Thirukkural 739 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நாடென்ப நாடா வளத்தன நாடல்ல
நாட வளந்தரு நாடு.
Transliteration
Naatenpa Naataa Valaththana Naatalla
Naata Valandharu Naatu
Modern English
“The best country has resources that sustain it naturally, rather than depending on endless hardship to produce every benefit.”
Modern Interpretation
The best country has resources that sustain it naturally, rather than depending on endless hardship to produce every benefit. People value a place with reliable water, fertile land, and steady energy more than one where basic needs require constant struggle.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The best country has resources that sustain it naturally, rather than depending on endless hardship to produce every benefit.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
A land is land which yields unsought Needing hard work the land is nought
G.U. Pope Translation
That is a land that yields increase unsought,That is no land whose gifts with toil are bought
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The learned say that those are kingdom whose wealth is not laboured for, and those not, whose wealth is only obtained through labour
Tamil commentary
தன் மக்கள் சிரமப்படாமல் இருக்க அதிக உற்பத்தியைத் தருவதே நாடு என்று நூலோர் கூறுவர்; தேடிவருந்திப் பெறும் நிலையில் இருப்பது நாடு அன்று.
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