Thirukkural 1063 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இன்மை இடும்பை இரந்துதீர் வாமென்னும்
வன்மையின் வன்பாட்ட தில்.
Transliteration
Inmai Itumpai Irandhudheer Vaamennum
Vanmaiyin Vanpaatta Thil
Modern English
“Nothing is more misguided than treating begging as the answer to poverty while refusing to seek work or other honest means.”
Modern Interpretation
Nothing is more misguided than treating begging as the answer to poverty while refusing to seek work or other honest means. If someone can learn a skill but chooses only to demand support, they are avoiding the harder remedy.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Nothing is more misguided than treating begging as the answer to poverty while refusing to seek work or other honest means.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Nothing is hard like hard saying \"We end poverty by begging\"
G.U. Pope Translation
Nothing is harder than the hardness that will say,'The plague of penury by asking alms we'll drive away.'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
There is no greater folly than the boldness with which one seeks to remedy the evils of poverty by begging (rather than by working)
Tamil commentary
இல்லாமையால் வரும் துன்பத்தை (உழைத்துப் போக்காது) பிச்சை எடுத்துப் போக்கிக் கொள்ளலாம் என்று எண்ணும் கொடுமையிலும் கொடுமை வேறு இல்லை.
Chapter 107
More from The Dread of Mendicancy
இரவச்சம்
Not to beg is billions worth E'en from eye-like friends who give with mirth
Kural 1062Let World-Maker loiter and rot If \"beg and live\" be human fate
Kural 1063Nothing is hard like hard saying \"We end poverty by begging\"
Kural 1064All space is small before the great Who beg not e'en in want acute
Kural 1065Though gruel thin, nothing is sweet Like the food earned by labour's sweat
Kural 1066It may be water for the cow Begging tongue is mean anyhow
Kural 1067If beg they must I beg beggers Not to beg from shrinking misers
Kural 1068The hapless bark of beggary splits On the rock of refusing hits
Kural 1069The heart at thought of beggars melts; It dies at repulsing insults
Kural 1070The word \"No\" kills the begger's life Where can the niggard's life be safe?