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

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The destitute poor, who do not renounce their bodies, only consume their neighbour's salt and water

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

The destitute poor, who do not renounce their bodies, only consume their neighbour's salt and water

உண்ண, உடுத்த ஏதம் இல்லாதவர் இல்லறத்தை முழுமையாகத் துறந்து விடாதிருப்பது, பிறர் வீட்டில் இருக்கும் உப்புக்கும் கஞ்சித் தண்ணீருக்கும் எமனாம்.

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