Following is the translation of Thirukkural, a discourse on ethics, its author is Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, who lived around 3rd Century. Its translation is done by Mr. NV Subbaraman, he lives in Chennai.

Chapter 53

Cherishing kith and kin.

 

அதிகாரம் 53

சுற்றம் தழால்

 

                                                                              ~*~

Original

பற்றற்ற கண்ணும் பழைமைபா ராட்டுதல்

சுற்றத்தார் கண்ணே உள.

Pronunciation

Patratra kaNNum pazaimaipaaraattudhal

Sutraththaar  kaNNae uLa.

Translation

Though fortune goes off

Men who value old friendship

Love, never leaves off.

Comment

Good relationship maintains the old friendship and speaks with love even if one’s fortune is gone and is in dire poverty.

                                                                              ~*~

Original

விறுப்புஅறாச் சுற்றம் இயையின், அருப்புஅறா

ஆக்கம் பலவும் தரும்.

Pronunciation

Viruppuaraach chutram iyaiyin aruppu araa

AAkam palavum tharum.

Translation

Kinship full of love

Gets them all wealth on the earth

Never withers great.

Comment

When one gets a kinship with love that never fades, brings him all the wealth on earth.

                                                                              ~*~

Original

அளவளாவு இல்லாதான் வாழ்க்கை குளவளாக்

கோடுஇன்றி நீர்நிறைந் தற்று.

Pronunciation

ALavaLaavu illaadhaan  vaazkkai kuLavaLaak

Koadu inri neerniraindh thatru.

Translation

Kinless wealth a tank

That overflows sans control

As if has no bank.

Comment

One’s life not interested in loving and respecting kinship, is like a tank without bank on any side where water simply drains without any control.

                                                                               ~*~

Original

சுற்றத்தால் சுற்றப் படஒழுகல் செல்வம்தான்

பெற்றத்தால் பெற்ற பயன்.

Pronunciation

Sutraththaal sutrap padaozugal selvamthaan

Petraththaal petra payan.

Translation

To gather wealth great

Is living with the kins in

Love and joy a treat!

Comment

It is like reaping advantage with wealth, when one lives around his kith and kin.

 

                                                                              ~*~

Original

கொடுத்தலும் இன்சொலும் ஆற்றின் அடுக்கிய

சுற்றத்தால் சுற்றப் படும்.

Pronunciation

Koduththalum insolum aatrin adukkiya

Sutraththaal sutrap padum..

Translation

When one lives with kin

Words of love and life of help

His friends ever in.

Comment

When one helps his kin with action and speaks with words of love, they are ever around him.

                                                                              ~*~

 Original

பெரும்கொடையான் பேணான் வெகுளி அவனின்

மருங்குஉடையார் மாநிலத்து இல்.

Pronunciation

Perumkodaiyaan paeNaan veghuLi avanin

Marungku udaiyaar maanilaththu il.

Translation

Free from wrath and gives

Everything to others

Sans friends never goes.

Comment

One who is ready to share his all by giving and is free from anger, he is ever surrounded with kith and kin.

 

                                                                              ~*~

Original

காக்கை கரவா கரைந்துஉண்ணும்; ஆக்கமும்

அன்னநீ ரார்க்கே உள.

Pronunciation

Kaakkai karavaa karaindhu uNNum aakkamum

Annanee raaarkkae uLa.

Translation

Crows hide not and share

If man has welfare at heart

He has friends lot there.

Comment

Crows never hide its food and but call others and share; if men similarly have welfare of others at heart they have a lot of kith and kin around them.

                                                                              ~*~

Original

பொதுநோக்கான் வேந்தன் வரிசையா நோக்கின்

அதுநோக்கி வாழ்வார் பலர்.

Pronunciation

Podhunoakkaan vaendhan varisaiyaa noakkin

Adhu noakki vaazvaar palar.

Translation

When king helps on merit

Sans treating all at par wrong

People’s praise he gets.

Comment

When a ruler understands the merits of the individuals and extends all help, he is ever in receipt of admiration by all his subjects.

                                                                              ~*~

Original

தமராகித் தந்துறந்தார் சுற்றம் அயராமைக்

காரணம் இன்றி வரும்.

Pronunciation

Thamaraagith thanthurandhaar sutram ayaraamaik

KaaraNam inri varum.

Translation

Forsaken return

As friends when the cause is known

Continue friendship.

Comment

When the cause of broken friendship is understood in the right sense, those who left earlier do come back and continue friendship.

                                                                              ~*~

Original

உழைப்பிரிந்து காரணத்தின் வந்தானை, வேந்தன்

இழைத்துஇருந்து எண்ணிக் கொளல்.

Pronunciation

Uzhaippirindhu kaaraNaththin vandhaanai vaendhan

Izhaiththu irundhu eNNitk koLal.

Translation

The ruler must test

Permit kinship when old friends

Forsaken return.

Comment

When friends leave for no ostensible reason and return again, the king must test the genuineness and permit.