Chapters 39 to 50

The Tirukkural: Getting close to the original In Spirit, Content and Style The 'choicest' of all translations in English First edition in 2006; revised edition in 2024 This Tirukkural translation in English is drawn from translations by more than 25 different authors - mostly published in print, some unpublished and some in press. Twenty of these were either complete or partial translations and the remaining ten were isolated translations that appeared in articles, monographs and books authored by different scholars on the Tirukkural and Tiruvalluvar. The choicest translation of every couplet that is close to the original - in spirit, content and style - has been chosen for presentation. Preference has been given for brevity, simplicity and clarity. Emphasize was also laid on translations that manage to reflect, as much as possible, every word found in the original.  Sometimes translations of two authors were combined to produce the best reflection of the original. The translator or translators of every couplet have been acknowledged with their initials (eg. PS, SS, SB, VS, RM etc.) in a separate column. The initials have been expanded with the names of these translators at the end of every page, and the full citation of the source has been given at the end of all translations. When no translation was found particularly satisfactory, I chose to render them myself. These have been marked by initial NV. An astrix (*) at the end of a translation indicate that the rendering has been improved upon, either by adding/replacing words or deleting words found to be unnecessary. To know more on the process of this comparison and criteria of selection, click here: ComparingTirukkural translations to unfold the best.

Division II. Wealth

039	Greatness of the king	Translators	Notes
0381	Who has these six is a lion among kings: An army, subjects, food, ministers, allies and forts.	PS
0382	These four unfailing mark a king: Courage, liberality, wisdom and energy.	PS
0383	A ruler should never lack these three: Diligence, learning and boldness.	PS
0384	He is a honourable king who sticks to virtue, Removes evil, and is spotless in valour. *	PS
0385	He is a king who can do these: Produce, acquire, conserve and dispense.	PS
0386	That king, who is easy of access and soft-spoken, Is extolled in his kingdom. *	PS
0387	The world listens to all the commands of the king Who is sweet-spoken and liberal. *	GU, PS
0388	A just king, who guards over his subjects, Will be deemed god by them.	NV
0389	The world is secure under the parasol of the worthy king Who brooks bitter counsel. *	MS
0390	A light among kings is he who has these four: Grace, bounty, justice and concern. *	PS

040	Learning	Translators	Notes
0391	Learn thoroughly what should be learnt. And having learnt, stand according to that.	NV
0392	They say: Numbers and other one called Letters Are the two eyes to live with. *	VC, PS
0393	Only the learned have eyes. The unlearned have two sores on their face! *	PS	Yes
0394	It is the prowess of scholars that meetings bring delight And departures leave memories. *	SS
0395	The learned learn to humble, like destitute before the rich; Only the low never learn.	NV, SB
0396	The more you dig a sand-spring, more the flow. The more you learn more the wisdom.	NV
0397	Why does one stop learning till he dies When it makes all lands and place his?	PS
0398	The learning acquired in one birth Protects a man in the next seven. *	PS
0399	Seeing that what delights him delights the world, Gets a scholar also delighted. *	PS
0400	The wealth that never declines is learning. All others are not riches.	PS, DL

Notes:
393. Compare with couple 575 where Valluvar uses the same idea to emphasize compassion in eyes: “Compassion is an ornament of the eyes. Without it eyes are deemed sores” (SS)
397. SI's alternate translation: "The learned can feel at home everywhere. Why then shun learning all one's life?"

