Tirukkural Chapter 97 - Couplets 7,8,9,10 Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Tirukkural Chapter 97 - Couplets 7,8,9,10



திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 97 - மானம்
CHAPTER 97 - HONOUR
***
97/07. ஒட்டார்பின் சென்றொருவன் வாழ்தலின் அந்நிலையே
கெட்டான் எனப்படுதல் நன்று.

97/07. Ottaarpin sendrroruvan vaazhdhalin annilaiyea
Kettaan enappadudhal nandrru.

97/07. Instead of living shamelessly under the mercy of one's enemy,
better he dies when that kind of situation arises.
***
Hamsa: That is the reason the proverb goes to say:
"When honor is lost better to die."

Saroj: Highly sensitive noble persons,
Will give up their lives
Rather than suffering shame
And facing other's blame.

Living under enemy's custody,
Or under the shadow of his mercy,
It is not ideally suited for them
So, death is a source relief for them.

Lifelong they can't live,
Under him as his slaves,
As their honor is lost
For them death is the best.
***
97/08. மருந்தோமற்று ஊனோம்பும் வாழ்க்கை பெருந்தகைமை
பீடழிய வந்த விடத்து.

97/08. Marundhomatrru oonombhum vaazhkkai perunthagaimai
Peedazhiya vandha vidaththu.

97/08. The honor that gives a man a big place, when it is lost, living instead leaving his life,
is it nectar to keep the body eternally?
***
Hamsa: In every couplet the poet suggests
One's death when his honor is lost.

Saroj: Only shameless people will,
Stick to their lives strongly well,
When their honor is lost,
They don't too much mind it.

If a glass tumbler is broken
We throw it in the dust bin
We don't with gum fix it
And once again reuse it.

Like this, emotional men
Will never like to remain,
As persons without honor,
Which they value more.
***
97/09. மயிர்நீப்பின் வாழாக் கவரிமா அன்னார்
உயிர்நீப்பர் மானம் வரின்.

97/09. Mayirneeppin vaazhaak kavarimaa annaar
Uyirneeppar maanam varin.

97/09. Out of Kavari deer's hairs,
if one hair falls down, it will die at once.
Noble persons like Kavari deer they die immediately
When their honor is lost.
***
Hamsa: Every couplet in this chapter speaks of death
As a good relief for one, who has lost his honor.

Saroj: He compares a noble person
Who dies when his honor is lost,
To a Kavari deer which will die
When one of its hairs is lost.

He'll spend, if he lives,
Several sleepless nights,
Recalling those horrors,
That led to his dishonor.

Instead of living like a corpse,
He'll get relieved from worries,
Once he dies without honor,
That'll be the end of his chapter.
***
97/10. இளிவரின் வாழாத மானம் உடையார்
ஒளிதொழுது ஏத்தும் உலகு.

97/10. Illivarin vaazaadha maanam udaiyaar
Ollithozhudhu eaththum ulaghu.

97/10. Those who have lost their honors, when they die,
the world will praise and worship such sensitive persons.
***
Hamsa: Such sensitive persons do exist in the present world
And many die after losing their honors.

Saroj: The world will praise
Such over sensitive persons,
Who die, losing their honors,
As role model lost warriors.

So much importance is given
To this honor saying, everyone
Must keep it in force safely,
Without losing it carelessly.

Otherwise, one's life is at stake,
By taking unnecessary risk,
Of losing one's honor,
And losing his life forever.
***

Saturday, November 19, 2016
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Rajaram Ramachandran

Rajaram Ramachandran

Chennai born, now at Juhu, Mumbai, India
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