THIRUKKURAL: a selection

Translated by Dr M .D. Jayabalan

NOTE: Readers are requested to install KURAL

soft-ware (3.2) in their systems to read the corresponding
Tamil original.

Preface

Thirukkural, attributed to Tamil Sage Thiruvalluvar, who lived

2000 years ago, is a work of axiomatic wise-sayings in the form of couplets
containing four feet in the first line and three in the second line. The work is
divided into three parts namely Aram (dharmic tenets in 38 chapters), Porul
(dealing with polity, citizenship, friendship etc. in 70 chapters) and Inbam
(relating to the love between man and wife in 25 chapters), containing 133
chapters in all, each chapter having 10 couplets.

Though more than twenty English translations have appeared

Thirukkural has a fascination for a practising translator and remains
irresistible. Hence, the attempt. No attempt is made to follow the commonly
accepted sequencing of thirukkural since the translator is of the opinion that
chapterisation of kural couplets into ten each, perhaps, could have been the
work of a later editor for the sake of uniformity. This could only be supported
by a similar stance taken by earlier commentators like Manakkudavar and
many others; and by the repetitive nature of some of the couplets which could
have been interpolations done with with the need to have ten in each chapter.
Readers are requested to closely observe the relevance of Kural to
most modern concepts like etiquette at seminars, interviews and
communicative skill in using language; life skills such as thrift, decision-
making, abhorrence of evil, man-woman relationship, governance and so and
so forth.

The numbers against the couplets refer to the serial number of KURAL.

1. As Alpha is the first of sounding words so is

God the founding first of worlds. (1)

{As Alpha is the first of ‘letters’* so is

God the first of all world.}

Note: This rendering , of course , is the closest to the original.

“Letters” must be taken to mean all literature and scholarship, as is to be
found in another couplet No.392. The word does nor mean the alphabet
alone. Similarly the word “world” should be taken to mean the entire
universe in all its manifestations and ramifications, even as the tree is
embedded inside a tiny seed.

2. What's the use of scholarship if one does not worship

the feet of omniscient lordship ? (2)
3. Those who worship the feet of the lord seated on flowery hearts
will for ever prosper. (3)

4. Besides producing food that people feed on

rain remains itself a food. (12)

5. If not a single drop it rains, not a single

blade of grass would sprout. (16)

6. World can't live without water; none ever-so-great

can survive without bounteous rain. (20)

7. To recount the greatness of the renounced is like

counting the heads of dead in the world. (22)

8.Great are those that venture and achieve;

little are those that can't. (26)

9. Provoked, it's tough to withstand even the momentary

wrath of seasoned sages. (29)
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10.To be immaculate of heart is the best of dharmic acts; the rest
of good words and deeds are not. (34)

11. Dharmic life-style demands dispensing with the four

qualities – envy, ire, desire and fiery words. (35)

12. Proof ‘s not needed for dharmic deeds; observe the difference
'tween one inside the palanquin and the bearers. (37)

13. The householder is host and stay to hermits,

the starving, and the dead. (42)

14. To possess love and righteousness are the qualities

and benefits of being a householder.(45)

15. If a woman eschews all wifely virtues what is the use

of a man having all comforts and wealth? (52)

l 6. The woman who worships no god but her man is like

the rain that stops at once at her command. (55)

( the sun that shines when told to though in cold winter)

Note: the original text compares such a wife to the rain that
comes down at one’ command, esp. when rain is most needed.
The importance given to rain in Tamil Nadu, and India in
general is not so in the temporate zone, where for instance,
children are taught the rhyme “Rain, rain, go away/ Come
again another day”. The change in the comparison is a
deliberate deviation from the text, in an attempt to carry home
the idea in the idiom of the target language. “Extending a
warm welcome “ is a good example

17.What better security can locked doors and bars provide

than a woman's own integrity? (57)

18.Joy to the body is in holding one's babies close; joy to the ears
is in hearing them lisp. (65)

19.A father's duty to his children is to make them

shine foremost in scholars' assembly. (67)

20.A son's duty to his father is to make others wonder

what penance the father did to own such a son. (70)

