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K375 and K376 of Canto XXXVIII of the THIRUKKURAL Translated with Commentary

(Biographical details of an author, especially of someone having thrived in a land given to scant regard for documenting history in a systematic manner and in a milieu where the oeuvre took precedence over its creator, may only be useful in elucidating some extraneously relevant literary data. In such a case, one need not lament the fact that we know practically nothing about the author of the Thirukkural. As I have already demonstrated, even his name « Valluvar » is a caste-oriented term, meaning a priest who officiated in a Hindu temple meant only for the purpose of serving the Untouchable caste. Besides, such a priest could not have had access to a vade mecum of knowledge of the entire spectrum of linguistic literary and philosophical aspects of Indian civilization. To attribute his literary skills and wisdom to the apostle St. Thomas or his worldly wiseness to his friendship with the captain of a sloop Eleela Cinkam begs simple common sense.
On the other hand, to claim that he was a native of the Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu on the basis of some linguistic evidence in his work may appear sound at first glance, but in the absence of hard facts about his birth, family circumstances, education and role in society, we can do better than to hoist enormous statues in his memory. The Tamil Nadu government has erected a 133-foot statue off-shore at Kanyakumari in memory of the poet; so have they of contemporary politicians elsewhere who have like the late Chief Minister Jayalalitha fleeced the land and let the State stew in a kind of open sewer for decades now.
My contention that he was an « unjustifiably oppressed » individual stems from the fact that whilst he lived his fellow countrymen did not enshrine his worth in more concrete terms of appreciation, and I would not be wrong in assuming he was the victim of sheer envy on the part of his fellowmen. He had even consecrated a chapter on the subject of ENVY, a form of pestilence that has plagued Tamils, if I’m not mistaken, throughout the ages. He found a way of getting his own back on his detractors, but that is another story for the moment.)
T. Wignesan
   
K375: nallavai ellaa am thiiyavaam thiiyavum
            nallavaam selvam seyatku

All things that good appear will oft have ill success,
All evil things prove good for gain of happiness. (Transl. G.U. Pope)
In the acquisition of property, everything favourable becomes unfavourable,
and  (on the other hand), everything unfavourable becomes favourable (through
the power of fate).  (Transl. Drew and Lazarus)

When in the act of acquiring wealth, all good omens can take a turn for the worse and vice versa.  (Transl. T. Wignesan)

K376  pariyinum aakaavaam paalalla uytthuc
          coriyinum pohkaa thama

Things not your own will yield no good, however you guard with pain;
Your own, howe'er you scatter them abroad, will yours remain.  (Transl. G.U. Pope)
Whatever is not conferred by fate cannot be preserved, although it be guarded with most painful care; and that, which fate has made his, cannot be lost, although one should undertake to throw it away.  (Transl. Drew and Lazarus)

What is meant to be yours is yours to keep, even if you went out of your way to throw it all away.  Contrariwise the same principle applies. (Transl. T. Wignesan)

©  T. Wignesan   Paris, 2017
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