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
Modern English
“It may be possible to sleep in extreme heat, but poverty can make sleep itself hard to find.”
Modern Interpretation
It may be possible to sleep in extreme heat, but poverty can make sleep itself hard to find. For example, worry about food, rent, or debt can keep a person awake long after the lights are out.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
It may be possible to sleep in extreme heat, but poverty can make sleep itself hard to find.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
One may sleep in the midst of fire; but by no means in the midst of poverty
Tamil commentary
யோக வலிமையால் நெருப்பிற்குள் படுத்து உறங்கவும் முடியும்; ஆனால், பசிக் கொடுமைக்குள் சிறிது கூடக் கண் மூட முடியாது.
Chapter 105
More from Poverty
நல்குரவு
What gives more pain than scarcity? No pain pinches like poverty
Kural 1042The sinner Want is enemy dire Of joys of earth and heaven there
Kural 1043The craving itch of poverty Kills graceful words and ancestry
Kural 1044Want makes even good familymen Utter words that are low and mean
Kural 1045The pest of wanton poverty Brings a train of misery
Kural 1046The poor men's words are thrown away Though from heart good things they say
Kural 1047Even the mother looks as stranger The poor devoid of character
Kural 1048The killing Want of yesterday Will it pester me even to-day?
Kural 1049One may sleep in the midst of fire In want a wink of sleep is rare
Kural 1050Renounce their lives the poor must Or salt and gruel go to waste