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Thread: Humour in the Tirukural

  1. #11
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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Namaste,

    Thanks EM, keep them coming; humor in religious literature is a rare commodity.

    Pranam.

  2. #12
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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Vannakkam:

    He (Tiruvalluvar) can be quite harsh about it sometimes, but for me that's part of the humour too.

    Chapter 15 - Not Coveting Another's Wife

    - No different from the dead are those who
    wickedly desire the wife of a friend.

    Chapter 90 - Not Offending the Great

    - The most kingly king will tumble from his throne and die,
    should he unleash a towering sage's bridled temper.

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Vannakkam:

    From Chapter 56 - Unjust Reign

    - More malicious than a professional murderer is the monarch
    who rules his people with injustice and oppression.

    (Didn't know there were hit men around 2200 years ago.)

    From Chapter 60 - Possession of Industriousness

    - An industrious mind is a man's real wealth.
    Lacking it, he is immobile - more tree-like than human.

    Aum Namasivaya

  4. #14

    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Namaste,

    Here is one, in Chapter 17: Avoidance of Envy:

    Goddess Fortune, intolerant of those who cannot tolerate others'
    success, introduces them to her sister, Misfortune, and goes away.


    I really like reading this. There is so much wisdom in so few words, and gives wonderful guidelines for which to live one's life.

    Pranam.
    Om Namah Shivaya

  5. #15
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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Vannakkan; Thank you, fem, I had forgotten I had this thread even going, That's what a holiday does.

    Chapter 91 - Avoidance of Drunkenness

    - Those who always sleep are akin to the dead.
    Those who constantly drink are like men who take poison.

    The virtuous damsel called Decency will turn her back
    on men who indulge in the vile vice called drunkenness.

    Aum Namasivaya

  6. #16

    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Namaste,

    Here is another that gave me a chuckle:

    Load too many of them, and even peacock feathers
    would break a sturdy cart's axle.

    Pranam.
    Om Namah Shivaya

  7. #17
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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Vannakkam:

    From Chapter 100 - Possession of Courtesy

    997-
    Though their minds area sharp as a wood rasp,
    men without decency are as wooden as a tree.

    It would have been great to sit with Tiruvalluvar, I bet he was a ton of fun just to be around, just as many of our saints were.

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Vannakkam:

    I apologize if any of these quotes were already mentioned. I have a bad memory, and am too lazy to read the entire thread.

    From Chapter 101 - Wealth that benefits No One

    1001 -
    He who has amassed great wealth but does not enjoy it
    is reckoned as dead, like his unused heap.

    From Chapter 84 - Folly

    834 -

    No fool is more foolish than the one who eagerly expounds
    his learning to others while failing to follow it himself.

    Aum Namasivaya

  9. #19
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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural

    Kural - 580

    பெயக்கண்டும்நஞ்சுண்டமைவர்நயத்தக்க
    நாகரிகம்வேண்டுபவர்.

    Pronounced in English:

    Peyakandum nanjun damaivar nayathakka
    Nagarigam vendu bavar


    Literal Meaning:

    Peyakandum - After witnessing the pouring
    Nanju - Poison
    Undu amaivar - will drink and stay calm
    Nayathankka - praise worthy , worthy of appreciataion
    Nagarigam - Vanity , fashion
    Vendu bavar - one who desires

    My own translation:

    When poison is offered as a beverage, a person desiring impeccable vanity will drink it knowingly.

    Most translations narrate this as a virtue , but I think that Thiruvalluvar is ridiculing the lack of common sense caused by ones desire to keep up with appearances.

  10. #20
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    Re: Humour in the Tirukural


    Kural - 127

    Tamil Text
    யா காவார் ஆயினும், நா காக்க; காவாக்கால்,
    சோகாப்பர், சொல் இழுக்குப் பட்டு.

    English Pronunciation:
    Ya Kaavar Aayinum Na Kaakka Kaavaakkaal
    Sokappar sol ezhukkupattu


    Literal meaning:

    Ya Kaavar Aayinum - One who doesn’t guard anything
    Naa Kaakka - Guard your tongue
    Kaavaakkaal - If you don’t guard it (tongue)
    So Kappar - Guarding of sadness/trouble
    Sol - word from one mouth
    Ezukkupattu - causing blemish

    This is how I translate it:
    Make sure to guard your tongue. If not, the only 'guarding' you will do will be your own troubles and sadness.

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