Chapters 71 to 80

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translation in English is drawn from translations by more than 25 different authors - mostly published in print, some unpublished and some in press.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 (Continued)

071	Mind reading	Translators	Notes
0701	He is a jewel on this sea-girt earth Who can read a thought without being told.	PS
0702	Deem that man on par with God Who can divine with conviction what is in the heart.	NV, VS
0703	He is worth any price who by intuition can read another's thought.	PS
0704	A thought reader may resemble other men But is a class apart.	PS, NV
0705	What use are the eyes among senses, If they cannot read a man's thoughts on his face? *	PS
0706	Like a mirror that shows what is in front, The face reveals the affairs of the mind. *	PS, NV
0707	What can be more expressive than the face To reveal the mind's pleasure and pain?	NV
0708	Just standing in front would suffice For those who can read the mind on face.	SB
0709	Those familiar with the language of eyes Can read from eyes both love and hatred. *	SS, JN
0710	You will find smart people use nothing but eyes As a yardstick for measure.	NV

072	Knowing an assembly	Translators	Notes
0711	Meticulous masters of words Must judge the council before they speak.	PS, NV
0712	Should skilled orators wish to speak, Let them study the occasion with care. *	PS	Yes
0713	Only poor orators, good for nothing, speak at length Without knowing the audience. *	PS
0714	Before the bright, be brilliant light. Before the dull, assume mortar white. *	SB	Yes
0715	The best amongst all good qualities Is the modesty to holdback before elders. *	PS, DL
0716	To slip before men of wide learning Is like slipping from the path of righteousness. *	SB	Yes
0717	The scholarship of a scholar shines In an assembly of meticulous scholars. *	PS
0718	Speaking before a receptive audience Is like watering a nursery of growing plants.	NV
0719	Don't tell an assembly of fools even forgetfully Things meant for the wise.	PS
0720	To deliberate with people of dissimilar interests Is like spilling nectar in the drain. *	KK

Notes:
712. KV's translation is a fitting explanation: "The style and content of a speech should be in tune with the mood and atmosphere of the assembly"
714. "Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise" – Gray.

716. This is yet another couplet in Tirukkural where the interpretation of a single word could change the simile [like couplet 20].  Here the word "ஆற்றின்" could mean either "path" or "river". The phrase could be read as "ஆற்றில்" or "ஆற்றின்" நிலை தளர்ந்து அற்றே. Parimelazhagar interprets this as "spiritual path", Kalingar, Manakkudavar and Pariperumal as "righteous path" and Parithiyar alone as "river".

073	Fearlessness in assembly	Translators	Notes
0721	The pure skillful orators, knowing the council's strength, Never fail in their speech. *	SB, NV
0722	Most learned among the learned is he Whose learning the learned accept.	PS
0723	Many are ready to even die in battle, But few can face an assembly without nerves.	NV
0724	Let the learned learn from you, And you from one more learned.	PS
0725	Study the science of logic so that you may Fearlessly reply in any assembly.	SS
0726	What use is a sword to cowards And books to those who fear assembly? *	PS, NV
0727	As a sword to a eunuch before his foes, Is the learning to one who fears assembly. *	GU, VS	Yes
0728	They are useless however learned Who cannot impress a learned assembly. *	PS
0729	Scholars dread of facing an assembly of good men Are ranked lower than the ignorant.	NV
0730	Those stage-fearing who keep their learning to themselves, Though living, are dead. *	PS

Notes:
727: Compare with 726. Very similar import but words employed by Valluvar for composition are different. Also with 614: “The liberality of the indolent man will not endure, like a sword in eunuch’s hand”.* (VS)

