Chapters 51 to 60

	Tirukkural: Getting close to the original
	In Spirit, Content and Style
	The 'choicest' of all translations in English

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: ComparingTirukkural translations to unfold the best.  

Division II. Wealth (Continued…..)

051	Testing and choosing	Translators	Notes
0501	Before you trust, test people's attitude to these four: Virtue, wealth, love and survival. *	JN
0502	Noble heritage, freedom from faults and shame of blame Are some norms to choose.	JN
0503	Even the widely-read and faultless, when scrutinized, Are rarely found free of ignorance.	PS, SS
0504	Weigh a man's merits and also his defects. Whichever weighs more is his nature.	VS, PS
0505	A man's deeds are the touchstone of his Greatness and littleness.	DL
0506	Choose not men who have no kindred. With no bonds to restrain, they dread no shame. *	PS, GU
0507	To favour and select the incompetent out of love, Leads to folly in all forms. *	PS, SB
0508	To choose a stranger untried Will trouble one's line without end.	PS
0509	Trust none untried, and after trial Entrust him with the trusted job.	PS, NV
0510	Trusting those untested and suspecting those tested, Both lead to endless trouble. *	SI	Yes

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 have no doubts and the unrealized cannot claim to be free of doubts.

052	Testing and deployment	Translators	Notes
0511	Employ those who prefer to do the good After scanning both good and bad.	NV
0512	Entrust the job to one who can augment revenue, Foster wealth and find out hurdles. *	JN
0513	The qualified possess these four: Affection, wisdom, clarity and contentment.	NV
0514	Put into many tests, they pass. Yet when subjected to different tasks, many fail.	NV
0515	Where knowledge and diligence are required, Don't entrust tasks on personal loyalty.	KV, PS
0516	Weigh well the agent, the task And the time before you act.	PS
0517	Assured this man will do this task this way, Leave it to him.	PS	Yes
0518	After ascertaining what work befits a man, Assign him the responsibility. *	SS
0519	Fortune deserts him who doubts The liberties taken by a devout worker. *	PS, VSS
0520	Nothing goes wrong in the state of a king Who often checks his officials for any wrong.	NV

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

053	Cherishing the kindred	Translators	Notes
0521	Only the kindred, because of their old contact, Show attachment even in adversity.	NV, PS
0522	When kindred show unfailing love, Wealth of all kinds never fail to flow. *	SS, NV
0523	The life of an unattached man Is like a boundless pond flowing unbound.	PS, NV	Yes
0524	To be circled by circles of kin is the benefit One gains by gaining wealth.	NV, PS
0525	Generosity and sweet words enable a man To be circled by circles of kin. *	PS
0526	None in this world has a larger kinship than he Who is liberal and curbs his wrath. *	PS
0527	Crows trumpet their finds and share them. Prosperity also abides with such men.	PS, SS
0528	Many thrive seeing a king who sees case by case, Not seeing mere sameness in all.	SS, NV
0529	Associates who left will return, Once the cause of dissociation is removed.	NV
0530	The king should ascertain the motive of the deserters Who wish to come back.	NV

Notes:

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

054	Avoiding slackness	Translators	Notes
0531	Worse than too much wrath is the laxity Due to too much exultation.	PS
0532	Just as constant want crushes the intellect, Negligence kills repute. *	KV
0533	All writings of the world conclude the same That fame is not for the lax. *	PS
0534	There is no refuge for the coward, Nor is there anything good for the lax.	NV, PS
0535	The negligent unmindful of threats beforehand Will repent for the mistakes later on.	NV, SS
0536	Nothing can equal never being lax With anyone at any time without fail. *	PS
0537	There is nothing too difficult for a man Armed with vigilance.	PS, DL
0538	Cherish and perform praiseworthy acts. To neglect and put off deprives one in seven births. *	SS, MS
0539	When the mind is elated with joy, Think of those who were ruined by neglect. *	DL
0540	What is aimed is easy to achieve, If only the mind is set on what is aimed.	NV	Yes

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

055	Right governance	Translators	Notes
0541	The way is to launch an enquiry, investigate with impartiality, And dispense as per norms.	NV
0542	All the world looks up to heaven for rain And the subjects to their king for justice. *	PS
0543	The scepter of the king furnishes the basic support To virtue and scriptures.	SM
0544	A great kingdom's monarch who rules embracing his subjects Has the world embrace his feet. *	SS
0545	The king who rules according to the law Never lacks rain and corn.	PS
0546	Not his spear but a straight scepter Is what gives a monarch his triumph.	PS
0547	The king guards all the land, and his own rule Will guard him if he is straight.	PS
0548	An indifferent unjust king beyond the reach of his subjects Will sink beyond and perish.	NV
0549	For a king who would guard and cherish his people, To punish crimes is a duty, not defect.	PS
0550	A king punishing criminals by execution Is like a farmer removing weeds from his fields.*	SS

Notes:

545. Relationship between King and Rain has been emphasized by Valluvar in at least three places in Kural. Very similar ideas are conveyed in two couplets of the next chapter on “Misrule”. In 557, Valluvar says “How fares the earth without rain? So fares life under a ruthless king” and in 559 he says “If a king acts contrary to justice, monsoons fail and clouds shed no rain”.

