Thirukkural 1038 in English

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

Tamil original

ஏரினும் நன்றால் எருவிடுதல் கட்டபின்
நீரினும் நன்றதன் காப்பு.

Transliteration

Erinum Nandraal Eruvitudhal Kattapin
Neerinum Nandradhan Kaappu

English Translation

“Better manure than plough; then weed; Than irrigating, better guard”

Plain-English meaning

Manuring is better than ploughing; after weeding, watching is better than watering (it)

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Better manure than plough; then weed; Than irrigating, better guard

G.U. Pope Translation

To cast manure is better than to plough;Weed well; to guard is more than watering now

Plain-English Meaning

Manuring is better than ploughing; after weeding, watching is better than watering (it)

உழுவதைக் காட்டிலும் உரம் இடுவது நல்லது; நீர்ப் பாய்ச்சுவதைக் காட்டிலும் களை எடுத்தபிறகு பயிரைக் காவல் செய்வது நல்லது.

Chapter 104

உழவு

Farming though hard is foremost trade Men ply at will but ploughmen lead

Tillers are linch-pin of mankind Bearing the rest who cannot tend

They live who live to plough and eat The rest behind them bow and eat

Who have the shade of cornful crest Under their umbra umbrellas rest

Who till and eat, beg not; nought hide But give to those who are in need

Should ploughmen sit folding their hands Desire-free monks too suffer wants

Moulds dried to quarter-dust ensure Rich crops without handful manure

Better manure than plough; then weed; Than irrigating, better guard

If landsmen sit sans moving about The field like wife will sulk and pout

Fair good earth will laugh to see Idlers pleading poverty