Thirukkural 12 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

துப்பார்க்குத் துப்பாய துப்பாக்கித் துப்பார்க்குத்
துப்பாய தூஉம் மழை.

Transliteration

Thuppaarkkuth Thuppaaya Thuppaakkith Thuppaarkkuth
Thuppaaya Thooum Mazhai

English Translation

“The rain begets the food we eat”

Plain-English meaning

Rain produces good food, and is itself food

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

The rain begets the food we eat

G.U. Pope Translation

The rain makes pleasant food for eaters rise;As food itself, thirst-quenching draught supplies

Plain-English Meaning

Rain produces good food, and is itself food

நல்ல உணவுகளைச் சமைக்கவும், சமைக்கப்பட்ட உணவுகளை உண்பவர்க்கு இன்னுமோர் உணவாகவும் பயன்படுவது மழையே

Chapter 2

வான்சிறப்பு

The genial rain ambrosia call: The world but lasts while rain shall fall

The rain begets the food we eat

Let clouds their visits stay, and dearth Distresses all the sea-girt earth

Unless the fruitful shower descend, The ploughman's sacred toil must end

Destruction it may sometimes pour But only rain can life restore

No grassy blade its head will rear, If from the cloud no drop appear

The ocean's wealth will waste away, Except the cloud its stores repay

The earth, beneath a barren sky, Would offerings for the gods deny

Were heaven above to fail below Nor alms nor penance earth would show

Water is life that comes from rain Sans rain our duties go in vain