Thirukkural 1068 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இரவென்னும் ஏமாப்பில் தோணி கரவென்னும்
பார்தாக்கப் பக்கு விடும்.
Transliteration
Iravennum Emaappil Thoni Karavennum
Paardhaakkap Pakku Vitum
Modern English
“Begging is like an unsafe boat crossing poverty; it breaks apart when it hits the rock of refusal.”
Modern Interpretation
Begging is like an unsafe boat crossing poverty; it breaks apart when it hits the rock of refusal. Depending on one reluctant person for rent can leave you stranded, so build more reliable support where possible.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Begging is like an unsafe boat crossing poverty; it breaks apart when it hits the rock of refusal.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The hapless bark of beggary splits On the rock of refusing hits
G.U. Pope Translation
The fragile bark of beggaryWrecked on denial's rock will lie
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The unsafe raft of begging will split when it strikes on the rock of refusal
Tamil commentary
வறுமைக் கடலைக் கடந்துவிட ஏறிய பிச்சை என்னும் வலு இல்லாத தோணி இருப்பதை மறைத்தல் என்னும் பாறையில் மோதப் பிளந்துபோகும்.
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?