Thirukkural 13 in English

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

Tamil original

விண்இன்று பொய்ப்பின் விரிநீர் வியனுலகத்து
உள்நின்று உடற்றும் பசி.

Transliteration

Vinindru Poippin Virineer Viyanulakaththu
Ulnindru Utatrum Pasi

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

If the cloud, withholding rain, deceive (our hopes) hunger will long distress the sea-girt spacious world

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

If clouds, that promised rain, deceive, and in the sky remain,Famine, sore torment, stalks o'er earth's vast ocean-girdled plain

Plain-English Meaning

If the cloud, withholding rain, deceive (our hopes) hunger will long distress the sea-girt spacious world

உரிய காலத்தே மழை பெய்யாது பொய்க்குமானால், கடல் சூழ்ந்த இப்பேருலகத்தில் வாழும் உயிர்களைப் பசி வருத்தும்

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