Chapter 104 – Farming / Uzhavu
Couplets / kuratpaakal
Couplet 1031
Howe’er they roam, the world must follow still the plougher’s team;
Though toilsome, culture of the ground as noblest toil esteem.
Explanation
Agriculture, though laborious, is the most excellent (form of labour); for people, though they go about (in search of various employments), have at last to resort to the farmer.
Transliteration
Suzhandrumerp Pinnadhu Ulakam Adhanaal
Uzhandhum Uzhave Thalai.
Couplet 1032
The ploughers are the linch-pin of the world; they bear
Them up who other works perform, too weak its toils to share.
Explanation
Agriculturists are (as it were) the linch-pin of the world for they support all other workers who cannot till the soil.
Transliteration
Uzhuvaar Ulakaththaarkku Aaniaq Thaatraadhu
Ezhuvaarai Ellaam Poruththu.
Couplet 1033
Who ploughing eat their food, they truly live:
The rest to others bend subservient, eating what they give.
Explanation
They alone live who live by agriculture; all others lead a cringing, dependent life.
Transliteration
Uzhudhuntu Vaazhvaare Vaazhvaarmar Rellaam
Thozhudhuntu Pinsel Pavar.
Couplet 1034
O’er many a land they ‘ll see their monarch reign,
Whose fields are shaded by the waving grain.
Explanation
Patriotic farmers desire to bring all other states under the control of their own king.
Transliteration
Palakutai Neezhalum Thangutaikkeezhk Kaanpar
Alakutai Neezha Lavar.
Couplet 1035
They nothing ask from others, but to askers give,
Who raise with their own hands the food on which they live.
Explanation
Those whose nature is to live by manual labour will never beg but give something to those who beg.
Transliteration
Iravaar Irappaarkkondru Eevar Karavaadhu
Kaiseydhoon Maalai Yavar.
Couplet 1036
For those who ‘ve left what all men love no place is found,
When they with folded hands remain who till the ground.
Explanation
If the farmer’s hands are slackened, even the ascetic state will fail.
Transliteration
Uzhavinaar Kaimmatangin Illai Vizhaivadhooum
Vittemen Paarkkum Nilai.
Couplet 1037
Reduce your soil to that dry state, When ounce is quarter-ounce’s weight;
Without one handful of manure, Abundant crops you thus secure.
Explanation
If the land is dried so as to reduce one ounce of earth to a quarter, it will grow plentifully even without a handful of manure.
Transliteration
Thotippuzhudhi Kaqsaa Unakkin Pitiththeruvum
Ventaadhu Saalap Patum.
Couplet 1038
To cast manure is better than to plough;
Weed well; to guard is more than watering now.
Explanation
Manuring is better than ploughing; after weeding, watching is better than watering (it).
Transliteration
Erinum Nandraal Eruvitudhal Kattapin
Neerinum Nandradhan Kaappu.
Couplet 1039
When master from the field aloof hath stood;
Then land will sulk, like wife in angry mood.
Explanation
If the owner does not (personally) attend to his cultivation, his land will behave like an angry wife and yield him no pleasure.
Transliteration
Sellaan Kizhavan Iruppin Nilampulandhu
Illaalin Ooti Vitum.
Couplet 1040
The earth, that kindly dame, will laugh to see,
Men seated idle pleading poverty.
Explanation
The maiden, Earth, will laugh at the sight of those who plead poverty and lead an idle life.
Transliteration
Ilamendru Asaii Iruppaaraik Kaanin
Nilamennum Nallaal Nakum.
0 Comments