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K165 and K166 of Canto Xvii of the Thiruk-Kural With Translations and Commentary
K165 and K166 of Canto Xvii of the Thiruk-Kural With Translations and Commentary
165 and K166 of CANTO XVII of the THIRUK-KURAL with Translations and Commentary (continued)
(Commentary: The more I delve into Thiru-Valluvar's work, the more I'm convinced that it's not in each and every couplet that the poet's inestimable worth is ingrained; rather the self-imposed "decade" for each topic appears to be an exercise in flexing his mental poetic muscles.
For instance, take K166 - see here below - the author wants us to believe that the envious person will lose his kith and kin, his clothing and food supply. The question is, do those who conserve all the above: relatives, clothing and food, are they - all things being equal - NOT envious. I would not be wrong in thinking that most people enjoy the favours of their relatives, are pretty well clothed {at the risk of being arrested on the charge of indecency}, and survive through imbibing some sort of victuals. Are all these people then NOT envious-minded? I have a feeling Thiruvalluvar is just trying to drive terror into the hearts of those who may be inclined towards being envious. If, on the contrary, he is right, then it would follow that the vast majority of the humankind is not plagued with envy, and so we may all skip this chapter in the book, for it would become redundant. And then again, he may merely be indulging in "filling in" the decade for some other purpose, and I think I can explain why. Not now though.
I leave you to contemplate on the following distique of his:
uduppathuum unnpathuum kaanin pirarmeel
vadukkaana varraakum kiil
The base will bring an evil (accusation) against others, as soon as he sees them (enjoying) good food and clothing (Transl. Drew & Lazarus)]
T. Wignesan, June 4, 2017.
K165: alukkaaru udaiyaarkku athusaalum onnaar
valukkiyum keediin pathu
Envy they have within! Enough to seal their fate?
Though foemen fail, envy can ruin consummate. (Transl. G.U. Pope)
To those who cherish envy that is enough. Though enemies fail (in their attempts), that
will bring destruction. (Transl. Drew & Lazarus)
Those riven by envy even if enemies falter in their efforts to wreak harm on them, they will perish of their own accord. (Transl. T. Wignesan)
K166: koduppathu alukkarupaan curram
uduppathuu um unpathu um inrik kedum
Who scans good gifts to others given with envious eyes,
His kin, with none to clothe or feed them, surely die. ( Transl. G.U. Pope)
He who is envious at a gift (made to another), his relations and even his clothing and his food will utterly perish. (Transl. Drew & Lazarus)
Should one espy with envy what is given to others, he will lose the favours of his kith and kin, and even his clothing and his food supply. (Transl. T. Wignesan)
© T. Wignesan - Paris, 2017
Copyright © T Wignesan | Year Posted 2017
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