Thirukkural 1010 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

சீருடைச் செல்வர் சிறுதுனி மாரி
வறங்கூர்ந் தனையது உடைத்து.

Transliteration

Seerutaich Chelvar Sirudhuni Maari
Varangoorn Thanaiyadhu Utaiththu

English Translation

“The brief want of the rich benign Is like rainclouds growing thin”

Plain-English meaning

The short-lived poverty of those who are noble and rich is like the clouds becoming poor (for a while)

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

The brief want of the rich benign Is like rainclouds growing thin

G.U. Pope Translation

'Tis as when rain cloud in the heaven grows day,When generous wealthy man endures brief poverty

Plain-English Meaning

The short-lived poverty of those who are noble and rich is like the clouds becoming poor (for a while)

பிறர்க்குக் கொடுத்துப் புகழ்மிக்கவர் ஆகிய செல்வர்கள் சிறிது காலம் வறுமைப்பட நேர்ந்தால், அது மழை தரம் மேகமே வறுமைப்பட்டது போலாம்.

Chapter 101

நன்றியில் செல்வம்

Dead is he with wealth in pile Unenjoyed, it is futile

The niggard miser thinks wealth is all He hoards, gives not is born devil

A burden he is to earth indeed Who hoards without a worthy deed

What legacy can he leave behind Who is for approach too unkind

What is the good of crores they hoard To give and enjoy whose heart is hard

Great wealth unused for oneself nor To worthy men is but a slur

Who loaths to help have-nots, his gold Is like a spinster-belle grown old

The idle wealth of unsought men Is poison-fruit-tree amidst a town

Others usurp the shining gold In loveless, stingy, vicious hold

The brief want of the rich benign Is like rainclouds growing thin