Old Tamil Poetry

Thirukkural – 1288

Though it causes shameful misery, dear to the reveler is toddy;
You rogue, so is your chest to me!

இளித்தக்க இன்னா செயினும் களித்தார்க்குக் 
கள்ளற்றே கள்வநின் மார்பு.

This couplet is in the chapter ‘Desire for reunion’ – ‘புணர்ச்சி விதும்பல்’. He has been away for long and is now back. She was angry with him for deserting her, but now that he is back all her anger vanishes. She says, “Though toddy makes one behave shamelessly and causes misery, it is still desired by the reveler. Similarly, though I remember the untold misery you have caused me, you rogue, I still desire to embrace your chest”

இளி – shame
இன்னா – misery
களித்தார் – reveler
கள் – toddy
கள்வ – rogue

Thirukkural – 600

Resolute will is one’s real strength; those who lack it
Are just trees, only their form is human.

உரம் ஒருவற்கு உள்ள வெறுக்கை; அஃது இல்லார்
மரம்; மக்கள் ஆதலே வேறு.

A person’s real strength is the strength of his spirit. Those who lack that strength ar just like trees. Only difference between trees and them is they are in human form.

உரம் – strength
உள்ள வெறுக்கை – big heart / resolute will

Thirukkural – 751

To make even the unworthy into men of worth,
Is possible only for wealth and nothing else.

பொருளல் லவரைப் பொருளாகச் செய்யும்
பொருளல்ல தில்லை பொருள்.

பொருள் அல்லவரைப் பொருளாகச் செய்யும்
பொருள் அல்லது, இல்லை பொருள்.

Even the unworthy& uncouth will be considered as men of worth as long as they are wealthy. Other than wealth there is nothing in this world that can make this happen.

There’s a wordplay in this couplet. பொருள் = Wealth,Thing or Worth. It’s impossible to bring that in translation.

Thirukkural – 1116

Unable to tell the moon and this girl’s face apart,
Stars up in the sky dart about.

மதியும் மடந்தை முகனு மறியா
பதியிற் கலங்கிய மீன்.

They’re meeting at night. The stars flicker and move. He says the stars are confused between her bright face and the moon , hence are moving about.

மதி – Moon
பதி – place of residence (sky)
கலங்கிய – agitated / flustered
மீன் – விண்மீன் – stars

Thirukkural – 591

One who is motivated, is said to have it all; Without it,
whatever else one has, does he have it at all?

உடையர் எனப்படுவது ஊக்கம்; அஃது இல்லார்
உடையது உடையரோ, மற்று?

Motivation is the most important possession one can have. One who has it is said to have it all. People might have obtained wealth and position by inheritance or circumstances. But if they lack the spirit, then it is as good as not possessing any.

Thirukkural – 337

Whether they’ll be alive the next moment they don’t know,
Yet they fret over a million things and more.

ஒருபொழுதும் வாழ்வ தறியார் கருதுப
கோடியு மல்ல பல.

People don’t know whether they will be alive for the next moment. Yet they think and worry over a million things and more.

The Tamil verse says கோடி – crore (10 million), I’ve use million for better reading in English.

பொழுது – day. So Parimel Azhagar interprets it as ‘end of the day’. Devaneya Paavaanar interprets it as ‘நொடிப் பொழுது’ – a moment. I have gone with his interpretation.

Thirukkural – 608

If laziness takes residence in a noble clan,
It will enslave them to their foes.

மடிமை குடிமைக்கண் தங்கின், தன் ஒன்னார்க்கு
அடிமை புகுத்திவிடும்.

If a ruler born in a noble clan lets laziness enter, he will lose control and become a slave to his enemies.

மடிமை – laziness
குடிமை – clan
ஒனானார் – those against / enemies
அடிமை – slave

Thirukkural – 1206

Thinking of days when I was one with him do I live;
How else can I still be alive?

மற்று யான் என் உளேன் மன்னோ! அவரொடு யான்
உற்ற நாள் உள்ள, உளேன்.

He has been away a long time.Her friend asks her to forget him and the affair. She replies, “How can I forget? The only way I’m alive is by remembering those days of bliss when we were in embrace. What else keeps me alive?”