21.Is there a bolt to lock the door of love? Love shows

itself by tears dripping from closed eyes. (71)

22.Those lacking in love own all things, but even the bones
of the loving ones are owned by one and all. (72)

23. Just as the sun scorches the boneless creatures

the god dharma tortures the loveless ones.(77)

24. Love alone is life’s main stay; without which the body
is merely a skeleton covered with skin. (80)

25. Even if it were a drug that averts death it is no good to have it

having guests seated outside home. (82)

26. He who’s entertained the guests now leaving and looks forward
to receiving new is a welcome guest at heaven. (86)

27. Just smell anicha flower and it languishes; so do guests

anguish when looked at indifferently. (90)

28. To be humble and soft-spoken are ornaments

to one; all else are not. (95)

29. If good words are spoken with good intent

vices decrease and virtues increase.(96)
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30. To utter bitter words while sweet ones are at hand
is like choosing raw, rejecting riper fruits. (100)

31. Help done at most needed times, though small,

is so much greater than the world. (102)

32. The value of help is not bound to its worth; it varies

according to recipient’s worth.(105)

33.It's never good to forget the help one did,

better still to forget the evil at once. (108)

34.Though money got by unfair means means money yet

it is better to get rid of it at once. (113)

35.The undeserving and the deserving come to be known

from children born of them. (114)

36. Fair merchant estimates his merchandise on par

with other’s bartered goods. (120)

37. Restrain your tongue though not the rest of senses; failing which
you'll ail for uttering bitter words. (127)

38.The burns caused by fire gets healed well from within,

but not so the wounds caused by caustic tongue. (129)

39. Those who have not learned to live as the world goes
howsoever learned remain unlettered. (140)

40.Coveting not another’s wife is greatest manliness

for the dharmic self and the disciplined. (148)

41. One might do immoral deeds but it is good

never to covet another's wife. (150)

42. Like the earth tha t suppor t s those who d ig i t deep ,

it is good to bear with those who ridicule us. (151)

43. A day's joy for him who punishes, but lasting glory
unto him who forbears till the world lasts. (156)

44. Great ascetics who starve in penance stand next only to

householders who bear with others’ abusive words.(160)

45. One jealous of a rich giving to the poor will end up with none
of his relations having enough to feed and clothe. (166)

46. Envy the sinner, besides impoverishing the envious

would push them into perilous fiery hell. (168)

47. Neither does the envious grow rich and prosper; nor does
unenvious lose all they possess and suffer. (170)

48. Those who have conquered the five-fold senses would not
covet others’ property to make up for the lack of things. (174)

49. Not to covet others' riches is the means

to keep one's own intact. (178)

50. Good it's said," He never speaks of morals, keeps doing evil,
yet backbiting he never does." (181)

51. Better die than to make a fake living

by backbiting others. (183)

52. Those who can't with a smile make friendship faster

break it by casting aspersions. (187)

53.Can there be harm to his own soul if he can see

his own faults as well as he sees the others' ? (190)
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 If only men could spot their own errors as quickly as they do others'
can there be harm to any, any time, any where?

54. He who utters meaningless words, annoying many

would be detested by all and sundry.(191)

55. One wastefully verbose is no man; must be winnowed out

from a forum of men of letters. (196)

56. Since evil deeds beget evil results to the doer,

evil is abhorred more than fire. (202)

57. Never even in forgetfulness mean harm to others; doing,

God will engross you in harm. (204)

58. Seek not to make up wants by doing wrong; for wants

will grow the stronger and go longer. (205)

59. Damnation is sure to follow the evil-doer

like the shadow at one's heels. (208)

60. It rains expecting no returns; so would the

philanthropic do to the world. (211)

61.When wealth reaches the hands of the generous its like

having an all useful medicinal tree. (217)

62. If charity would beget poverty it's worth getting it

even by selling oneself. (220)

63.To give the poor alone is charity; all other giving

is in expectation of some return. (221)

64. It’s good to give even though giving bars entry to heaven;
to receive is evil though by good means. (222)

65.To feed the starving poor is a virtue that fetches

the wealthy greater riches. (226)

66.To be charitable is to become glorious; nothing but that

is the wages to the soul.(231)