041	Illiteracy	Translators	Notes
0401	Addressing a gathering with poor scholarship Is like playing dice without a board.	NV
0402	An illiterate's lust for words is like the lust of a woman Who has neither of her breasts.	SM
0403	Even a fool is fine If he can hold his tongue before the wise! *	PS
0404	The learned will not acknowledge An ignoramus' occasional knowledge.	PS
0405	An unlettered man's conceit will find its end When the occasion for speech arrives.	CR
0406	The ignorant are like barren land: They are there, but useless. *	PS
0407	A handsome man without subtle and sharp intellect Has the beauty of a mud-doll.  *	PS
0408	The wealth of the ignorant does more harm Than the want of the learned. *	PS
0409	The ignorant, however high-born, Is lower than the low-born learned.	PS
0410	Amid scholars of celebrated works, Are others like beasts among men.	NV, DL

042	Listening	Translators	Notes
0411	The wealth of wealths is the wealth of hearing; That wealth out-tops all else. *	PS	Yes
0412	When there is no food for the ear, A little can be given to the stomach as well.	GV
0413	As gods in heaven are fed through fire, So men on earth are fed through their ears.	PS
0414	Though unlettered, listen; You will find this a great help in distress.	PS
0415	Words from the lips of upright men Are like a steadying staff in a slippery place.	SS
0416	Listen to the good however little And even that much will bring great dignity.	PS, DL
0417	Those who have sought and heard much Will not talk nonsense even by mistake.	PS
0418	Ears may hear and yet remain deaf, If not drilled by words of instruction.	SS, VS
0419	A modest mouth is hard for those Whose ears lend not to wise counsels.	SB, JN
0420	What matters if they live or die Whose taste is in their tongues, not ears?	PS

Notes:
411. It is Valluvar's style to use the same idea to emphasize an important point. Here he emphasizes the wealth of hearing, at other places on the wealth of grace and learning. i.e. 241. The wealth of wealth is the wealth of grace. Material wealth, even the mean possess. * - SB, PS. 400. The wealth that never declines is learning. All others are not riches - PS, DL.

043	Possession of Wisdom	Translators	Notes
0421	Wisdom is a weapon of defence, An inner fortress no foe can raze.	PS
0422	Wisdom checks the wandering mind And pulls it from ill to good.	PS
0423	The mark of wisdom is to discern the truth From whatever source it is heard.	NV	Yes
0424	Wisdom lies in simplifying intricate facts And grasping that of others, however intricate. *	NV, KV	Yes
0425	Prudence goes with the world, But wisdom is not a lotus to open and shut at will. *	PS
0426	It is a part of wisdom to conform To the ways of the world.	VS	Yes
0427	The wise know what comes next. The unwise lack that wisdom.	PS, SB
0428	It is folly not to fear what ought to be feared. The wise dread what ought to be dreaded. *	SS	Yes
0429	No frightful evil shocks the wise Who guard against surprises.	SB
0430	Those who have wisdom have all: Fools with all have nothing.	PS

Notes:
423. Compare with 355. "Wisdom is to ascertain reality in whatever way things are presented" - KK
424. KV's full explanatory translation. "Wisdom lies in making anything easy for others to understand, and easily understanding what others say, however intricate"  
426. Compare with 140. "Those are fools, however learned, who have not learnt to walk with the world" - PS
428. Compare with 201. "The sinful will not dread; the great will dread the wanton pride of sinful action" - MS

044	Faults	Translators	Notes
0431	Freedom from arrogance, anger and meanness Spells dignity in greatness.	DZ
0432	Miserliness, undignified pride and fraudulent indulgence Are flaws in a king.	DL, NV
0433	To those ashamed of wrong doings, Even millet of fault is as big as a palm-tree. *	VR, PS	Yes
0434	Guard against error as you would guard wealth, For error is a foe that kills.	PS
0435	A life that does not guard against faults Would vanish like a heap of straw before fire. *	PS
0436	How can a king be faulted who removes his own fault Before seeing that of others? *	PS
0437	The miser's wealth, unspent on what should be spent, Does not increase but cease. *	PS, NV
0438	That miserliness which clings to men Is one thing that stands out among all sins.	NV
0439	Never flatter yourself, Nor delight in deeds that bring no good. *	PS
0440	Keep your delights in pleasures unknown To keep the designs of your foes at bay.	NV

Notes:

433. It is simply because, as Valluvar says in couplet 965, “Even a hill-like eminence can be brought low by deeds as small as a speck.” Also compare with couplets 104 & 1282 for the use of same similes “Millet” and “Palm tree”. “To the discerning even millet of aid is as big as a palm tree.” and “Where love is as large as a palm tree, even millet of sulk is misplaced”.

