Thirukkural 1065 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தெண்ணீர் அடுபுற்கை ஆயினும் தாள்தந்தது
உண்ணலின் ஊங்கினிய தில்.
Transliteration
Thenneer Atupurkai Aayinum Thaaldhandhadhu
Unnalin Oonginiya Thil
Modern English
“Food can be plain porridge, but nothing tastes better than what your own effort has earned.”
Modern Interpretation
Food can be plain porridge, but nothing tastes better than what your own effort has earned. A simple meal bought with wages can feel prouder than an expensive one received without effort.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Food can be plain porridge, but nothing tastes better than what your own effort has earned.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Though gruel thin, nothing is sweet Like the food earned by labour's sweat
G.U. Pope Translation
Nothing is sweeter than to taste the toil-won cheer,Though mess of pottage as tasteless as the water clear
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Even thin gruel is ambrosia to him who has obtained it by labour
Tamil commentary
நீரே மிகுதியாக இருக்கச் சமைக்கப்பட்ட கஞ்சியே என்றாலும், உழைத்த வரவில் உண்பதைக் காட்டிலும் மேலான மகிழ்ச்சி 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?