67.Be born if you could earn fame; if you can’t

better it is not to be born at all. (236)

68.The penniless do not possess the world; those without

compassion have no place in heaven. (247)

69.The pauper will prosper someday but those that have lost
grace can hardly ever retrieve it. (248)

70.Before penalizing the weaker, imagine yourself in his stead

before some one stronger.(250)

71.How would God protect him who eats other meat

to bloat his own flesh ? (251)

Note: Valluvar’s views on non-vegetarianism and recommendation of

vegetarianism must be considered as issuing from his strong humanitarian
interests and love of all anima that governed him; they are purely
regional, based on the place of one’s living. For instance, no sage or
scholar can recommend vegetarianism to the Eskimos living in the
Tundra, where there is no vegetation except lichen. They subsist on raw
meat. So with people living in the Arabian deserts. However, wherever
vegetarian food is available it is preferable to have it not only from the
point of view of one’s own health, but also out of love that cannot put up
with seeing the sufferings of animals butchered. Did not Vallalar
Ramalingar shed tears on sighting withering plants ?

72. If the world would desist from eating animal meat,

then butchers would not kill to sell. (256)
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73. It is better not to fill your belly with animal kill
than to offer a thousand things in ritual fire. (259)

74.Forbearance of one's ailments, and not harming any anima

are true marks of penance. (261)

75. Like gold the more its burnt the better it glows, so with penitentiary;
the more his sufferings the brighter his wisdom. (267)

76. To those who have acquired the powers of penance

it is possible to defy death.. (269)

77. There is none so bad as one who 's not renounced at heart
but puts up mere pretence. (276)

78.There is no need to grow nor tonsure your hair if you could keep
off from doing what the world regards evil. (280)

79. Even to think at heart of grabbing others’ wealth

by stealth is a sin.. (282)

80.Those who thrive by thieving will shrivel

by doing all kinds of crime. (289)

81.If for a blemish less good uttered, even falsehood is

as good as truth. (292)

82.Tell not lies with your conscience as witness; if told

your conscience would prick from within. (293)

83.Water purifies the physical and the exterior; so does

truth the interior. (298)

84. Restraining wrath toward the meek is restraint.

what if he shows it not to others. (301)

85. If he would save himself he must spare his ire

else his wrath would wreck himself. (305)

86. Evil done to others in the forenoon boomerangs

on the doer in the afternoon. (319)

87. The best of all moral precepts is to share one's food

with all living things and protect them too. (322)

88. However great the benefits of burnt offerings 'Not great'

it's said for it's got after all by taking a life. (328)

89. Like the audience at a play- house, wealth stays with one
a while and then leaves him. (332)

90. Better hasten to do good, before tongue gets stuck

and life ends up in hiccup. (335)

91.The world has the pride to claim that he that was here
but yesterday is no more this day. (336)

92.The bond between body and life is like the egg-ling

breaking shell and taking wings. (338)

93.Death is like sleeping, and birth

like waking from sleep. (339)

94. Suffers he not from such and such of the things

from which he has withdrawn. (341)

95. To abandon five- fold sensory pleasures, an ascetic

should abandon at once the means of coming by. (343)

96. Hold on to the love of the lord that has renounced; have that hold
in order that you get rid of all holds. (350)
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 97. Dispense with desire, wrath and indecision, and
you will be rid of their ill-effects. (360)

98. Desire is the seed of unceasing cycle of births

for all living things at all times.(361)

99. Not only here but elsewhere too, there is no equal

to the supreme wealth of renouncing desire. (363)

100. Renounce insatiable desire, and that stance will gain you
trans-entrance to the place of enhanced trance.(370)

101. Good fortune causes one to work hard; misfortune

causes laziness and loss of all you possess. (371)

102. Two different ways the world works: becoming rich

is different from becoming wise.(374)

103. Even those who amassed millions can't enjoy and use it
unless god willing. (377)

104. Lack of indecision, scholarship and bravery

are a ruler's lasting qualities. (383)

105.Earning, creating sources of earning, preserving, and proper

apportioning are hallmarks of a good government.(385)

106. Learn all things without lingering doubts; learning,

learn to live accordingly. (391)

