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பிறனில் விழையாமை: Not Coveting Another's Wife
About this chapter
பிறனில் விழையாமை, not coveting another's wife, deals with respect for another person's household. The chapter addresses the householder and treats trespass of this kind as folly, sin and disgrace.
Kural 141 and Kural 142 call this desire foolishness, saying that those who know virtue and the rights of property do not feel it, and that none are greater fools than those who lurk at a neighbour's door. Kural 143 says that those who plot evil against a trusting friend's household are no better than the dead. Kurals 144 and 145 add that greatness is of no use to such a man, and that one who treats the act as a trifle earns guilt that never passes. Kural 146 gives the key list of four things that never leave him: hatred (பகை), sin (பாவம்), fear (அச்சம்) and disgrace (பழி). Kural 147 calls the man who holds back a true householder, Kural 148 calls his restraint both virtue and dignity (பேராண்மை, great manliness), and Kural 149 names him as the one who deserves good in the world. Kural 150 ends with a low bar: even a person who does little good deserves some credit if he does not covet a neighbour's wife.
Kural 146 is the most useful, because it names the consequences clearly. Kural 148 is also worth knowing for the phrase பேராண்மை, great manliness.
For the syllabus, the chapter concerns personal conduct and everyday life.
The 10 kurals of பிறனில் விழையாமை
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.
பிறன்பொருளாள் பெட்டொழுகும் பேதைமை ஞாலத்து
அறம்பொருள் கண்டார்கண் இல்.
Piranporulaal Pettozhukum Pedhaimai Gnaalaththu
Aramporul Kantaarkan Il
Who laws of virtue and possession's rights have known, Indulge no foolish love of her by right another's own
அறன்கடை நின்றாருள் எல்லாம் பிறன்கடை
நின்றாரின் பேதையார் இல்.
Arankatai Nindraarul Ellaam Pirankatai
Nindraarin Pedhaiyaar Il
No fools, of all that stand from virtue's pale shut out, Like those who longing lurk their neighbour's gate without
விளிந்தாரின் வேறல்லர் மன்ற தெளிந்தாரில்
தீமை புரிந்து ஒழுகு வார்.
Vilindhaarin Verallar Mandra Thelindhaaril
Theemai Purindhu Ozhuku Vaar
They're numbered with the dead, e'en while they live, -how otherwise?With wife of sure confiding friend who evil things devise
எனைத்துணையர் ஆயினும் என்னாம் தினைத்துணையும்
தேரான் பிறனில் புகல்.
Enaiththunaiyar Aayinum Ennaam Thinaiththunaiyum
Theraan Piranil Pukal
How great soe'er they be, what gain have they of life, Who, not a whit reflecting, seek a neighbour's wife
எளிதென இல்லிறப்பான் எய்துமெஞ் ஞான்றும்
விளியாது நிற்கும் பழி.
Elidhena Illirappaan Eydhumenj Gnaandrum
Viliyaadhu Nirkum Pazhi
'Mere triflel' saying thus, invades the home, so he ensuresA gain of guilt that deathless aye endures
பகைபாவம் அச்சம் பழியென நான்கும்
இகவாவாம் இல்லிறப்பான் கண்.
Pakaipaavam Achcham Pazhiyena Naankum
Ikavaavaam Illirappaan Kan
Who home ivades, from him pass nevermore, Hatred and sin, fear, foul disgrace; these four
அறனியலான் இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் பிறனியலாள்
பெண்மை நயவா தவன்.
Araniyalaan Ilvaazhvaan Enpaan Piraniyalaal
Penmai Nayavaa Thavan
Who sees the wife, another's own, with no desiring eyeIn sure domestic bliss he dwelleth ever virtuously
பிறன்மனை நோக்காத பேராண்மை சான்றோர்க்கு
அறனொன்றோ ஆன்ற வொழுக்கு.
Piranmanai Nokkaadha Peraanmai Saandrorkku
Aranondro Aandra Vozhukku
Manly excellence, that looks not on another's wife, Is not virtue merely, 'tis full 'propriety' of life
நலக்குரியார் யாரெனின் நாமநீர் வைப்பின்
பிறர்க்குரியாள் தோள்தோயா தார்.
Nalakkuriyaar Yaarenin Naamaneer Vaippin
Pirarkkuriyaal Tholdhoyaa Thaar
Who 're good indeed, on earth begirt by ocean's gruesome tide?The men who touch not her that is another's bride
அறன்வரையான் அல்ல செயினும் பிறன்வரையாள்
பெண்மை நயவாமை நன்று.
Aranvaraiyaan Alla Seyinum Piranvaraiyaal
Penmai Nayavaamai Nandru
Though virtue's bounds he pass, and evil deeds hath wrought; At least, 'tis good if neighbour's wife he covet not
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