Thirukkural 1039 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
செல்லான் கிழவன் இருப்பின் நிலம்புலந்து
இல்லாளின் ஊடி விடும்.
Transliteration
Sellaan Kizhavan Iruppin Nilampulandhu
Illaalin Ooti Vitum
Modern English
“Land needs its owner’s regular attention; when it is neglected, it stops rewarding the person who depends on it.”
Modern Interpretation
Land needs its owner’s regular attention; when it is neglected, it stops rewarding the person who depends on it. For example, a garden left unchecked becomes dry and unproductive, just as a neglected responsibility slowly withdraws its benefits.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Land needs its owner’s regular attention; when it is neglected, it stops rewarding the person who depends on it.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
If landsmen sit sans moving about The field like wife will sulk and pout
G.U. Pope Translation
When master from the field aloof hath stood;Then land will sulk, like wife in angry mood
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If the owner does not (personally) attend to his cultivation, his land will behave like an angry wife and yield him no pleasure
Tamil commentary
நிலத்திற்கு உரியவன் நாளும் நிலத்திற்குச் சென்று செய்ய வேண்டியதைச் செய்யாது சோம்பி இருந்தால், கடமை ஆற்றாத கணவனை முதலில் மனத்தால் வெறுத்துப் பின் அவனோடு ஊடி விடும் மனைவியைப் போல நிலமும் முதலில் வாடிப் பிறகு பலன் தராமல் போய்விடும்.
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