Tirukkural Chapter 04 - Couplets 1,2,3

pதிருக்குறள் -THIRUKKURAL அதிகாரம் 4 - துறவின் சிறப்பு CHAPTER 4 - ON DHARMA *** 04/01. சிறப்பினும் செல்வமும் ஈனும் அறத்தினூங்கு ஆக்கம் எவனோ உயிர்கு. 04/01. Sirappinum selvamum eenum arathinungu Aakkam evano yurikku. 04/01. Is there any wealth more than Dharma, That will liberate one from the worldly bond? *** Son: Maa, Is there anything more than wealth To live happily in this world? Mother: Oh my son, wealth is necessary To manage our daily life, But more than wealth Charitable act leads to heavenly life. There was a rich miser Burying all his wealth Underground for safety Not a coin he gave in charity. One day he went Thro' a hot desert. A camel was tied up To a pole away from a water tub. As it couldn't reach the tub, With his left leg he kicked it, That went near its mouth And it drank the water. For that single charitable act His left leg went to the Heaven, While his body minus leg, For his sinful life, went to the Hell. *** 04/02. அறத்தினூங்கு ஆக்கமும் இல்லை; அதனை மறத்தலின் ஊங்கில்லை கேடு. 04/02. Arathinuungu aakkamum illai; adhanai Marathalin uungillai kedu. 04/02. More than charity, there's no wealth One forgets to do this, meets worst days ahead. *** Son: Maa, they say 'Charity begins at home And it should not end there.' Mother: Yes my son, but charity should be Given to deserving persons. If charity is given to a wrong person, The country will suffer. If wealth is not there To give it to others At least kind words will Comfort such suffering people. It was raining non-stop. A poor man went to Karna For dry firewood To cook his food. Karna pulled dry wood From his wooden roof And gave it to him at once As he took pity on him. This is an extreme act Of charity done then Only Karna could do it, As an exception in the world. *** 04/03. ஒல்லும் வகையான் அறவினை ஒவாதே செல்லும்வாய் எல்லாம் செயல். 04/03. Ollum vagayan arravinai ovaadhe Sellumvaai ellaam seyal. 04/03. Whenever opportunity comes, non-stop, One should try to give charity. *** Son: Maa, Is there anyone you can quote Other than Karna of Mahabharath? Mother: Countless charitable minded Persons lived and live in this world, But none of them stand In comparison with King Karna. Spiritualism is the spirit of Barath, So, no importance for wealth Is given by this country, Yet it stands for charity. In charity anything given With all love and affection, Counts in the eyes of God, Even it is negligible in value. ***