074	Country	Translators	Notes
0731	Unfailing harvests, learned men and honest traders Constitute a country. *	PS
0732	A land is known for its great wealth Of abundant produce that never declines.	NV
0733	An ideal land bears all burdens that befall And yet pays all taxes to the king. *	PS
0734	That is a land which is free of much hunger, Incessant plagues and ravaging enemies.	NV
0735	That is a land free from factions, Ruinous traitors and terrorists harassing kings.	MS, JN
0736	Call that a leading land that knows no evil days, And whose yields don't cease even if they come. *	PS
0737	A land's limbs are waters from rains, Springs and well placed hills, and strong fortress. *	PS	Yes
0738	A country's jewels are these five: Unfailing health, Fertility, joy, security and wealth. *	GU
0739	Call that a land which yields without toil. That is no land where toil precedes yield. *	PS
0740	Even if endowed with all blessings, a country is no worth If not blessed with a ruler. *	VS

Notes:
737. Compare with 742. "Blue water, open space, hills and thick forests constitute a fortress. - PS

075	Fortress	Translators	Notes
0741	A fortress is an asset to the offender As well as to those who seek refuge in defence.	NV
0742	Blue water, open space, hills and thick forests Constitute a fortress.	PS	Yes
0743	Books declare that a fort should have these four: Height, breadth, strength and difficult access. *	GU
0744	A fortress, ample in space and easy to defend, Spoils the might of the foe. *	JN
0745	A good fortress is hard to seize, well-supplied And suited to those within.	PS
0746	With all materials stocked inside, A fort should have brave soldiers as well. *	KV, PS
0747	Hard to capture a fort that withstands Besieging, artillery and treachery.	NV, SS
0748	Even if encircled by besieging foes, A fortress enables the besieged to win.	NV
0749	A good fort gains fame frustrating its siege At the outset of the battle. *	PS
0750	A fortress, however grand, amounts to nothing If its defenders are meek.	NV

Notes:
742. Compare with 737. "A land's limbs are waters from rains, springs and well placed hills, and strong fortress" * - PS

076	Acquiring wealth	Translators	Notes
0751	There is nothing like wealth To make the worthless worthy.	PS
0752	Everyone despises the poor While the rich are exalted by all.	PS, SS
0753	The unfailing light called wealth can dispel darkness Even in far reaching lands.	NV
0754	Wealth acquired sinless and well, Yields both virtue and happiness.	PS
0755	Discard and let go the wealth Obtained without love and grace.	NV	Yes
0756	Unclaimed wealth, spoils of war and wealth from taxes Are all rulers' wealth. *	DL, SS
0757	The offspring of love 'graciousness' is nursed By that generous foster-mother 'wealth'.	JN, NV
0758	A wealthy man's undertakings Are like elephant-fights witnessed from a hill.	PS
0759	Stock wealth: no steel sharper than that To cut down your foe's pride.	PS
0760	He who makes glorious wealth in plenty, Gains the other two treasures together. *	MS	Yes

Notes:
755: A short and crisp translations, but not close to original: "Wealth unblessed by giver and taker should not be touched" – PS
760. The other two of Trivarga: i.e. Virtue and Love.

077	Excellence of an army	Translators	Notes
0761	A well organized army unafraid of obstacles Is a ruler's greatest of all possessions.	NV
0762	Only seasoned armies show courage in dire straits, To stand fearless despite decimation.	PS, KK	Yes
0763	So what if an army of rats roar like the sea? The hiss of a cobra will silence it.	SS, PS
0764	A true army has a long tradition of valour And knows neither defeat nor desertion. *	SS
0765	A capable army stands together and defies Even if yama attacks in fury. *	PS, DL
0766	Valour, honour, tradition of chivalry and credibility; These four alone are an army's safeguards. *	DL	Yes
0767	An army should withstand and confound The foe's tactics, and advance.	PS
0768	Even if lacking in virtue of offence and defence, An army can gain fame by virtue of its size	NV
0769	An army can triumph if it is free from diminution, Irrevocable aversion and poverty. *	DL
0770	However many and solid the soldiers, An army without a chief will lose its way. *	PS

Notes:
762. SI gives an abstract translation: "When things go wrong, only veterans can stem the rot and turn the tide"
976. yama = God of Death.
 

