Thirukkural 17 in English

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

Tamil original

நெடுங்கடலும் தன்நீர்மை குன்றும் தடிந்தெழிலி
தான்நல்கா தாகி விடின்.

Transliteration

Netungatalum Thanneermai Kundrum Thatindhezhili
Thaannalkaa Thaaki Vitin

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

Even the wealth of the wide sea will be diminished, if the cloud that has drawn (its waters) up gives them not back again (in rain)

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

If clouds restrain their gifts and grant no rain,The treasures fail in ocean's wide domain

Plain-English Meaning

Even the wealth of the wide sea will be diminished, if the cloud that has drawn (its waters) up gives them not back again (in rain)

பெய்யும் இயல்பிலிருந்து மாறி மேகம் பெய்யாது போனால், நீண்ட கடல் கூட வற்றிப் போகும்

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