107. Numerals and all letters are both like two eyes
to human beings. (392)

108. As sandy fount yields more of water every time you dig
so does knowledge grow the more you read the deeper. (396)

109. Why does not one study till death knowing fully well
all countries and towns claim a scholar their own? (397)

110.The desire of the unlettered to address an erudite forum

is like the sexual urge of a woman having neither bosom. (402)

111. Penury of the learned and virtuous is less painful

than the prosperity of the unlettered. (408)

112.When there’s no edutaining talk to feed the ears with,

the stomach may be fed a little. (412)

Note. ‘Edutainment’ is a portmanteau word by

combining ‘educate’ and entertainment’.

113. Ears not delighted in hearing discourses

capable though of hearing are only deaf. (418)

114. Inhuman those who never enjoy aural but only oral tastes;
what if they live or die ? (420)

115. Whatever the matter whosoever utters

it's wise to get at its truth. (423)

116. Not fearing the dangerous is sheer foolishness; to fear

the fear-worthy is the feat of the learned elite. (428)

117. He who knows not the means of preventing blame, his life
gets lost like haystack set on fire. (435)

118. Never boast of your greatness, nor presumptuously

desire to do deeds of no good return.(439)

119. A king without wise elders to admonish him will lose all
though he has no foes. (448)
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120. Profit is not for those without capital; so is stability not
for those without support of the elderly wise. (449)

121. Than the harm resulting from many an enemy, ten times
worse is that from desertion of the elderly wise. (450)

122. The wise fear the company of the lowly nincompoops;

the mean make them their relations.(451)

123. As soil spoils water’s purity so is man’s mind affected

by the mean company he keeps.(452)

124. Purity of thought, purity of deeds, both issue from the

virtuous company one keeps. (455)

125. Nothing gives greater good than the company of the virtuous;
and no worse harm than that of the vicious. (460)

126.What ought not to be done ruins by doing; so does

what ought to be done by not doing. (466)

127.Even the cart-axle breaks when more than its maximum

load of peacock's feather 's laid. (475)

128. There's no care though the door of income 's narrow

if only the doors of expense are not wide. (478)

129. For him that spends beyond his means, life appears
though luxurious yet wrecks losing all. (479)

130. A crow can conquer an owl by day; so must a

king know when to flout a foe. (481)

131. Go get the world targeting at it, if only you

could plan the place and fix the time.(484)

132. Like a stork awaiting the opportune moment for a big catch,
seize the day, come what may. (490)

133. The crocodile conquers in water but is conquered

once outside water. (495)

134. The wheeled chariot can't ride over the sea nor could
the yacht of the water go over the roads (496)

135. In marshes even a fox would fight a dauntless elephant

which confronted many a lanced-soldier.(500)

136.Weigh the merits and defects of things

take that which is the greater. (504)

137.Selecting without deliberation, and then suspecting the select,

both end up in endless misery. (510)

138. Entrust work with one who has four qualities of love,
knowledge, decisiveness and lack of avarice.(513)

139. Entrust a task to one after well assessing he by this means

would well accomplish it. (517)

140.True relations never desert the ruler even when his riches
are reduced to naught. (521)

141. The riches of one without relations would reach alien’s hands
like rain- water overflowing a bank less-tank. (523)

142. Even like the crow that caw(l)s its kind finding food so benefited
stands he who shares his rations with relations. (527)

143. Desuetude destroys glory just like misery

kills the desire for knowledge. (532)
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144. Remember the fallen state of the once -great, while you
exult in your present fortune.(539)

145. It is easy to achieve one’s plans provided

one constantly remembers them. (540)

146. King’s duty is to uphold justice by detecting and mercilessly

penalizing the wrong- doer whoever it is. (541)

147. King's deed of punishing seeded criminals is like

weeding out a field for better yields. (550)

148. Threaten hard but punish mild if desirous of

lasting power and good. (562)

Note: ‘Cawls’ is a coinage, combining ‘caw’ and ‘call’.

