TIRUKKURAL, Mysticism, reading, forums, Numerology, Sun Signs, Divination

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:54 pm

2.4.12. The Dread of Mendicancy

1061
Ten million-fold 'tis greater gain, asking no alms to live,
Even from those, like eyes in worth, who nought concealing gladly give.
Not to beg (at all) even from those excellent persons who cheerfully give without refusing, will do immense good.

1062
If he that shaped the world desires that men should begging go,
Through life's long course, let him a wanderer be and perish so.
If the Creator of the world has decreed even begging as a means of livelihood, may he too go abegging and perish.

1063
Nothing is harder than the hardness that will say,
'The plague of penury by asking alms we'll drive away.'
There is no greater folly than the boldness with which one seeks to remedy the evils of poverty by begging (rather than by working).

1064
Who ne'er consent to beg in utmost need, their worth
Has excellence of greatness that transcends the earth.
Even the whole world cannot sufficiently praise the dignity that would not beg even in the midst of destitution.

1065
Nothing is sweeter than to taste the toil-won cheer,
Though mess of pottage as tasteless as the water clear.
Even thin gruel is ambrosia to him who has obtained it by labour.

1066
E'en if a draught of water for a cow you ask,
Nought's so distasteful to the tongue as beggar's task.
There is nothing more disgraceful to one's tongue than to use it in begging water even for a cow.

1067
One thing I beg of beggars all, 'If beg ye may,
Of those who hide their wealth, beg not, I pray.'
I beseech all beggars and say, "If you need to beg, never beg of those who give unwillingly."

1068
The fragile bark of beggary
Wrecked on denial's rock will lie.
The unsafe raft of begging will split when it strikes on the rock of refusal.

1069
The heart will melt away at thought of beggary,
With thought of stern repulse 'twill perish utterly.
To think of (the evil of) begging is enough to melt one's heart; but to think of refusal is enough to break it.

1070
E'en as he asks, the shamefaced asker dies;
Where shall his spirit hide who help denies?
Saying "No" to a beggar takes away his life. (but as that very word will kill the refuser) where then would the latter's life hide itself ?

2.4.13. Baseness

1071
The base resemble men in outward form, I ween;
But counterpart exact to them I've never seen.
The base resemble men perfectly (as regards form); and we have not seen such (exact) resemblance (among any other species).

1072
Than those of grateful heart the base must luckier be,
Their minds from every anxious thought are free!
The low enjoy more felicity than those who know what is good; for the former are not troubled with anxiety (as to the good).

1073
The base are as the Gods; they too
Do ever what they list to do!
The base resemble the Gods; for the base act as they like.

1074
When base men those behold of conduct vile,
They straight surpass them, and exulting smile.
The base feels proud when he sees persons whose acts meaner than his own.

1075
Fear is the base man's virtue; if that fail,
Intense desire some little may avail.
(The principle of) behaviour in the mean is chiefly fear; if not, hope of gain, to some extent.

1076
The base are like the beaten drum; for, when they hear
The sound the secret out in every neighbour's ear.
The base are like a drum that is beaten, for they unburden to others the secrets they have heard.

1077
From off their moistened hands no clinging grain they shake,
Unless to those with clenched fist their jaws who break.
The mean will not (even) shake off (what sticks to) their hands (soon after a meal) to any but those who would break their jaws with their clenched fists.

1078
The good to those will profit yield fair words who use;
The base, like sugar-cane, will profit those who bruise.
The great bestow (their alms) as soon as they are informed; (but) the mean, like the sugar-cane, only when they are tortured to death.

1079
If neighbours clothed and fed he see, the base
Is mighty man some hidden fault to trace?
The base will bring an evil (accusation) against others, as soon as he sees them (enjoying) good food and clothing.

1080
For what is base man fit, if griefs assail?
Himself to offer, there and then, for sale!
The base will hasten to sell themselves as soon as a calamity has befallen them. For what else are they fitted ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART III. LOVE

3.1 . The Pre-marital love

3.1. 1 Mental Disturbance caused by the Beauty of the Princess

1081
Goddess? or peafowl rare? She whose ears rich jewels wear,
Is she a maid of human kind? All wildered is my mind!
Is this jewelled female a celestial, a choice peahen, or a human being ? My mind is perplexed.

1082
She of the beaming eyes, To my rash look her glance replies,
As if the matchless goddess' hand Led forth an armed band.
This female beauty returning my looks is like a celestial maiden coming with an army to contend against me.

1083
Death's form I formerly Knew not; but now 'tis plain to me;
He comes in lovely maiden's guise, With soul-subduing eyes.
I never knew before what is called Yama; I see it now; it is the eyes that carry on a great fight with (the help of) female qualities.

1084
In sweet simplicity, A woman's gracious form hath she;
But yet those eyes, that drink my life, Are with the form at strife!
These eyes that seem to kill those who look at them are as it were in hostilities with this feminine simplicity.

1085
The light that on me gleams, Is it death's dart? or eye's bright beams?
Or fawn's shy glance? All three appear In form of maiden here.
Is it Yama, (a pair of) eyes or a hind ?- Are not all these three in the looks of this maid ?

1086
If cruel eye-brow's bow, Unbent, would veil those glances now;
The shafts that wound this trembling heart Her eyes no more would dart.
Her eyes will cause (me) no trembling sorrow, if they are properly hidden by her cruel arched eye-brows.

1087
As veil o'er angry eyes Of raging elephant that lies,
The silken cincture's folds invest This maiden's panting breast.
The cloth that covers the firm bosom of this maiden is (like) that which covers the eyes of a rutting elephant.

1088
Ah! woe is me! my might, That awed my foemen in the fight,
By lustre of that beaming brow Borne down, lies broken now!
On her bright brow alone is destroyed even that power of mine that used to terrify the most fearless foes in the battlefield.

1089
Like tender fawn's her eye; Clothed on is she with modesty;
What added beauty can be lent; By alien ornament?
Of what use are other jewels to her who is adorned with modesty, and the meek looks of a hind ?

1090
The palm-tree's fragrant wine, To those who taste yields joys divine;
But love hath rare felicity For those that only see!
Unlike boiled honey which yields delight only when it is drunk, love gives pleasure even when looked at.