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Tirukkural: Getting close to the original |
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In Spirit, Content and Style |
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The 'choicest' of all translations in
English |
Edited by: N.V.K. Ashraf
This Tirukkural translation in English is drawn from a comparative study of 25 different translations. Sixteen of these were either complete or partial translations and the remaining nine were translations that appeared in articles, monographs and books authored by different people on Tirukkural and Tiruvalluvar. The choicest translation 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 etc.) in a separate column. The initials have been expanded with the full names of these translators at the end of this page. 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: Comparing Tirukkural translations to unfold the best.
Division I. Virtue
| 011 | Realizing gratitude | Translators | Notes |
| 0101 |
Neither earth nor heaven can truly repay Spontaneous aid. |
PS | |
| 0102 |
A timely help, though small, Is of greater value than all the earth. |
DZ | |
| 0103 |
The help given without weighing the return,
When weighed, outweighs the sea. |
SB, NV | |
| 0104 |
To the discerning even millet of aid Is as big as a palm tree. * |
PS | |
| 0105 |
Not according to the aid but its receiver Is its recompense determined. |
PS | Yes |
| 0106 |
Forget not the friendship of the pure, Nor forsake friends who supported in trouble. * |
VS | |
| 0107 |
The good remember through all seven births The friends who wiped their tears. |
PS | |
| 0108 |
To forget a good turn is not good, and good
it is To forget at once what isn't good. |
PS | |
| 0109 |
Even a deadly hurt is soon effaced, If one recollects a past good turn. |
DZ | |
| 0110 |
One may slain every goodness and yet
escape, But no escape for one who slain gratitude. |
SS | Yes |
Notes:
105. Compare with 87. "The gains of hospitality cannot be reckoned. Their
worth depends on the guest" - PS
110. Crisp alternate translation, but not close to original: "All other
sins may be redeemed, except ingratitude" - PS
| 012 | Impartiality | Translators | Notes |
| 0111 |
Justice may be called good only when it
acts impartially Regardless of the class of men. * |
SS, DL | Yes |
| 0112 |
The wealth of a just man, without decline,
Passes intact to his posterity. * |
PS | |
| 0113 |
Though profitable, turn away From unjust gains without delay. |
SB | |
| 0114 |
The just and unjust shall be known By what they leave behind. |
PS | |
| 0115 |
Adversity and prosperity come and go, But an unbiased heart adorns the noble. |
NV | |
| 0116 |
If your thoughts show signs of doing injustice, Know that misfortune awaits you. * |
CR | |
| 0117 |
The world will not deem as poverty The low estate of virtuous men who dwell in equity. * |
DL | |
| 0118 |
To be unbiased like an unswerving weighing
scale Is an ornament for the great. * |
PS, SI | |
| 0119 |
Equity is words without bias And it comes from a firm, unbiased mind. * |
PS | |
| 0120 |
A merchant's best merchandise Is tending other's goods as his own. |
PS |
Notes:
111. The three class or divisions of men are said to enemies, strangers and
friends.
| 013 | Possession of self control | Translators | Notes |
| 0121 |
Self-control takes one to the gods; Want of it will push one into utter darkness. |
CR | |
| 0122 |
Guard self-control as a treasure; There is nothing more precious in life. |
PS | |
| 0123 |
Those who follow the wise path of
self-restraint Are conferred with virtuous fame. |
NV | |
| 0124 |
More imposing than a mountain Is the stature of the steadfast and self-controlled. * |
SS, PS | |
| 0125 |
Humility is good for all But is an added richness to the rich. |
PS | |
| 0126 |
Like a tortoise, withdraw your five senses
in one birth, To protect you in the next seven. |
NV | |
| 0127 |
Guard your tongue if nothing else; For words unguarded cause distress. |
PS | |
| 0128 |
A bitter word, even if said once, Can undo all the good intended. |
NV | |
| 0129 |
The wound caused by fire will heal within,
But not the scar left by the tongue. |
PS | |
| 0130 |
Virtue waits for a timely entry on the path
of one Who curbs wrath and learns self restraint. |
NV |
| 014 | Possession of decorum | Translators | Notes |
| 0131 |
Discipline is more precious than life
