Old Tamil Poetry

Translations of Tamil Poetic works that span 2000 years

Archive for the month “May, 2020”

27 May 2020
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Manimekalai – 26 : 228 -230

If you ask what is virtue, listen carefully –
To provide food, clothes and shelter to all living beings
Is virtue; I haven’t known any other definition

அறம்எனப் படுவது யாதுஎனக் கேட்பின்
மறவாது இதுகேள் மன்உயிர்க்கு எல்லாம் 
உண்டியும் உடையும் உறையுளும் அல்லது 
கண்டது இல்

Manimekalai is a Buddhist Epic and is counted among the 5 great epics of Tamil literature. In this verse Manimekalai advices Aputra, the ruler of Manipallavam Island to rule his country in a righteous manner. “If you ask me what is the virtue of a ruler, I’ll tell you this. Listen carefully. To ensure food, clothes and shelter of all living beings is the virtue of a ruler. I haven’t found any other definition for virtue of a ruler”

அறம் – righteousness / virtue

மறவாது – without fail / carefully

மன் உயிர் – all living beings / humanity

உண்டி – food

உடை – dress

உறை – shelter

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15 May 2020

Thirukkural – 1177

Grieving, grieving, let tears dry up now
In eyes that longingly looked at him in love.

உழந்துழந் துண்ணீ ரறுக விழைந்திழைந்து
வேண்டி யவர்கண்ட கண்.

She hasn’t seen him in a long time and is crying. She curses her eyes that cry saying “You were the one that looked at him longingly and fell in love. You deserve all the pain. May you shed so many tears in grief that your tears dry up”

உழந்து உழந்து உள்நீர் அறுக-விழைந்து இழைந்து
வேண்டி அவர்க் கண்ட கண்!

உழத்தல் – to suffer / grieve
உள்நீர்  – inner water / tears
அறுக – let dry
விழைதல் – to wish / long
இழை – be intimate / love
வேண்டி  – wanting

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11 May 2020
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Pazhamozhi 400 – 282

Wealthy is one who safeguards his wealth;
That wealth itself will safeguard him;
A residing tiger protects the forest;
In turn, forest protects the tiger.

உடையதனைக் காப்பான் உடையான்; அதுவே
உடையானைக் காப்பதூஉம் ஆகும்;-அடையின்,
புதற்குப் புலியும் வலியே; புலிக்குப்
புதலும் வலியாய்விடும்.

One becomes wealthy by safeguarding his wealth. In turn the wealth will safe guard him. Like how a tiger residing in a forest protects the forest. People are afraid of the tiger and don’t venture into the forest. At the same time, the dense forest offers protection to the tiger

உடையது – possession / wealth
உடையான் – who owns / wealthy
அடை – reside
புதல் – thicket / low jungle
வலி – strength / protection

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