Thirukkural 16 in English

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

Tamil original

விசும்பின் துளிவீழின் அல்லால்மற் றாங்கே
பசும்புல் தலைகாண்பு அரிது.

Transliteration

Visumpin Thuliveezhin Allaalmar Raange
Pasumpul Thalaikaanpu Aridhu

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

If no drop falls from the clouds, not even the green blade of grass will be seen

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

If from the clouds no drops of rain are shed'Tis rare to see green herb lift up its head

Plain-English Meaning

If no drop falls from the clouds, not even the green blade of grass will be seen

மேகத்திலிருந்து மழைத்துளி விழாது போனால், பசும்புல்லின் நுனியைக்கூட இங்கே காண்பது அரிதாகிவிடும்

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