078	Pride of an army	Translators	Notes
0771	"Foes! Don't stand before my chief. Many who stood now stand as stones!" *	PS
0772	Better collect the spear that missed an elephant Than the arrow that killed a hare. *	PS
0773	Fierce courage is what they call valour, But to help a foe in distress cuts deeper. *	SS, PS
0774	Losing his spear hurled at a tusker, A hero grabs happily the one that pierced him. *	PS	Yes
0775	Is it not shameful for a hero to even let his Watchful eyes wink when a spear is hurled?	NV
0776	The brave shall deem all the days devoid of battle wounds As days gone waste.	SB, PS
0777	That hero, who gives up his life for fame, Is worthy of being adorned with the anklet. *	PS
0778	Even a king's wrath cannot hold back heroes Who do not fear their lives in battle. *	PS, SS
0779	Who dares to despise a man for not fulfilling A pledge he died to fulfill?	PS
0780	If death lies in glory that draws tears from the ruler, It is worth seeking even in alms. *	JN

Notes:

774. i.e. having wounded an approaching elephant with his spike, the soldier looks around for another. Soon spots the one stuck to his body and happily pull it out.

079	Friendship	Translators	Notes
0781	What greater security exists than a secure friendship As a protection against foes? *	SS
0782	Wise men's friendship waxes like the crescent And fools', like the full moon, wanes.	PS
0783	Being with good friends is like reading good books. More time you spend, more the delight.	NV
0784	Friendship is not for merriment But for stern reproach when friends go astray.	NV	Yes
0785	Identity of feelings makes friendship. No need for friends to meet and long together. *	CR
0786	A smiling face alone makes no friendship, But the heart should also smile with the face. *	VR
0787	Friendship saves from ruin, guides towards right, And shares the pain of distress. *	PS, GU
0788	Swift as the hand seizing a slipping garment, Friendship acts to assuage a friend in distress. *	SS
0789	What is the throne of friendship? It is that resolve Of unfailing support given at all time.	NV
0790	To boast, "He means so much to me and I to him," Merely demeans a friendship.	SS	Yes

Notes:
784. Compare with 447 and 795. "Who can ruin the man who commands the friendship of those who can reprove him?" –VS. "Seek a friend who will make you cry, rail and rate when you go astray" – PS

786. Compare with 824. "Beware of those deceits who, with a smiling face, conceal bitterness in their hearts." - NV. Also with 786. Also with 93: “This alone is charity: A welcome with a smiling face and sweet words from the heart” PS, NV
790. In other words: "Where competing claims are boastfully made, that friendship is demeaning" * - SI

080	Choosing friends	Translators	Notes
0791	Nothing worse than befriending one untried, For friends once made should last forever.	NV, KS
0792	Friendship made without enquiries Can cause lifetime trouble. *	SI	Yes
0793	Make one a friend after knowing his nature, Family, fellows and flaws.	PS
0794	A man of birth and scrupulous honour Is worth seeking even at a price.	PS
0795	Seek a friend who will make you cry, Rail and rate when you go astray.	PS	Yes
0796	Is there any yardstick better than adversity, To spread out and measure friends? *	PS
0797	It is a gain by itself if one gets away From the friendship of fools.	CR
0798	Dwell not in thoughts that dim your spirit And befriend not those who desert in affliction. *	SS
0799	The thought of friend's betrayal in need Rankles even on the deathbed. *	PS
0800	Seek the friendship of the pure, and shake off The worthless even at a price.	PS

Notes:
792. Short and crisp translation of this couplet [but not close to original]: "Make friends in haste and repent at leisure" – PS
795. Compare with 784: "Friendship is not for merriment but for stern reproach when friends go astray" - NV

800. Compare with 794 for similar ideas.  Seek the worthy and shake off the worthless, even at a price.

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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,

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