PrepMaticThirukkural · பொருட்பால் · குடியியல்
நல்குரவு: Poverty
About this chapter
நல்குரவு, poverty, is the first of the last four chapters of the Porutpaal, which deal with hardship and its moral cost. It does not romanticise poverty. It describes how deprivation wears down standing, speech and rest.
Kural 1041 makes its point by repetition: nothing is more painful than poverty, except poverty itself. Kural 1042 says it takes away the joys of both this world and the next, and Kural 1043 that it destroys ancestral standing and the weight of one's words. Kurals 1044 to 1046 develop the second idea. Even those of good family speak lowly words when poverty comes, one hardship breeds many more, and the poor man's sound words lose their force. Kural 1047 is the starkest, saying that poverty without virtue makes even one's own mother treat one as a stranger. Kural 1048 gives a first-person line that asks whether the want that nearly killed one yesterday will come again today. Kural 1049 says that a person may sleep in the midst of fire but not in the midst of want. Kural 1050 closes with a bleak image of the destitute who use up even their neighbours' salt and sour gruel.
Kural 1041 and Kural 1049 are the two to know, one for its repetition and one for its image.
For the syllabus, it fits socio-political and economic affairs, as the Thirukkural's account of what deprivation costs a person.
The 10 kurals of நல்குரவு
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.
இன்மையின் இன்னாதது யாதெனின் இன்மையின்
இன்மையே இன்னா தது.
Inmaiyin Innaadhadhu Yaadhenin Inmaiyin
Inmaiye Innaa Thadhu
You ask what sharper pain than poverty is known; Nothing pains more than poverty, save poverty alone
இன்மை எனவொரு பாவி மறுமையும்
இம்மையும் இன்றி வரும்.
Inmai Enavoru Paavi Marumaiyum
Immaiyum Indri Varum
Malefactor matchless! poverty destroysThis world's and the next world's joys
தொல்வரவும் தோலும் கெடுக்கும் தொகையாக
நல்குரவு என்னும் நசை.
Tholvaravum Tholum Ketukkum Thokaiyaaka
Nalkuravu Ennum Nasai
Importunate desire, which poverty men name, Destroys both old descent and goodly fame
இற்பிறந்தார் கண்ணேயும் இன்மை இளிவந்த
சொற்பிறக்கும் சோர்வு தரும்.
Irpirandhaar Kanneyum Inmai Ilivandha
Sorpirakkum Sorvu Tharum
From penury will spring, 'mid even those of noble race, Oblivion that gives birth to words that bring disgrace
நல்குரவு என்னும் இடும்பையுள் பல்குரைத்
துன்பங்கள் சென்று படும்.
Nalkuravu Ennum Itumpaiyul Palkuraith
Thunpangal Sendru Patum
From poverty, that grievous woe, Attendant sorrows plenteous grow
நற்பொருள் நன்குணர்ந்து சொல்லினும் நல்கூர்ந்தார்
சொற்பொருள் சோர்வு படும்.
Narporul Nankunarndhu Sollinum Nalkoorndhaar
Sorporul Sorvu Patum
Though deepest sense, well understood, the poor man's words convey, Their sense from memory of mankind will fade away
அறஞ்சாரா நல்குரவு ஈன்றதா யானும்
பிறன்போல நோக்கப் படும்.
Aranjaaraa Nalkuravu Eendradhaa Yaanum
Piranpola Nokkap Patum
From indigence devoid of virtue's grace, The mother e'en that bare, estranged, will turn her face
இன்றும் வருவது கொல்லோ நெருநலும்
கொன்றது போலும் நிரப்பு.
Indrum Varuvadhu Kollo Nerunalum
Kondradhu Polum Nirappu
And will it come today as yesterday, The grief of want that eats my soul away
நெருப்பினுள் துஞ்சலும் ஆகும் நிரப்பினுள்
யாதொன்றும் கண்பாடு அரிது.
Neruppinul Thunjalum Aakum Nirappinul
Yaadhondrum Kanpaatu Aridhu
Amid the flames sleep may men's eyelids close, In poverty the eye knows no repose
துப்புர வில்லார் துவரத் துறவாமை
உப்பிற்கும் காடிக்கும் கூற்று.
Thuppura Villaar Thuvarath Thuravaamai
Uppirkum Kaatikkum Kootru
Unless the destitute will utterly themselves deny, They cause their neighbour's salt and vinegar to die
How Thirukkural is asked in TNPSC exams
Find your weak TNPSC units before the exam does
Take a free TNPSC assessment on PrepMatic. It shows where you stand across General Tamil, General Studies and Aptitude, then builds a day-by-day study plan and mock tests focused on your weak subjects.
Start free assessment →Free forever plan · No credit card · 2-minute setup