Tirukkural Chapter 105 – Couplets 4,5,6

திருக்குறள் -TIRUKKURAL
அதிகாரம் 105 – நல்குரவு.
CHAPTER 105 – ON POVERTY
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105/04. இற்பிறந்தார் கண்ணேயும் இன்மை இளிவந்த
சொற்பிறக்கும் சோர்வு தரும்.

105/04. Irrpirrandhaar kannoyum inmai illivandha
Sorrpirrakkum soarvu tharum

105/04. If poverty comes even a good man
Born in a reputed family
Will be tired of facing shame
In the form of wild rumors about him.
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Alpana: If a rich man is wrong money protects him.
If a poor man is right, poverty just rejects him.

Upasana: Money makes many things.
Poverty destroys many things.
A rich man always commands
A poor man always obeys.

In a cycle of sudden events,
A rich turns as a poor man,
Or a poor turns as a rich man,
But it happens one in a million.

Poverty can be eliminated,
If all people are educated
And they stand on their own legs
With no support from others.
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105/05. நல்குரவு என்னும் இடும்பையுள் பல்குரைத்
துன்பங்கள் சென்று படும்.

105/05. Nalkuravu ennum idumbaiyull palkuraith
Thunbangall sendrru padum.

105/05. Due to one’s suffering of poverty,
All other evils will come to him automatically.
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Alpana: Poverty is not single evil
But it is associated with other evils.

Upasana: It goes without telling
Poverty is not a single thing,
But accompanied by many evils,
On a poor man’s head it prevails.

This poverty knows no limit,
When one is destined to get it,
And under frustration many die,
When their sufferings go high.

Poverty knows no boundary,
As it spreads in every country,
With its wild clutching arms,
Like eight arms of an octopus.
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105/06. நற்பொருள் நன்குணர்ந்து சொல்லினும் நல்கூர்ந்தார்
சொற்பொருள் சோர்வு படும்.

105/06. Narrporull nangunnarndhu sollinum nalkoorndhaar
Sorrporull soarvu padum.

105/06. If a poor man says with all his good experience
His words will carry no weight.
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Alpana: If a rich man says a lie, people will believe him.
If a poor man says the truth, no one will take it.

Upasana: It is just an irony of fate,
For some people to say it,
A poor man’s words carry no weight
While a rich man is always right.

A poor man with rich experience
Gives others a practical advice
But none is there to honor it
And many are there to reject it.

A rich man with no experience,
When impractical advice he gives,
None is there to oppose it,
And many are there to accept it.
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