The Kural
All chapters › Wealth (பொருட்பால்) › Chapter 104
உழவு
Kurals 1031–1040 of the Thirukkural, in the book of Wealth (பொருட்பால்).
சுழன்றும்ஏர்ப் பின்னது உலகம் அதனால்
உழந்தும் உழவே தலை.
Howe'er they roam, the world must follow still the plougher's team;
Though toilsome, culture of the ground as noblest toil esteem.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Farming is hard but it's the best work; however the world moves on, everyone depends on farmers.
Open in the appஉழுவார் உலகத்தார்க்கு ஆணிஅஃ தாற்றாது
எழுவாரை எல்லாம் பொறுத்து.
The ploughers are the linch-pin of the world; they bear
Them up who other works perform, too weak its toils to share.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Farmers are the linchpin of the world; they feed everyone who can't farm.
Open in the appஉழுதுண்டு வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார்மற் றெல்லாம்
தொழுதுண்டு பின்செல் பவர்.
Who ploughing eat their food, they truly live:
The rest to others bend subservient, eating what they give.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Farmers truly live; everyone else depends on them.
Open in the appபலகுடை நீழலும் தங்குடைக்கீழ்க் காண்பர்
அலகுடை நீழ லவர்.
O'er many a land they'll see their monarch reign,
Whose fields are shaded by the waving grain.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Farmers who love their land make their country strong enough to lead others.
Open in the appஇரவார் இரப்பார்க்கொன்று ஈவர் கரவாது
கைசெய்தூண் மாலை யவர்.
They nothing ask from others, but to askers give,
Who raise with their own hands the food on which they live.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: People who live by their own hands never beg; they give to those who do.
Open in the appஉழவினார் கைம்மடங்கின் இல்லை விழைவதூஉம்
விட்டேம்என் பார்க்கும் நிலை.
For those who've left what all men love no place is found,
When they with folded hands remain who till the ground.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: If farmers stop working, even people who have renounced the world can't survive.
Open in the appதொடிப்புழுதி கஃசா உணக்கின் பிடித்தெருவும்
வேண்டாது சாலப் படும்.
Reduce your soil to that dry state, When ounce is quarter-ounce's weight;
Without one handful of manure, Abundant crops you thus secure.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Dry the soil well, and it will grow plenty even without much fertiliser.
Open in the appஏரினும் நன்றால் எருவிடுதல் கட்டபின்
நீரினும் நன்றதன் காப்பு.
To cast manure is better than to plough;
Weed well; to guard is more than watering now
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Fertilising beats ploughing; after weeding, watching over the crop beats watering it.
Open in the appசெல்லான் கிழவன் இருப்பின் நிலம்புலந்து
இல்லாளின் ஊடி விடும்.
When master from the field aloof hath stood;
Then land will sulk, like wife in angry mood.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: If you don't tend your land yourself, it sulks like an angry partner and gives you nothing.
Open in the appஇலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்.
The earth, that kindly dame, will laugh to see,
Men seated idle pleading poverty.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Mother Earth laughs at people who sit idle and cry poverty.
Open in the app