Wealth [from 'proverbs 400' In Tamil] Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

196. Material wealth can ruin a weak, messy foe.
Received gains renew one to crush the foe
and don't retreat. Bribing one to kill the foe
is easier than stabbing him with a spear.

197. O, chief of the thriving coastal land! The deeds
of the rich end well as people welcome them
but the acts of the poor meet a tragic end.
The rich win e'en if they go beyond the seas.

198. O, Chief of the wet fertile lands where the crane
sleeps on the back of the buffalo! No one
digs the pond searching the abode of the frogs.
One who has rare things doesn't seek the customers.

199. O, wench with spear-like eyes! No graceful old
and the graceless young fail to praise the rich.
The people vie with each other to buy
the goods sold by those with virtue.

200. The tiger gives the cover to the forest
once it goes there. The forest also proves
the mighty shelter to the tiger. One owns
one's wealth if not losing it. Wealth too guards one.

201. The bright galaxy of stars repeals the dark
and lightens the world. When the rain drops fall
together, it makes the sea. With low income
if one saves daily it grows in large scale.

202. O, wench wearing shining jewels! The town folks
Shouldn't mock one's indigence for one's capital
of little worth. A weak calf sauntering
in a thoroughfare may be a brave bull soon.

203. O, chief of the wet land! You drain water
from the fields for the paddy sheaves to be reaped.
If the fox licks, will the sea water shrink?
The rich don't mind for the theft of little wealth.

204. A dog won't sniff the head of an old tiger
which lies down starving and bearing the pain
of shrinking skin. If the rich are weak in want,
they won't look low to others.