PrepMaticThirukkural · பொருட்பால் · குடியியல்
உழவு: Farming
About this chapter
உழவு, farming, is the Thirukkural's chapter on agriculture. It praises the farmer as the basis of everyone else's livelihood, and gives a few practical tips.
Kural 1031 is the opening statement: however far people roam, the world follows the plough, so farming, though hard, is the best work. Kural 1032 compares farmers to the linch-pin of the world, holding up those who cannot do the work themselves. Kural 1033 says that only those who live by tilling really live, and the rest follow them with folded hands. Kural 1034 links a farmer's full granary with a ruler's wider reach. Kural 1035 says self-reliant farmers do not beg and give to those who do, and Kural 1036 says that if the farmers' hands fold, even those who have renounced the world will not be supported. Kurals 1037 and 1038 are farming advice: dry the soil till an ounce shrinks to a quarter, and note that manure is better than ploughing and guarding is better than watering. Kural 1039 says that the land sulks like an angry wife when the owner does not visit, and Kural 1040 says that the Earth laughs at idlers who plead poverty.
Kural 1031 and Kural 1033 are the two to know first. Kural 1038 is a useful reminder of the chapter's practical streak.
For the syllabus, it fits socio-economic themes: agriculture's central place in livelihood and society.
The 10 kurals of உழவு
Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.
சுழன்றும்ஏர்ப் பின்னது உலகம் அதனால்
உழந்தும் உழவே தலை.
Suzhandrumerp Pinnadhu Ulakam Adhanaal
Uzhandhum Uzhave Thalai
Howe'er they roam, the world must follow still the plougher's team; Though toilsome, culture of the ground as noblest toil esteem
உழுவார் உலகத்தார்க்கு ஆணிஅஃ தாற்றாது
எழுவாரை எல்லாம் பொறுத்து.
Uzhuvaar Ulakaththaarkku Aaniaq Thaatraadhu
Ezhuvaarai Ellaam Poruththu
The ploughers are the linch-pin of the world; they bearThem up who other works perform, too weak its toils to share
உழுதுண்டு வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார்மற் றெல்லாம்
தொழுதுண்டு பின்செல் பவர்.
Uzhudhuntu Vaazhvaare Vaazhvaarmar Rellaam
Thozhudhuntu Pinsel Pavar
Who ploughing eat their food, they truly live:The rest to others bend subservient, eating what they give
பலகுடை நீழலும் தங்குடைக்கீழ்க் காண்பர்
அலகுடை நீழ லவர்.
Palakutai Neezhalum Thangutaikkeezhk Kaanpar
Alakutai Neezha Lavar
O'er many a land they 'll see their monarch reign, Whose fields are shaded by the waving grain
இரவார் இரப்பார்க்கொன்று ஈவர் கரவாது
கைசெய்தூண் மாலை யவர்.
Iravaar Irappaarkkondru Eevar Karavaadhu
Kaiseydhoon Maalai Yavar
They nothing ask from others, but to askers give, Who raise with their own hands the food on which they live
உழவினார் கைம்மடங்கின் இல்லை விழைவதூஉம்
விட்டேம்என் பார்க்கும் நிலை.
Uzhavinaar Kaimmatangin Illai Vizhaivadhooum
Vittemen Paarkkum Nilai
For those who 've left what all men love no place is found, When they with folded hands remain who till the ground
தொடிப்புழுதி கஃசா உணக்கின் பிடித்தெருவும்
வேண்டாது சாலப் படும்.
Thotippuzhudhi Kaqsaa Unakkin Pitiththeruvum
Ventaadhu Saalap Patum
Reduce your soil to that dry state, When ounce is quarter-ounce's weight; Without one handful of manure, Abundant crops you thus secure
ஏரினும் நன்றால் எருவிடுதல் கட்டபின்
நீரினும் நன்றதன் காப்பு.
Erinum Nandraal Eruvitudhal Kattapin
Neerinum Nandradhan Kaappu
To cast manure is better than to plough; Weed well; to guard is more than watering now
செல்லான் கிழவன் இருப்பின் நிலம்புலந்து
இல்லாளின் ஊடி விடும்.
Sellaan Kizhavan Iruppin Nilampulandhu
Illaalin Ooti Vitum
When master from the field aloof hath stood; Then land will sulk, like wife in angry mood
இலமென்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்
நிலமென்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்.
Ilamendru Asaii Iruppaaraik Kaanin
Nilamennum Nallaal Nakum
The earth, that kindly dame, will laugh to see, Men seated idle pleading poverty
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