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
Modern English
“Preparing and enriching the soil matters more than simply ploughing; after weeds are removed, protecting the crop matters even more than watering it.”
Modern Interpretation
Preparing and enriching the soil matters more than simply ploughing; after weeds are removed, protecting the crop matters even more than watering it. For example, a gardener who guards young plants from pests may save a harvest that regular watering alone would lose.
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Modern Plain English
Preparing and enriching the soil matters more than simply ploughing; after weeds are removed, protecting the crop matters even more than watering it.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Manuring is better than ploughing; after weeding, watching is better than watering (it)
Tamil commentary
உழுவதைக் காட்டிலும் உரம் இடுவது நல்லது; நீர்ப் பாய்ச்சுவதைக் காட்டிலும் களை எடுத்தபிறகு பயிரைக் காவல் செய்வது நல்லது.
Chapter 104
More from Farming
உழவு
Farming though hard is foremost trade Men ply at will but ploughmen lead
Kural 1032Tillers are linch-pin of mankind Bearing the rest who cannot tend
Kural 1033They live who live to plough and eat The rest behind them bow and eat
Kural 1034Who have the shade of cornful crest Under their umbra umbrellas rest
Kural 1035Who till and eat, beg not; nought hide But give to those who are in need
Kural 1036Should ploughmen sit folding their hands Desire-free monks too suffer wants
Kural 1037Moulds dried to quarter-dust ensure Rich crops without handful manure
Kural 1038Better manure than plough; then weed; Than irrigating, better guard
Kural 1039If landsmen sit sans moving about The field like wife will sulk and pout
Kural 1040Fair good earth will laugh to see Idlers pleading poverty