149. As the water born flower stalk is proportionate to the depth of water
so is man’s greatness to his thought.(595)

150. Always set your goals high; though there might be

some set backs that you can later overcome. (596)

151. The undiminishing flame of a family’s fame fades out

as the soot of laziness spreads. (601)

152. Long delay, forgetfulness, laziness and sleep --- these

four qualities take aboard those desiring death. (605)

153. Lose not your heart ‘cause the task is tough; perseverance
brings you pride of honour. (611)

154. Generosity in one incapable of generating his income is like a

coward’s wielding a sword on a battle-field.(614)

155. Continued endeavour brings increasing wealth;

lack of it ushers in penury.(616)

156. Those who try untiringly will defeat 'fate', and

turn it inside out as a feat. (620)

157. Laugh at approaching grief; there is

no better means to tackle it.(621)

158. Never desires joys; but regards woes as natural; such a

one will never have to grieve.(628)

159. Minister is he who knows weaponry,

what to do, when and how.(631)

160. To divide foes, to retain present and restore lost friends

are a minister’s forte. (633)
161. A scheming minister’s cunning begets more evil
than from enemies seven crores. (639)

162.To master the art of rhetoric is the finest of all arts.

there is no finer art like the art of tongue. (641)

163.Utter a word knowing full sure there is none other

that could conquer it. (645)

164.Those fond of verbosity at scholars' forum

know not the virtue of brevity. (649)

165. Good friendship provides productive funds; good

deeds provide all one needs. (651)

166. Do not a deed that you might later rue in shame,

if done once, see you don’t repeat the same. (655)

167. Even if your mother starves never do a deed

despised by elders.(656)
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168. What was got by tears would disappear in tears; though lost,
but late, well-got money will come to help. (659)

169. Ill-got pelf loses itself and Self, like water

kept in unburnt mud-pot. (660)

170. It is easy for any to proclaim but harder for one

to perform as was claimed. (664)

171. Scorn not one on basis of size; he might be like

king-pin to the rolling chariot wheel. (667)

172. One must get down to action only after assessing five things-
money, time, profit, place and weaponry. (675)

173. Like seizing an elephant by showing a rogue, one must,

while doing a thing, have a related thing done at once. (678)

174. Love, understanding and studied utterance --these three

are indispensable to ambassadors .(682)

175. Speaking smilingly using suasive sifted soft words

are beneficial aids to embassy. (685)

176. Purity of thought, surety of amity dauntless utterance-

these there are qualities of a faithful messenger. (688)

177. Neither near nor afar like warming by fire

should one keep king's company. (691)

178. Avoid whispering in ears with a sly smile

while in the assembly of the great. (694)

179. To take advantage of old friendship and to do

uncivil things will bring down woes of sort. (700)

180. What is the use of eyes if, of all the senses, these
cannot read the minds of others in their eyes? (705)

181. Like the mirror that reflects the objects near, one’s face
reflects inner emotions of heart. (706)

182. Eyes alone are the measuring scale for one who can
read one’s mind through eyes.(710)

183. Scholars having perfect knowledge of words and composition

of the audience would speak accordingly. (711)

184. Those who know the benefits of rhetoric would speak

in a manner fitting to time, place and occasion.(712)

185. Amidst the learned shine bright like lime-light; amidst

the common look white like slack- lime. (714)

186. Speaking to a sensible and receptive audience is

like watering a bed of seedlings. (718)

187. Those used to speaking to an elite audience should never

utter mean words to a low audience.(719)

188.Country is where unfailing peasants, scholarly wise and

moneyed merchants are present. (731)

189.Country is where neither extreme poverty, chronic diseases

nor strong foes are present. (734)

190.Country is where many factions, infighting caucuses, smiling but

murderous mischief- mongers are absent. (735)

191.Founts, rains, mounts and their springs, and secure bounds

are components of a country. (737)
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192. Despite the glorious things a king might have, if he has
no spirited warriors, he stands insecure.(750)

193.There is nothing like wealth which makes a worthless

person a thing of worth and respect. (751)

194. The lance that misses an elephant is more valuable

than a dart that shoots a jungle rabbit. (772)

195. Friendship is not to smile and while away, rather

to check and chide when he errs in excess. (783)

196. Friendship is not merely smiling face to face

rather deep from heart to heart. (786)

