Thirukkural 1049 in English

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

Tamil original

நெருப்பினுள் துஞ்சலும் ஆகும் நிரப்பினுள்
யாதொன்றும் கண்பாடு அரிது.

Transliteration

Neruppinul Thunjalum Aakum Nirappinul
Yaadhondrum Kanpaatu Aridhu

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

One may sleep in the midst of fire; but by no means in the midst of poverty

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Amid the flames sleep may men's eyelids close,In poverty the eye knows no repose

Plain-English Meaning

One may sleep in the midst of fire; but by no means in the midst of poverty

யோக வலிமையால் நெருப்பிற்குள் படுத்து உறங்கவும் முடியும்; ஆனால், பசிக் கொடுமைக்குள் சிறிது கூடக் கண் மூட முடியாது.

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