Tirukkural Chapter 104 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 104 - உழவு.
CHAPTER 104 - ON AGRICULTURE
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104/07. தொடிப்புழுதி கஃசா உணக்கின் பிடிதெருவும்
வேண்டாது சாலப் படும்.

104/07. Thodippuzhidhi kakksaa unnakkin piditheruvum
Vendaadhu saalap padum.

104/07. After tilling the soil, big soil pieces
must be broken into small pieces and dried up;
Then if seeds are sown without any fertilizer
more crops will grow.
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Jagmohan: It is on the tilling of the soil deeply
The seeds grow well as crops.

Nikhil: A farmer takes his plough,
Tills the soil in the field deep,
Unmindful of rain or sun,
Before seeds' plantation.

He sows healthy seeds,
And serves water to fields.
Normally it takes six months
For seeds to grow as crops.

Till then he must keep a vigil
From stray cows and bulls
To prevent those animals
From grazing fully grown crops.
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104/08. ஏரினும் நன்றால் எருவிடுதல்; கட்டபின்
நீரினும் நன்றதன் காப்பு.

104/08. Earinum nandrral earuvidudhal; kattapin
Neerinum nandrradhan kaappu.

104/08. Land must be ploughed, fertilized,
watered, sown seeds and finally
grown up crops well guarded.
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Jagmohan: The process of farming is well
Explained here by the poet.

Nikhil: Every step he explains
Staring from tilling the soils,
Until safeguarding the crops,
After removing all weeds.

These steps are being taken
By farmers even now, one by one,
As was done long time back,
Say, some 2000 years back.

Now with modernization,
There is mechanization
Done in all farming sectors,
With less manual labors.
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104/09. செல்லான் கிழவன் இருப்பின் நிலம்புலந்து
இல்லாளின் ஊடி விடும்.

104/09. Sellaan kizhavan iruppin nilampulandhu
Illaallin oodi vidum.

104/09. The owner of the land,
if he does not visit his land,
That land will feel sorry and like his wife
will refuse to give him food.
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Jagmohan: If he cares not for land
Then land will not care for him
And it will remain barren.

Nikhil: The land that gives food,
Must be well respected,
Otherwise, it'll remain barren,
And will not serve anyone.

If the owner is lazy to visit it,
It'll not give what he wants,
Only when he sows the land
He can then reap the land.

At home, if he remains,
Will the land give him grains?
Will his wife serve him food?
He must think, it is no good.
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104/10. இலம்என்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரை காணின்
நிலம்என்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்.

104/10. Ilamendrru asaie iruppaarai kaannin
Nilamennum nallaall nagum.

104/10. If the land owners are lazy saying there is no money,
then Goddess of Earth will laugh at them.
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Jagmohan: If he works hard on the land
It will give him plenty of money.

Nikhil: A person keeping butter
In his hand was searching for ghee,
If he takes pain to melt butter
He'll then get his fine ghee.

A farmer can earn money,
If he makes use of his land,
But he's waiting for money,
To make use of his land.

This is a lame excuse
A lazy farmer makes,
Not realizing his mistakes,
Shifting his blame on others.
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