045	Company of the great	Translators	Notes
0441	Value and secure the friendship Of the virtuous, mature and wise.	PS
0442	Ally with them who can allay your present ills And avert those to come. *	SS, PS
0443	The rarest of rare things is to seek and secure The friendship of the great.	PS
0444	The greatest of all strengths come from Associating with one greater than oneself. *	KV
0445	A king's counselors are his eyes To be chosen with careful counseling.	NV, PS
0446	Foes are rendered ineffective by one Who lives in fellowship with the worthy. *	SS
0447	Who can ruin the man who commands The friendship of those who can reprove him?	VS
0448	A king unguarded with reproving counsel Needs no foes to come to grief. *	PS
0449	There can be no gain without capital, And no stability unpropped by wise counsel.	PS
0450	To give up good friends is ten times worse than Being hated by countless foes.	SB

Notes:
447. Compare with 795 and 784. "Seek a friend who will make you cry, rail and rate when you go astray" – PS. "Friendship is not for merriment but for stern reproach when friends go astray" - NV

046	Avoiding mean company	Translators	Notes
0451	The great fear the company of the base. Only the mean take them as kinsmen.	NV
0452	Nature of soil governs the quality of water. One's wisdom by the nature of company.	NV
0453	Perceptions spring from nature And character from company.	PS
0454	Wisdom which seems to come from the mind Comes really from one's company.	PS
0455	The pure thought and the pure deed, these two, Come from pure company. *	PS
0456	Good legacy is for the pure-minded. No evil deeds befall men of pure company.	NV
0457	A good mind is an asset to everyone While good company contributes to glory.	PS
0458	Even though the wise have a good mind, They strengthen it by good company. *	NV, PS
0459	Purity of mind leads to heaven, But even that is secured by good company.	SS, PS
0460	There is no greater aid than good company, Nor worse affliction than bad.	PS

Notes:

452. Compare with 959. Nature of sprout indicates the quality of soil; so does the quality of speech one’s descent. (NV)

047	Planned action	Translators	Notes
0461	Act after taking into account the cost, The benefit and the resultant net. *	PS
0462	Nothing is hard for him who acts with Worthy counsels weighing facts.	SB
0463	The wise will never, in the hope of profit, Launch an undertaking to lose their capital.*	DL	Yes
0464	Those who fear the disgrace of failure Will not launch thoughtless ventures. *	PS
0465	Ill considered aggressive operations serve Only to mobilize and strengthen the enemy.	CR
0466	It is ruinous to do what should not be done, And ruinous to leave undone what should be done.	PS
0467	Think before you launch. To launch and then think is disgrace.	NV	Yes
0468	Undetermined efforts of any scheme Are bound to fail even if backed by many.	NV
0469	Even perfect schemes can fail when there is Imperfection in the division of labour.	NV	Yes
0470	Think and act without incurring scorn. The world will not approve what is improper. *	PS

Notes:
461. Compare with 676. "Weigh well before you plunge: the inputs, impediments and gain" - PS
463. PS would say: "It is not wisdom to lose the capital for the sake of interest"
469. This couplet can be rendered with different meanings:
Even worthy schemes can fail when there is dearth in apportionment of tasks - NV
Even good works go wrong if they don't match the recipient's nature - SI
Even a good scheme goes awry when contributions don't come equally from all - PS, NV
Even reliable schemes can fail when responsibilities are not shared equally - NV

 

