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

English Translation

“Though gruel thin, nothing is sweet Like the food earned by labour's sweat”

Plain-English meaning

Even thin gruel is ambrosia to him who has obtained it by labour

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

Even thin gruel is ambrosia to him who has obtained it by labour

நீரே மிகுதியாக இருக்கச் சமைக்கப்பட்ட கஞ்சியே என்றாலும், உழைத்த வரவில் உண்பதைக் காட்டிலும் மேலான மகிழ்ச்சி இல்லை.

Chapter 107

இரவச்சம்

Not to beg is billions worth E'en from eye-like friends who give with mirth

Let World-Maker loiter and rot If \"beg and live\" be human fate

Nothing is hard like hard saying \"We end poverty by begging\"

All space is small before the great Who beg not e'en in want acute

Though gruel thin, nothing is sweet Like the food earned by labour's sweat

It may be water for the cow Begging tongue is mean anyhow

If beg they must I beg beggers Not to beg from shrinking misers

The hapless bark of beggary splits On the rock of refusing hits

The heart at thought of beggars melts; It dies at repulsing insults

The word \"No\" kills the begger's life Where can the niggard's life be safe?