111 தகுதி யெனவொன்று நன்றே பகுதியாற்
பாற்பட் டொழுகப் பெறின்Translation:
If justice, failing not, its quality maintain,
Giving to each his due, -'tis man's one highest Gain.
That equity which consists in acting with equal regard to each of (the three) divisions of men
[enemies, strangers and friends] is a pre-eminent virtue.
Meaning:
Neutrality is a great virtue when one practices impartiality, unfailingly, towards all sections. (Foes, friends, strangers)112 செப்பம் உடையவன் ஆக்கஞ் சிதைவின்றி
எச்சத்திற் கேமாப் புடைத்துTranslation:
The just man's wealth unwasting shall endure,
And to his race a lasting joy ensure.
The wealth of the man of rectitude will not perish, but will bring happiness also to his posterity.
Meaning:
The wealth of one who has a balanced view, will remain intact and will last for the next generations.113 நன்றே தரினும் நடுவிகந்தாம் ஆக்கத்தை
அன்றே யொழிய விடல்Translation:
Though only good it seem to give, yet gain
By wrong acquired, not e'en one day retain!
Forsake in the very moment (of acquisition) that gain which, though it should bring advantage, is without equity.
Meaning:
Even if some good comes out of the gains generated by being unfair, desist from making that gain.
114 தக்கார் தகவிலர் என்ப தவரவர்
எச்சத்தாற் காணப் படும்Translation:
Who just or unjust lived shall soon appear:
By each one's offspring shall the truth be clear.
The worthy and unworthy may be known by the existence or otherwise of good offsprings.
Meaning:
Whether a person has been just or unjust in life, will be ascertained by the nature of offsprings left behind.
115 கேடும் பெருக்கமும் இல்லல்ல நெஞ்சத்துக்
கோடாமை சான்றோர்க் கணிTranslation:
The gain and loss in life are not mere accident;
Just mind inflexible is sages' ornament.
Loss and gain come not without cause; it is the ornament of the wise to preserve evenness of mind (under both).
Meaning:
Ups and downs in life are inevitable; Noble Scholars are embellished by not letting their hearts vacillate in either case.
116 கெடுவல்யான் என்ப தறிகதன் நெஞ்சம்
நடுவொரீஇ அல்ல செயின்Translation:
If, right deserting, heart to evil turn,
Let man impending ruin's sign discern!
Let him whose mind departing from equity commits sin well consider thus within himself, "I shall perish."
Meaning:
When the heart falters to think unfairly, be alerted that you are on course for ruination.
117 கெடுவாக வையா துலகம் நடுவாக
நன்றிக்கண் தங்கியான் தாழ்வுTranslation:
The man who justly lives, tenacious of the right,
In Low Estate is never low to wise man's sight.
The great will not regard as poverty the low estate of that man who dwells in the virtue of equity.
Meaning:
The world will not think ill of one who has stumbled into poverty because of being fair and righteous.
118 சமன்செய்து சீர்தூக்குங் கோல்போல் அமைந்தொருபாற்
கோடாமை சான்றோர்க் கணிTranslation:
To stand, like balance-rod that level hangs and rightly weighs,
With calm unbiassed equity of soul, is sages' praise.
To incline to neither side, but to rest impartial as the even-fixed scale is the ornament of the wise.
Meaning:
Like a weighing scale that is balanced and sways correctly, the grace of noble scholars lies in dispassionate assessment.
119 சொற்கோட்டம் இல்லது செப்பம் ஒருதலையா
உட்கோட்டம் இன்மை பெறின்Translation:
Inflexibility in word is righteousness,
If men inflexibility of soul possess.
Freedom from obliquity of speech is rectitude, if there be (corresponding) freedom from bias of mind.
Meaning:
It is righteous to speak words that are not deviant; such words are a result of unbiased thoughts that are not deviant.
120 வாணிகம் செய்வார்க்கு வாணிகம் பேணிப்
பிறவும் தமபோல் செயின்Translation:
As thriving trader is the trader known,
Who guards another's interests as his own.
The true merchandize of merchants is to guard and do by the things of others as they do by their own.
Meaning:
Responsible business is when a business-person, caringly, deploys other people’s money as one’s own.
This post first appeared on Thirukural (Couplets) - A Tamil Classic Literacy, please read the originial post: here