197. No harm is greater than to unwisely befriend a fool

for there is no redemption. (791)

198. Blessing it is to snap the friendship of one

when known to be an ignoramus. (797)

199.Friendship with those who differ in deeds and words

would it not disturb us even in our dreams? (819)

200. If a time comes when enemy turns a friend it's better to greet him
with a superficial smile than to take him to heart. (830)

201. Idiocy is the worst of paucity; of the rest, the world

regards none as greater poverty. (841)

202. Directed, he wouldn't do; nor would directly learn himself;

his life, till it leaves the shell, remains an affliction. (848)

203.Not seen himself, nor learn when shown by those who have
known, yet would show others the unknown. (849)

204. To be loving and born of a good family, both constitute

the virtue of culture. (851)

205. Earn not the displeasure of the ploughmen wielding pen though
you may of those who plough the war-field with their bows.(872)

206.Remove the thorny sapling while its young; once grown

it would hurt the hands while trying to uproot it. (879)

207. Fear not foes who are like drawn-out swords, but
fear those foes who lie close as kith and kin. (882)

208. Living with a false friend having a secret grudge is like

living with a venomous snake in the same house. (890)

209. Those wary of harm, would not despise elder’s talents; but
know that tact to be the best of all techniques. (891)

210. Escape is possible even for one surrounded by fire, but

not to one who’s earned the wrath of elders. (896)

211. Unmanly submission to one’s wife prevents him from walking

in pride amidst the company of wise men. (903)

212. Better take pride to be born a bashful woman than be dressed

like a man in looks yet be a wife’s page.(907)

213. Man who runs errands at wife’s commands can’t enjoy

neither the present nor (y)earn for the life-after. (909)

214. Sex with self-selling prostitute is like

sleeping in dark with a corpse. (913)

215. Whores care no scruples; to hug their shoulders is like

falling into hell from where there is no escape.(919)
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216. There is no difference between the sleeping and the dead, and
so between those drinking liquor and those taking poison. (926)

217. When sober, watch some one intoxicated, then

you would desist from drinking. (930)

218. Desire not to gamble though winning, its like a

Foolish fish swallowing a golden bait. (931)

219. Like the gambler loves gambling every time he loses

so does man love life the more suffering it brings.(940)

220. Decrease or increase in proportion of gas, bile and phlegm

in body causes diseases. (941)

221. Our body needs no drugs as long as we know

how much to eat and what we ate is digested. (942)

222. As joy abides with him who regards over- eating as demeaning
so resides disease with a gourmand .(946)

223. Doctoring depends on diagnosing, finding the root cause and

deciding the dose considering the patient's condition. (948)

224. A learned physician reckons with the patient’s age and condition,
intensity of his disease, and treats at the opportune time. (949)

225. Smile, charity, sweet words, never scorning others

are the four requisites for a home of pride.(953)

226. Blemish in those born of well-bred families strikes the eyes

like dark spots on the moon in high skies. (957)

227. Just as the sprouting seed speaks of soil nature the words
uttered by men speak of the pride of their family. (959)

228. Sense of shame is needed to obtain good qualities;

humility is needed to preserve pride of family. (960)

229. Those who fall from high position are regarded

like hair fallen from head. (964)

230. Those who die for shame are so sensitive as the mountain deer
that dies when losing its hair. (969)

231. Glory unto him who aspires and shame

to him who despises it .(971)

232. All are equal by birth, but unequal in greatness which

by virtue of their achievements varies. (972)

233. Like self- defending chaste women, man can attain glory
by remaining self-disciplined. (974)

234. True pride means boastlessness;

it is mean to be boastful. (979)

235. The honourable always hide others’ flaws

the lowly finds the faults alone. (980)

236. The touchstone for the supreme good is to admit

defeat even before men, lower than oneself. (986)

237. Even if the oceans overflow the shores, the wise who stand
as bounds to virtuous won’t shift their stand. (989)

At the end of eons men of sterling character stand

like deep sea encircled by strong shores.