itself, For it is discipline that confers eminence. * |
CR, GV | |
| 0132 |
Strive and preserve good conduct; By any reckoning, you will find it your sole companion. * |
JN | |
| 0133 |
Propriety of conduct is great birth, And impropriety will sink into a mean birth. * |
DL | |
| 0134 |
Scriptures forgot can be recapitulated; Bad conduct debases a Brahmin and his birth. * |
PS, JN | |
| 0135 |
Just
as jealousy can’t lead to prosperity, So also impropriety to greatness. * |
KV | |
| 0136 |
The strong-willed do not shrink from right
conduct; They know its breach will spell ruin. * |
DZ | |
| 0137 |
Right conduct exalts one, while a bad name Exposes one to undeserved disgrace. |
PS | |
| 0138 |
Good conduct sows good, And from bad springs eternal trouble. |
PS | |
| 0139 |
Men of good conduct cannot speak ill Even by a slip of tongue. |
PS, JN | |
| 0140 |
Those are fools, however learned, Who have not learnt to walk with the world. |
PS | Yes |
Notes:
140. Compare with 426. "It is a part of wisdom to conform to the ways of
the world" - VS
| 015 | Not coveting another's Wife | Translators | Notes |
| 0141 |
Those who realize the benefit of virtue Don't commit the folly of desiring another's wife. |
JN, NV | |
| 0142 |
No sinner so foolish as he who lurks At the door of another's wife. |
PS | |
| 0143 |
No different from the dead are those Who wickedly desire the wife of a friend. |
SS | |
| 0144 |
What does greatness avail if one without
even least guilt Goes into another's home? * |
DL, PS | |
| 0145 |
Erring with another's wife may seem easy, But disgrace will be irredeemable for all time.* |
CR | |
| 0146 |
The adulterer has no respite from these
four: Hatred, sin, fear and disgrace. * |
VS | |
| 0147 |
He is a virtuous householder Who does not covet another's wife. * |
PS | |
| 0148 |
The manliness that scorns adultery Is both virtue and propriety for the great. * |
PS | |
| 0149 |
Who deserves all the good in this world?
He who clasps not the arms of another's wife! * |
VS, SB | |
| 0150 |
You may trespass the bounds of other
virtues, But not the bounds of another's wife. |
NV |
| 016 | Forbearance | Translators | Notes |
| 0151 |
To bear insults is best, like the earth Which bears and maintains its diggers. |
PS | |
| 0152 |
Forgive transgressions always, Better still forget them. |
PS | |
| 0153 |
The want of wants is to be inhospitable, The might of might to suffer fools. |
PS | |
| 0154 |
If you desire that greatness should never
leave, Foster the conduct of forbearance. |
DL, SS | |
| 0155 |
Avengers are despised as worthless, Forbearers are prized as gold. |
PS, GU | |
| 0156 |
Retaliation gives but a day's joy; Forbearance brings glory for all time. |
CR | |
| 0157 |
Though unjustly afflicted by others, pity
them And refrain from unrighteous response. * |
SS | |
| 0158 |
Let a man conquer by his forbearance Those who wrong him with arrogance. * |
SS | Yes |
| 0159 |
More pure than ascetics are they Who bear the insult of transgressors. * |
SB | |
| 0160 |
Fasting and penance of the great Come next only to bearing insults of others. |
PS, NV |
Notes:
158: Alternate translation but not close to original: "Conquer with
forbearance the excess of insolence" - PS
| 017 | Not envying | Translators | Notes |
| 0161 |
Deem virtuous that heart of men Who by nature are not jealous. * |
SB | |
| 0162 |
No blessing is so great as a nature That is free from all envy. |
VS | |
| 0163 |
One who eyes the growth of others with envy
Forfeits the wealth of virtue. |
JN | |
| 0164 |
Those who know the woes of evil deeds, Dare not do wrong out of envy. * |
JN | |
| 0165 |
The envious need no other foes; Their envy is more than enough. * |
PS | |
| 0166 |
A man who envies charitable deeds Will see his folk perish - naked and starving. * |
PS | |
| 0167 |
The goddess of fortune departs the envious,
Introducing him to her elder sister. * |
DL | Notes |
| 0168 |
That sin called envy slays fortune And leads one to the swirl pool of evil. * |
GU, JN | |
| 0169 |
The prosperity of the envious And the poverty of the righteous will be pondered. * |
DL | |
| 0170 |
None has gained through envy, Nor have the un-envious ever lost. * |
PS |
Notes:
167. The elder sister is the goddess of misfortune. KV's translation is
crisp though not literal. "Fortune disapproves the envious and will leave giving
way to misfortune"