Thirukkural 737 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இருபுனலும் வாய்ந்த மலையும் வருபுனலும்
வல்லரணும் நாட்டிற்கு உறுப்பு.
Transliteration
Irupunalum Vaaindha Malaiyum Varupunalum
Vallaranum Naattirku Uruppu
Modern English
“A country's foundations include dependable water, useful high ground and natural resources, rainfall, and strong defenses.”
Modern Interpretation
A country's foundations include dependable water, useful high ground and natural resources, rainfall, and strong defenses. A town preparing for emergencies needs reservoirs, protected terrain, and secure shelters, not just buildings.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A country's foundations include dependable water, useful high ground and natural resources, rainfall, and strong defenses.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Waters up and down, hills and streams With strong forts as limbs country beams
G.U. Pope Translation
Waters from rains and springs, a mountain near, and waters thence;These make a land, with fortress' sure defence
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The constituents of a kingdom are the two waters (from above and below), well situated hills and an undestructible fort
Tamil commentary
ஆற்றுநீரும், ஊற்றுநீரும் உயரமும் அகலமும் உடைய வாய்ப்பான மலையும், மழை நீரும், அழிக்க முடியாத கோட்டையும் நாட்டிற்குத் தேவையான உறுப்புகளாம்.
Chapter 74
More from The Land
நாடு
It's country which has souls of worth Unfailing yields and ample wealth
Kural 732The Land has large luring treasure Where pests are nil and yields are sure
Kural 733It's land that bears pressing burdens And pays its tax which king demands
Kural 734It is country which is free from Fierce famine, plague and foemen's harm
Kural 735Sects and ruinous foes are nil No traitors in a land tranquil
Kural 736The land of lands no ruin knows Even in grief its wealth yet grows
Kural 737Waters up and down, hills and streams With strong forts as limbs country beams
Kural 738Rich yield, delight, defence and wealth Are jewels of lands with blooming health
Kural 739A land is land which yields unsought Needing hard work the land is nought
Kural 740Though a land has thus every thing It is worthless without a king