The Kural
All chapters › Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) › Chapter 38
ஊழ்
Kurals 371–380 of the Thirukkural, in the book of Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்).
ஆகூழால் தோன்றும் அசைவின்மை கைப்பொருள்
போகூழால் தோன்றும் மடி.
Wealth-giving fate power of unflinching effort brings;
From fate that takes away idle remissness springs.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: When luck is with you, you work hard; when it's against you, you get lazy.
Open in the appபேதைப் படுக்கும் இழவூழ் அறிவகற்றும்
ஆகலூழ் உற்றக் கடை.
The fate that loss ordains makes wise men's wisdom foolishness;
The fate that gain bestows with ampler powers will wisdom bless.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Bad luck clouds your judgement; good luck sharpens your mind.
Open in the appநுண்ணிய நூல்பல கற்பினும் மற்றுந்தன்
உண்மை யறிவே மிகும்.
In subtle learning manifold though versed man be,
The wisdom, truly his, will gain supremacy.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: However much you study, the understanding fate gave you will still win out.
Open in the appஇருவேறு உலகத்து இயற்கை திருவேறு
தெள்ளிய ராதலும் வேறு.
Two fold the fashion of the world: some live in fortune's light;
While other some have souls in wisdom's radiance bright.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Fate makes the world uneven: wealth and wisdom don't always go together.
Open in the appநல்லவை எல்லாஅந் தீயவாம் தீயவும்
நல்லவாம் செல்வம் செயற்கு.
All things that good appear will oft have ill success;
All evil things prove good for gain of happiness.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: When fortune turns, good things go bad when making money, and bad things turn good.
Open in the appபரியினும் ஆகாவாம் பாலல்ல உய்த்துச்
சொரியினும் போகா தம.
Things not your own will yield no good, howe'er you guard with pain;
Your own, howe'er you scatter them abroad, will yours remain.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: What fate doesn't give you, you can't keep however hard you try; what it gives, you can't lose even if you throw it away.
Open in the appவகுத்தான் வகுத்த வகையல்லால் கோடி
தொகுத்தார்க்கு துய்த்தல் அரிது.
Save as the 'sharer' shares to each in due degree,
To those who millions store enjoyment scarce can be.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Even people who pile up millions only get to enjoy what fate allows.
Open in the appதுறப்பார்மன் துப்புர வில்லார் உறற்பால
ஊட்டா கழியு மெனின்.
The destitute with ascetics merit share,
If fate to visit with predestined ills would spare.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: If fate didn't keep piling troubles on the poor, they might simply give up desire and find peace.
Open in the appநன்றாங்கால் நல்லவாக் காண்பவர் அன்றாங்கால்
அல்லற் படுவ தெவன்?
When good things come, men view them all as gain;
When evils come, why then should they complain?
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Why are people delighted by good luck but upset by bad, when both come the same way?
Open in the appஊழிற் பெருவலி யாவுள மற்றொன்று
சூழினுந் தான்முந் துறும்.
What powers so great as those of Destiny? Man's skill
Some other thing contrives; but fate's beforehand still.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: What is stronger than fate? Even as you plan to escape it, it's already there ahead of you.
Open in the app