238. The v i r tue o f be ing cu l tu red i s to possess l ove and

be born of a good family. (992)
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239. The world lives on because righteous men yet live;
else it would have been devoured by the earth.(996)

240. Like good milk getting sour by the bad vessel into which poured
is when riches reach uncultured hands. (1000)

241. A wealthy rich man not liked by townsmen is like a

poisonous tree midtown, ripening with fruits.(1008)

242. The blush of a man for a shameful act and that of a beautiful
woman in love are not the same. (1011)

243. The actions of people, shameless at heart, are like

rope-held puppets' duping life. (1020)

244. For one, intent on uplifting home lack of time, other's laziness
or regret having to log on would hamper it. (1028)

245. Peasants are like kingpin for they feed

men of other professions too. (1032)

246. Worthy of life are the ploughmen who feed; all the rest
bow in respect, feed and run after them. (1033)

247. Than to plough is to manure; irrigation is better;

better still is protection of the crop. (1038)

248. Would penury return today like

it killed me yesterday? (1048 )

249. It is feasible to sleep in fire free from fear of anguish

but the impoverished can never have a wink. (1049)

250. If without someone to seek and one to give, like lifeless puppets
moving up and down the world would still survive. (1058)

251. If one should beg for his livelihood, let God creator
be damned to go a-begging. (1062)

252. So different in act and thought but in looks none

so alike as the rotten and the good men. (1071)

253. Asked, the mean would not give the poor aught, but if
boxed on chin, would readily part with it. (1077)

254. Seeing the good well-dressed and eat well, the low and
the mean grow envious and begin to slander. (1079)

255. Is it the destructive deity, constructed peacock or after all

a woman ? I t ' s mind - bogg l ing to me. (1081)

256. Stern look of Pluto’s, love’s reciprocal look or deer’s dazed look?
Her look combines all the three. (1085)

257. Like the mask covering the eyes of a rogue elephant

is the front of her saree covering her breasts. (1087)

258.Two types of look she has; one causes illness;

the other remedies the illness. (1091)

259.The momentary look she steals in love

is not just half but more. (1092)

260.When I look she looks aground; when I don't

she looks and softly smiles. (1094)

261.The common denominator between the lovers is

the way they regard each other as unknown. (1099)

262.When the eyes of lovers do meet and fuse

words are of no use. (1100)
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263. Enjoyment by sight, sound, smell, taste and touch
all five senses are present at once in my darling dear. (1101)

264. Where did she obtain that fire which burns when farther
removed and chills when closer by?(1104)

265. Her embrace gives me the joy of living and eating

together with one’s dear relations.(1107)

266.Like learning, every time, reveals ignorance the more

so does making love show the yet unknown.(1110)

267. Pearly smile, lance like eyes, bamboo- smooth shoulders, tender
leaf- like body – she’s naturally fragrant. (1113)

268. Twinkling stars blink unable to tell which is moon

and which my lady's face. (1116)

269. aniccha flower and swan’s down are to my lady’s feet

like the thorny fruit of nerunchi .(1120)

270. Saliva from her bright toothed gums

is honeyed milk to me. (1121)

271.She feared to drink anything hot lest it should hurt

her lover living in her heart. (1128)

272. I owned a sense of shame and chivalry till I became a

over fit only for riding a horse of palm-leaf. (1133)

273.Those who have ne'er felt what it's to be love-lorn

fondly laugh to scorn seeing me pass by. (1140)

274.Town's gossips manure, and my mom's admonitions

water my ailment of love to grow. (1147)

275.Tell me if you do not go; speak of your return

only to my survivor. (1151)

Note: Lady to her husband.

276.Only when touched, fire scorches. Can it scorch

like love-disease even after leaving? (1159)

277. The more I try to hide my anguish at love's separation,

the more it increases like the spring when scooped out. (1161)

278. My body 's like a kavadi; on either side stands suspended

shyness and love on the central staff, that's my life. (1163)

279.Why should my eyes shed tears now? It’s they who showed him
to me once, and caused me to suffer at his separation. (1171)
280. Let my eyes weep themselves dry; it’s they that delighted
seeing him repeatedly in sleep and wakeful day.(1177)

281. More than me mine eyes pine when I 've no wink of sleep
first expecting and next fearing his return. (1179)

Note: Young men and women of unfulfilled love would threaten

their parents of committing suicide by riding a on a horse –like
structure made of palm leaves which would cut into flesh and
cause slow death. However, There has been no recorded
instance of such a thing actually happening.

