Thirukkural – 233
There’s nothing eternal in this world,
except peerless fame.
ஒன்றா வுலகத் துயர்ந்த புகழல்லாற்
பொன்றாது நிற்பதொன் றில்.
Old Tamil Poetry
Translations of Tamil Poetic works that span 2000 years
Archive for the category “Padhinen Keel Kanakku”
Naanmanik Kadigai – 19
If husband is upset, his doe eyed wife is rattled;
if a scholar is upset, his learning is rattled;
if the ruled are upset, ruler is rattled;
if harp strings are upset, song is rattled.
பெற்றான் அதிர்ப்பின், பிணை அன்னாள்தான் அதிர்க்கும்;
கற்றான் அதிர்ப்பின், பொருள் அதிர்க்கும்; பற்றிய
மண் அதிர்ப்பின், மன்னவன் கோல் அதிர்க்கும்;
பண் அதிர்ப்பின், பாடல் அதிர்ந்துவிடும்.
Naanmanik Kadigai, is a collection of 101 poems written by Vilambi Naganar. This collection is considered to have been written at the same time as Silappathikaaram, around 2nd Century AD. All poems in this collection are advisory in nature. They contain 4 phrases connected by a common underlying meaning. Hence the name Naan (four) mani (gem) kadigai (fragment). Their meaning is direct and easily understood.
Naaladiyaar – 280
Earning is a pain; guarding the earned wealth
Is even more of a pain;
It’s a pain if it erodes or guards fail;
Wealth is a repository of pain.
ஈட்டலுந் துன்பமற் றீட்டிய வொண்பொருளைக்
காத்தலும் ஆங்கே கடுந்துன்பம் – காத்தல்
குறைபடில் துன்பம் கெடில்துன்பம் துன்பக்கு
உறைபதி மற்றைப் பொருள்.
This Naaladiyaar poem is under the chapter “Not donating” (ஈயாமை). To earn wealth one undergoes much pain. But one cannot rest easy after earning wealth. To guard the earned wealth is painful. One has to be watchful about it. If the wealth erodes or the safeguards fail, it causes pain too. Wealth is nothing but a repository of misery. The poet asks why go to such hassles to save wealth instead of distributing it. Not surprising since Naaladiyaar is an anthology of poems by Jain monks.
ஈட்டல் – earn
துன்பம் – pain / misery
ஒண்பொருள் – great wealth
காத்தல் – To guard
குறை படில் – if (safeguards) fail
கெடில் – goes bad / erodes
உறைபதி – residing place / repository
Thirukkural – 1114
If lilies could see, they’ll droop, convinced
‘we’re no match to this bedecked girl’s eyes’
காணின், குவளை கவிழ்ந்து நிலன் நோக்கும்-
‘மாணிழை கண் ஒவ்வேம்!’ என்று.
If Lily flowers could see, they will droop down saying we are no match to this beautiful jewel wearing girl’s eyes. Purple lily buds (குவளை மொட்டு) has been repeatedly used as a simile for eyes in Tamil literature. The picture below is of a trout lily bud.
காணின் – if (it) could see
குவளை – lily
மாணிழை – மாண் + இழை – glorious jewellery (wearing girl)
ஒவ்வேம் – ஒவ்வ மாட்டோம் – will not match
Thiukkural – 1328
Should I feign a tiff to find again – the sweat on her brow
that appeared when we made love!
ஊடிப் பெறுகுவம்கொல்லோ-நுதல் வெயர்ப்பக்
கூடலின் தோன்றிய உப்பு!
Her brow sweats due to their lovemaking. He thinks should I mock fight with her so her brow sweats again, that is extend their time together
Thirukkural – 544
The world fastens itself to the ruler
who rules nurturing his subjects.
குடி தழீஇக் கோல் ஓச்சும் மா நில மன்னன்
அடி தழீஇ நிற்கும், உலகு.
Naaladiyaar – 118
Though cows are of different colours,
Milk they produce does not differ;
Virtue is of constant nature, like milk,
Though paths to it are different, like cows.
ஆ வேறு உருவின ஆயினும், ஆ பயந்த
பால் வேறு உருவின அல்லவாம்; பால்போல்
ஒருதன்மைத்து ஆகும் அறம்; நெறி, ஆபோல்,
உருவு பலகொளல்,ஈங்கு.
Though cows may come in different colours, the milk they all produce is not of different colour. Similarly, virtue is unchanging. One may follow different paths to reach it, but what is right always remains right.
Thirukkural – 554
Unjust ruler who acts recklessly, will lose
both his prosperity and citizenry’s respect.
கூழுங் குடியும் ஒருங்கிழக்கும் கோல்கோடிச்
சூழாது செய்யும் அரசு.
கோல்கோடி – With bent scepter / deviating from justice – unjust
சூழாது செய்யும் – acting without thinking of consequences – recklessly
Thirukkural – 1159
Fire singes only when touched; can it scorch
when out of reach, like lust does?
தொடிற்சுடி னல்லது காமநோய் போல
விடிற்சுட லாற்றுமோ தீ
Lust will scorch you when you’re away from your lover, unlike fire which will burn you only when you touch it.
Thirukkural – 1134
Rushing flood of lust sweeps away
the rafts of modesty and gallantry.
காமக் கடும்புன லுய்க்குமே நாணொடு
நல்லாண்மை யென்னும் புணை.
Modesty and gallantry are rafts for one to cross this life. But in the face of forceful lust, these are washed away.
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