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 II. Wealth

Notes:
510. If this verse is taken out of this context of "Testing and choosing", and placed under "Realization" [Chapter 36: மெய்யுணர்தல்], the words "தேரான்" could mean 'muddled', “தெளிந்தான்" could mean "Clarified/realized" and "ஐயுறவும்" could be taken to mean 'doubts'. The couplet then could well mean "The clarity claimed by a muddled-head and the doubts of a Realized, both cause endless trouble". The idea is that the realized souls should no doubts and the unrealized cannot claim to be free of doubts.

 

Notes:
517. In other words, "Delegation is best made to the one who's decidedly well equipped to perform well" - SDR

 

 

Notes:

523. Compare with 215. “The wealth of a wise philanthropist is a village pool ever full” - PS
 

Notes:
540. Compare with couplets 666 and 309. "What is sought will be got as desired if only the seeker is determined" – NV and "All wishes are realized at once if they keep away wrath from their mind" - NV

 

Notes:
555. The couplet is sometimes shown ending with a question mark. The phrase is "கண்ணீரன்றே" and not "கண்ணீரன்றோ". A good abridgment of the verse is given by KV: "The tears resulting from suffering caused by the king will be the cause of his undoing"
560. "அறுதொழிலோர்" here has been taken to mean priests. "Brahmins are they who perform the six duties" says Tirumandiram [224]. While commenting on this mantra, translator B. Natarajan mentions that the six duties of a Brahmin are: To learn, to instruct, to give alms, to receive gifts, to perform sacrifice and to persuade other to perform sacrifices.

Notes:
562. What is meant by this statement is this: "Pretend to be harsh, but act mildly if you want long lasting effect" - KK

Notes:
573. The word "rāgā" means tune or melody.
575. Not only compassion, but also learning is must says Valluvar employing the same idea in couplet 393: “Only the learned have eyes. The unlearned have two sores on their face!” (PS).
579. Compare with 158. "Let a man conquer by his forbearance those who wrong him with arrogance" * -SS

 

 

Notes:
591. Compare with 53 and 591 for similar style: "With a good wife, what is lacking? And when she is lacking, what is good?" – PS and "What is one's own is one's vigour. Without it what does one own?" - PS
596. Compare with 540 for similar idea. "What is aimed is easy to achieve, if only the mind is set on what is aimed" – NV and "What is sought will be got as desired if only the seeker is determined" - NV