282.He snatched away my charm and shyness and

in exchange gave me ache and pallor. (1183)

283. Pallor awaits to spread over me the moment he unbraces me,

like darkness watchful of the flickering lamp. (1186)

284.Every one complains to me of developing pallor, but

none, of his loveless parting from me.(1188)
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285.The love showered by man to his love is like the rains
that enliven the blessed living. (1192)

286. Why should stupid Cupid be partial to me while his role is to cause
woe in common to both young lovers? (1197)

287. Love is lovelier than liquor since love delights

even at the very thought. (1201)

288. My sneeze stops short ; may be, his thought

about me was interrupted. (1203)

Note: The lady muses about her absent husband. It’s a popular
belief that sneeze indicates that somebody is thinking about
oneself.

289. Not parting from heart though from spot, shine oh moon, that seeing
I might devour him with mine eyes. (1210)

290. If my fish-like winkless eyes heed my words and sink into sleep
I could tell my lover in dream of my plight. (1212)

291. My life still stays with me because I still dream of him,

though there's no sign of his coming back. (1213)

292. If I am not awake my lover would never leave, but

continue to be with me in dreams. (1216)

293. Is there a better paradise than the joy of reunion after being cross
with the one inseparably blended like soil and water. (1223)

294. What good did I do Morning and what harm did I do to

Evening that it should burn me so from within? (1225)

295. This my disease starts as a bud in the morning, opens its petals
through the day and blossoms full in the evening.(1227)

296. By welling up with tears your eyes will tell the world
about your love, though we try to hide. (1232)

297. Dear heart, won’t you suggest a remedy sure to cure me of

my languor of separation? (1241)

298. Give up love or give up shyness dear heart

I cannot contain both. (1247)

299. Like an axe, my love broke the bolt of shyness that kept
me constant in my self-control. (1251)

300. Till yesterday I trusted I had continence, but today

despite my attempt to hide, it exposes itself in public.(1254)

301. My eyes lost their luster looking for his return; so

did my fingers waste marking lines on wall.(1261)

302. Let him come some day; I shall devour him by all means
to dispel my disease called pallor. (1266)

303. Will I be cross? Or make love ? or cross till he resolves

when my man returns home after long ? (1267)

304. A day gets protracted to a week for the woman

who awaits her man's day of return.(1269)

Note: Illiterate women would make markings on the

wall to keep count of the days.

305. Like the thread stringing crystal beads is faintly visible though covered
there’s anxiety while still in union I might part from her. (1273)

306. It was but yesterday my man left, but in just one day

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 my body lacks luster as if se'nnight has lapsed. (1278)

307.To become tipsy at the thought and to delight at sight

are qualities of love but not of liquor. (1281)

308. Like the eye that fails to see the pencil while lining eye
I see not his faults when he stands close by. (1285)

309. Deserting me, oh heart, you go after him; even as the saying
goes that the sufferers have no stay. (1293)

310. End there is none to my agony, for my heart languishes for 's not hugging
while away, and for fear of his leaving while hugging. (1295)

311. Like adding salt is being cross; too much or long of both
spoils the taste of love. (1302)

312 Sans
. long and short spells of being cross, love-making
is like a tree without raw and ripe fruits. (1306)

313. Shade and water give instant joy; more so but deferred
is in lovers' union after being cross. (1309)

314. Even if I wear flowers on my head she fires me

with the query "To please whom?" (1313)

315. Me she blessed when I sneezed; crying, a query plied

"Who remembered thee that you sneezed?" (1317)

316.The one that loses while being cross is the winner

as is evident in their act of union. (1327)

317.Being cross adds joy to love; greater joy is found

in physical union. (1330)

Translator’s Address :

Dr M.D. Jayabalan, M.A.,Ph.D.

Principal
Indo-American College
Cheyyar

House Address for Communication:

321, I Main St. Phone: 04182 222133

Anna Nagar Cell : 9443080209
CHEYYAR – 604 407
TAMILNADU
India

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