Thirukkural 1041 in English

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

Tamil original

இன்மையின் இன்னாதது யாதெனின் இன்மையின்
இன்மையே இன்னா தது.

Transliteration

Inmaiyin Innaadhadhu Yaadhenin Inmaiyin
Inmaiye Innaa Thadhu

English Translation

“What gives more pain than scarcity? No pain pinches like poverty”

Plain-English meaning

There is nothing that afflicts (one) like poverty

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

What gives more pain than scarcity? No pain pinches like poverty

G.U. Pope Translation

You ask what sharper pain than poverty is known;Nothing pains more than poverty, save poverty alone

Plain-English Meaning

There is nothing that afflicts (one) like poverty

இன்மையை விடக் கொடியதுஎது என்றால், இல்லாமையை விடக் கொடியது இல்லாமையே.

Chapter 105

நல்குரவு

What gives more pain than scarcity? No pain pinches like poverty

The sinner Want is enemy dire Of joys of earth and heaven there

The craving itch of poverty Kills graceful words and ancestry

Want makes even good familymen Utter words that are low and mean

The pest of wanton poverty Brings a train of misery

The poor men's words are thrown away Though from heart good things they say

Even the mother looks as stranger The poor devoid of character

The killing Want of yesterday Will it pester me even to-day?

One may sleep in the midst of fire In want a wink of sleep is rare

Renounce their lives the poor must Or salt and gruel go to waste