Thirukkural 1047 in English

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

Tamil original

அறஞ்சாரா நல்குரவு ஈன்றதா யானும்
பிறன்போல நோக்கப் படும்.

Transliteration

Aranjaaraa Nalkuravu Eendradhaa Yaanum
Piranpola Nokkap Patum

English Translation

“Even the mother looks as stranger The poor devoid of character”

Plain-English meaning

He that is reduced to absolute poverty will be regarded as a stranger even by his own mother

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Even the mother looks as stranger The poor devoid of character

G.U. Pope Translation

From indigence devoid of virtue's grace,The mother e'en that bare, estranged, will turn her face

Plain-English Meaning

He that is reduced to absolute poverty will be regarded as a stranger even by his own mother

நியாயமான காரணங்கள் இல்லாத இல்லாமை ஒருவனுக்கு இருந்தால், பெற்ற தாய் கூட அவனை அந்நியனாகவே பார்ப்பாள்.

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