048	Knowing the strength	Translators	Notes
0471	Weigh the strengths of the task, yourselves, Opponents, and allies before acting. *	KK
0472	Nothing is impossible for him Who knows his task and strength, and is well set.	PS
0473	Ignorant of their strengths, Many in their zeal have perished midway.	SS, PS
0474	The inadaptable have speedy end Who boast unconcerned of their real strengths.	NV
0475	Too great a load of even peacock-feathers Will break the axle-tree of the cart.	CR
0476	Persisting to climb beyond the terminal branches of a tree Will forfeit one's life.	NV, SS
0477	Know the limit and grant with measure. This is the way to guard your treasure. *	SB
0478	No harm if income is narrow If outgoings are not broad.	PS
0479	A life lived without adjustment to the means May seem to prosper but will perish.	NV	Yes
0480	He who is generous beyond his means Will quickly lose the measure of his wealth.	PS, DL	Yes

Notes:
479. A short and crisp way of putting it: "A spendthrift's life is a phantom that will fade" – PS.
480. Idea expressed here is very similar to the one in 477. 

049	Knowing the time	Translators	Notes
0481	A crow can defeat an owl by day. Kings need the right time to win.	PS
0482	The rope that binds Fortune Is deeds done at the right time.	PS
0483	What is impossible If right means are adopted at the right time? *	PS
0484	Even the world will be yours, If you act choosing the right time and place.	NV
0485	Those who hope for the world wait unperturbed Hoping for the right moment. *	KK
0486	The restraint of an active person Is akin to the retreat of a butting ram.	NV
0487	The wise do not burst with rage. They hold it for the right time.	PS
0488	The best is to bear with your enemy Till the time comes to topple him. *	PS	Yes
0489	Hesitate not to seize opportunities rare, And achieve tasks otherwise hard. *	SS	Yes
0490	Bide your time like the stork, and like it Strike at the opportune moment.	PS, NV

Notes:
488. SB has a daring interpretation. He takes the word "தலை" to mean "head" instead of the usual meaning "chief". His translation reads thus: "Bear with hostilities when you meet them. Fell down their head in fateful time" – SB
489. Compare with 975. If the great achieve anything, it will be deeds rare in achievement. * PS

050	Knowing the place	Translators	Notes
0491	Don't despise your foe, nor start any action Till you find a place to besiege him. *	PS
0492	A fortress gives numerous advantages Even to men of strength and valour. *	PS
0493	Even the weak can fight enemies with determination If they choose the right place.	NV
0494	When fighters fight from strategic locations, Enemies lose their strategic plans.	NV
0495	A crocodile prevails in deep waters; But when out of water, others prevail over it.	NV, PS
0496	A mighty chariot cannot run in the sea, Nor a boat navigate land.	PS
0497	No other aid than courage is needed If one ponders from which place to pounce.	NV, SS
0498	A large army will lose its morale If driven to a place meant for a small one.	NV
0499	Men on their own ground are hard to tackle Even when they lack fortress and strength.	PS
0500	A fearless tusker that defies spearman, if caught in a bog, Will be overcome by jackals. *	JN, PS

---

Key to the initials of different translators:

CR - C. Rajagopalachari	KS - Kasthuri Sreenivasan	SI - K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar
DL -W.H. Drew and  J. Lazarus	KV - K. Krishnaswamy & Vijaya Ramkumar	SM -S. Maharajan
DZ - S.M. Diaz	MS - M.S. Poornalingam Pillai	SS - Satguru  Subramuniyaswami
EL - F.W. Ellis	NC - Norman Cutler	TD - S. Thandapani Desikar
GU - G.U. Pope	NV - N.V.K. Ashraf	TK - T.K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar
GV - G. Vanmikanathan	PS - P.S. Sundaram	VC - V.C. Kulandai Swamy
JN - J. Narayanaswamy	SB - Shuddhananda Bharatiar	VR  - V. Ramasamy
KK - K. Kannan	SD - S.D. Rajendran	VS - V.V.S. Aiyar
KN - K.N. Subramanyam	SG - G. Siromoney, S. Govindaraju & M. Chandrasekaran,

---