056	Misrule	Translators	Notes
0551	More malicious than a murderer is the king Who rules with injustice and oppression.*	SS
0552	A tyrant taxing his subjects Is like an armed dacoit extorting money. *	KK
0553	A king who fails in his day today affairs Loses his kingdom day by day.	KK
0554	A thoughtless king who abuses his scepter Will lose at once his wealth and subjects.	PS, SB
0555	It is the tears of those groaning under oppression That wear out the prosperity of the king.	VS	Yes
0556	Just rule stabilizes a king. Lacking it his glory fades.	PS
0557	How fares the earth without rain? So fares life under a ruthless king.	PS
0558	Possessions are worse than poverty Under the scepter of an unjust king.	NV, PS
0559	If a king acts contrary to justice, Monsoons fail and clouds shed no rain.	DL, NV
0560	Cows yield less and priests forget their hymns If the protector fails to protect. *	PS	Yes

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"
557. Relationship between King and Rain has been emphasized by Valluvar in at least three places in Kural. In the very next verse 559 Valluvar says “If a king acts contrary to justice, monsoons fail and clouds shed no rain”. Only in the previous chapter on "Just Government" had he stated that "The king who rules according to the law never lacks rain and corn".
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. 

057	Avoiding tyranny	Translators	Notes
0561	Call him king who probes and whose punishment Is deterrent and proportionate.	PS
0562	Raise your hand forcibly but bring it lightly To have a lasting effect.	SDR	Yes
0563	A dictator causing oppression Will have a speedy and certain end.	NV
0564	When a king is decried a tyrant, His life is shortened and end becomes imminent.	NV, PS
0565	The great wealth of one inaccessible and sour-faced Is no better than a demon's. *	PS
0566	If he is unkind and speaks harsh, His lofty wealth ends there without lasting long. *	SS
0567	Harsh words and excessive punishments Are files that grind down a king's might. *	PS
0568	The king who rages but not reflect on his counsel, Will soon see his wealth shrink. *	KK
0569	A king who neglects his defences, Will die of fright at the time of war. *	PS
0570	The earth bears no heavier burden Than a tyrant surrounded by ignorant men. *	PS

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

058	Compassion	Translators	Notes
0571	What truly moves this world Is that ravishing beauty called compassion.	NV, VS
0572	Compassion sustains the world. Without it men are but a burden on earth. *	KV
0573	What use is a rāgā that cannot be sung? Or eyes without sympathy?	PS	Yes
0574	What use are eyes that look like eyes But lack boundless sympathy?	PS
0575	Compassion is an ornament of the eyes. Without it eyes are deemed sores. *	SS	Yes
0576	Like trees earth-bound which cannot move Are eyes unmoved by pity.	PS
0577	Men without sympathy have no eyes; Nor those who have eyes lack sympathy.	NV
0578	This world is theirs who compassionately perform Their duties without fail.	NV
0579	That quality of forbearance and sympathy is the best, Even to those who hurt us.	NV	Yes
0580	Those desirous of refinement will drink with smile Even hemlock when offered. *	PS

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

059	Espionage	Translators	Notes
0581	Spies and classics on statecraft: These two are a king's pair of eyes. *	PS
0582	A king's job is to know in time everything That happens to everyone every day. *	PS
0583	No king has ever succeeded Without considering the news of the spies.	NV
0584	Employees, kinsmen and enemies Are the people a spy should cover.	PS
0585	Able spies are always elusive With perfect guise and fearless eyes.	NV
0586	Disguised as a monk a spy should probe all places Unperturbed despite hardships. *	NV, SS
0587	A spy should ferret out hidden facts And get them verified beyond doubt.	SS, KV
0588	Even what one spy has spied Must be spied through another. *	PS
0589	Let not one spy know another. And act when three spies agree.	PS
0590	Never honour a spy in public Lest your secret should be out.	PS

060	Possessing vigour	Translators	Notes
0591	What is one's own is one's vigour. Without it what does one own?	PS	Yes
0592	Real asset is the asset of a resolute mind. Material assets stay not but flee.  *	PS
0593	Those who have vigour will not lament saying: "We have suffered loss".	PS, NV
0594	To a man of unshaken vigour, Wealth will ask and find its way.	PS
0595	Water level determines the lotus height. A man's stature by the level of his mind.	NV
0596	Let all thy aims be high. Failure then is as good as success. *	PS	Yes
0597	An elephant pierced by arrows stands unperturbed. The courageous relent not in adversities. *	JN
0598	The poor in spirit can never attain the pride of being The generous patrons of the world.	KS, NV
0599	Though huge and sharp-tusked, An elephant fears a tiger when attacked. *	PS
0600	Energy is a man's strength: the immobile are Trees in human form. *	PS

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

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Key to the initials of different translators:

CR - C. Rajagopalachari	KS - Kasthuri Sreenivasan	SI - K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar
DL -W.H. Drew and  J. Lazarus	KV - K. Krishnaswamy & Vijaya Ramkumar	SM -S. Maharajan
DZ - S.M. Diaz	MS - M.S. Poornalingam Pillai	SS - Satguru  Subramuniyaswami
EL - F.W. Ellis	NC - Norman Cutler	TD - S. Thandapani Desikar
GU - G.U. Pope	NV - N.V.K. Ashraf	TK - T.K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar
GV - G. Vanmikanathan	PS - P.S. Sundaram	VC - V.C. Kulandai Swamy
JN - J. Narayanaswamy	SB - Shuddhananda Bharatiar	VR  - V. Ramasamy
KK - K. Kannan	SD - S.D. Rajendran	VS - V.V.S. Aiyar
KN - K.N. Subramanyam	SG - G. Siromoney, S. Govindaraju & M. Chandrasekaran,

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