Thirukkural 1050 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
துப்புர வில்லார் துவரத் துறவாமை
உப்பிற்கும் காடிக்கும் கூற்று.
Transliteration
Thuppura Villaar Thuvarath Thuravaamai
Uppirkum Kaatikkum Kootru
Modern English
“The verse uses severe imagery for the crushing dependence of people who have no means to support themselves and must live on a neighbor's simplest food.”
Modern Interpretation
The verse uses severe imagery for the crushing dependence of people who have no means to support themselves and must live on a neighbor's simplest food. For example, a family with no income may have to rely on others even for daily rice and salt, showing how harsh such poverty is.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
The verse uses severe imagery for the crushing dependence of people who have no means to support themselves and must live on a neighbor's simplest food.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Renounce their lives the poor must Or salt and gruel go to waste
G.U. Pope Translation
Unless the destitute will utterly themselves deny,They cause their neighbour's salt and vinegar to die
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The destitute poor, who do not renounce their bodies, only consume their neighbour's salt and water
Tamil commentary
உண்ண, உடுத்த ஏதம் இல்லாதவர் இல்லறத்தை முழுமையாகத் துறந்து விடாதிருப்பது, பிறர் வீட்டில் இருக்கும் உப்புக்கும் கஞ்சித் தண்ணீருக்கும் எமனாம்.
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