty requires one not do disgraceful deeds.
Not that kind of shyness what a beautiful
Domestic girl has due to her modesty
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Akshara: One must feel shy of doing disgraceful deeds.

Dhanya: Modesty is not only for females,
Who look so beautiful,
But also required for males,
In not doing disgraceful deeds.

A man going after a woman,
Married or unmarried one,
Or whistling after her
Is a disgraceful affair.

Modesty is essential
For both boy and girl,
As it will be an act of shame,
Otherwise, for both of them.
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102/02. ஊண்உடை எச்சம் உயிர்க்கெல்லாம் வேறல்ல
நாணுடைமை மாந்தர் சிறப்பு.

102/02. Oonnudai echcham uyirkkellaam verralla
Naannudaimai maandhar sirrappu.

102/02. There is no major difference in food, dress etc., among all persons, But among all the best things, the difference is in their modesty.
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Akshara: There is a difference between man to man
In each one's modesty, the poet says.

Dhanya: One may have in modesty
Less or more, but in reality,
Both have it in extreme,
Not moderate, it does seem.

Modesty always wins people,
While rudeness always shuns people;
Too much of modesty is taken
For mere weakness of one.

Modesty must be moderate,
And not lie low to ground level,
But one must stand erect,
While he looks more humble.
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102/03. ஊனைக் குறித்த உயிரெல்லாம்; நாணென்னும்
நன்மை குறைத்தது சால்பு.

102/03. Oonaik kurriththa uyirellaam; naannennum
Nanmai kurraiththathu saalbhu.

102/03. Lives function based on their bodies.
Modesty that fears for blames is the highest
among good characters.
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Akshara: Circumstances makes one adopt modesty or rudeness.

Dhanya: Bodies depend upon lives
As no lives means no bodies,
So, there is no option it gives,
To choose either bodies or lives?

But modesty depends upon,
One's choice as a man,
Or be rude like an animal
That roams in the jungle.

The highest among characters,
Is modesty, the poet says,
Without which one is a bull
That knows nothing well.
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