Tirukkural Chapter104 - Couplets 4,5,6 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 104 - உழவு.
CHAPTER 104 - ON AGRICULTURE
***
104/04. பலகுடை நீழலும் தம்குடைக்கீழ்க் காண்பர்
அலகுடை நீழ லவர்.

104/04. Palakudai neezhalum thamkudaikkeezhk kaanbar
Alakudai neezha lavar.

104/04. Farmers who rule the wealth of grains
will bring under their rule all others,
who rule varieties of wealth other than grains.
***
Jagmohan: A King or an army commander
He eats the food of a farmer.

Nikhil: So, they're farmers, who rule,
Over and above a King's rule,
As he also depends upon grains
Produced by these farmers.

God blessed all lives,
And farmers save all lives
So, they're next to God
In giving everyone food.

Other riches are of no use,
If farmers produce no grains,
And if there are no rains,
There will be no grains.
***
104/05. இரவார்; இரப்பார்க்கொன்று ஈவர் கரவாது;
கைசெய்தூண் மாலை யவர்.

104/05. Iravaar; ; irappaarkkondrru eevar karavaadhu
Kaiseithoonn maalai yavar.

104/05. Farmers eat out of their own labor and will not go for begging from others. If others ask for food, they will not hide but give something to eat.
***
Jagmohan: Farmers will eat what little they have
Without going for begging from others.

Nikhil: Yes, they're happy always,
With what little they've as grains,
They never go out for alms,
But they give food to others.

Most of them are very simple.
And are not very rich people,
In daily lives, they struggle much,
But their hearts are ever rich.

Sometime nature's furies,
Belie their expectations,
And they prefer to end their lives
Rather than begging for alms.
***
104/06. உழவினார் கைமடங்கின் இல்லை விழைவதூஉம்
விட்டேமென் பார்க்கும் நிலை.

104/06. Uzhavinaar kaimadangin illai vizhaivadhoom
Vittemen parkkum nilai.

104/06. If all farmers stop their farming activities,
there is no scope for living even for ascetics,
who have given up all their desires.
***
Jagmohan: Even ascetics who have given up
All their desires must live on food they eat.

Nikhil: If farmers stop growing trees,
Even ascetics can't eat fruits,
Which are their main intakes,
Out of their daily food items.

If they stop growing grains,
Ascetics starve once again
With no food preparations
As alternative to fruits.

So, it is the generous farmers,
Who support all lives,
To carry on in this world,
From their day one till end.
***

.