பழமொழி நானூறு-மொழிபெயர்ப்பு: முனைவர் ஜோ ரவிக்குமார் ஸ்டீபன்

[தேமொழி]

From Venpa to Verse: Reimagining Pazhamozhi Nāṉūṟu in English Quatrains:

Dear Friends,

I invite you to engage with my ongoing translation project:

பழமொழி நானூறு (Paḻamoḻi Nāṉūṟu) — rendered as Quadringenta Proverbia (Four Hundred Proverbs).

This classical Tamil anthology comprises four hundred venpā quatrains that preserve the moral and practical wisdom of ancient Tamil society through concise, powerful proverbs. Traditionally grouped within the Pathinenkilkanakku corpus, these works are didactic in nature, guiding ethical living and civic virtue.

Unlike existing English translations—such as those by M D Jayabalan, S Raman, and Nalladi R Balakrishna, which are predominantly in prose—I have attempted a poetic rendering in rhythmic, rhyming English quatrains, preserving both sense and structure, while giving voice to their original literary beauty.

I have currently translated five proverbs under the theme of “Education.”

🔍 I seek your considered feedback:

1. How do these poetic translations compare with the prose versions?
2. Do they preserve clarity while enhancing aesthetic appeal?
3. Does the rhythm and diction suit the classical spirit of the text?

If your response is encouraging, I intend to continue translating the entire work into poetic English form.

Your insights, critiques, and encouragement will be invaluable in shaping the course of this effort.

🙏 Thank you for your time and thoughtful engagement.

Bp Dr J Ravikumar Stephen G.,
Founder,
Tamil Jain Wisdom for the Jains of Northern India

Courtesy:
Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai


பழமொழி நானூறு – Paḻamoḻi Nāṉūṟu – _Quadringenta Proverbia: A Classical Tamil Wisdom Text in English:


On Education:

Proverb - 001:

Original Tamil Text:

ஆற்றும் இளமைக்கண் கற்கலான் மூப்பின்கண்
போற்றும் எனவும் புணருமோ – ஆற்றச்
சுரம்போக்கி உல்குகொண்டார் இல்லையே யில்லை
மரம்போக்கிக் கூலிகொண் டார். (பாடல் எண்: 60)

Roman Transliteration:

Āṟṟum iḷamaikkaṇ kaṟkalāṉ mūppiṉkaṇ
pōṟṟum eṉavum puṇarumō - āṟṟac
'curampōkki ulkukoṇṭār illaiyē yillai
marampōkkik kūlikoṇ ṭār'. . . . .

English Translations By Others:

1. Ferryman, there’s none, who lets the passenger Hurry away, and the cargo go, and hopes to collect The fare and duty after tethering the boat at the bank. Can one, losing youth, ever strive to learn when old? (M D Jayabalan)

2. Allowing the way to be amply crossed none collects the toll. Allowing the boat to ford the river none collects the wages. Who can avouch that one that learns not in one’s youth, Fit for learning, would in old age deem it worthy to learn? (S Raman)

3. They collect not customs after allowing the cargo to be taken to a long distance from the custom house; they collect not passage money after rowing the boat across (the river); so too is it possible to say that one who fails to learn when young, which is the appropriate time for learning, will, when old, learn it with devotion? (Nalladi R Balakrishna)

My Translation: (Dr J Ravikumar Stephen G.)

English Quatrain - 60:

If learning is neglected when youth is strong and bright,
Can wisdom truly dawn in age’s fading light?
No one collects a toll once the toll-gate’s passed,
Nor claims the boatman’s fee when river-crossing’s past.

Meaning:

No one can collect a toll from travellers after they have already passed the toll gate, nor does anyone pay the boatman after crossing the river. Likewise, it is futile to claim that one will become a scholar by studying in old age, having neglected learning during youth—the very season best suited for study and the acquisition of knowledge.

The Proverb (Maxim) of the poem in English:

No toll is taken after the forest path is crossed, nor fee demanded once the crossing is complete.

Central Message (Adage):

He who neglects learning in youth will find wisdom a tardy guest in age.


Proverb – 002:

Original Tamil Text:

சொற்றொறும் சோர்வு படுதலால் சோர்வின்றிக்
கற்றொறும் கல்லாதேன் என்று வழியிரங்கி
உற்றொன்று சிந்தித்து உழன்றொன்று அறியுமேல்
'கற்றொறுந்தான் கல்லாத வாறு'. (பாடல்: 332)

Roman Transliteration:

Coṟṟoṟum cōrvu paṭutalāl cōrviṉṟik
kaṟṟoṟum kallātēṉ eṉṟu vaḻiyiraṅki
uṟṟoṉṟu cintittu uḻaṉṟoṉṟu aṟiyumēl
'kaṟṟoṟuntāṉ kallāta vāṟu'.


English Translations By Others:

1. Each time one forgets what the teacher Teaches one must strive to learn assuming himself a Muff; he’ll find newer meanings in every Stuff he reads. That proves the learner e’er ignorant. (M D Jayabalan)

2. As every utterance falters, as every tireless effort at learning Evokes sadness that one is unlearned and has wasted one’s life, As to know a thing one has to choose, concentrate and ponder hard over it, Everytime one learns one is still unlearned. (S Raman)

3. Whenever the Guru teaches, something of his teaching slips from memory. So when one learns without slackness, he should deem herself as one ignorant and should with care and devotion bestow thought on what he learns and so acquire knowledge If he does so, he will realize that the more he learns the more his ignorance becomes evident. (Nalladi R Balakrishna)

My Translation: (Dr J Ravikumar Stephen G.)

English Quatrain - 332:

Let not each word you learn breed weariness of mind;
Learn on, with humble thought: “How little I have known.”
By pondering what is grasped and striving truth to find,
Through learning still, one learns how vast the unknown grown.

Meaning:

True learning requires perseverance without fatigue and a spirit of humility. One must approach every act of study with the awareness that one’s knowledge is limited, reflect deeply on what is learned, and strive diligently to understand more. As learning increases, the awareness of one’s own ignorance also grows—this realization itself is the mark of genuine education.

The Proverb (Maxim) of the poem in English:

Through learning alone, one comes to know the measure of one’s ignorance.

Central Message (Adage):

He who learns in humility never ceases to grow, for wisdom begins with the knowledge of one’s own unknowing.


Proverb – 003:

Original Tamil Text:

விளக்கு விலைகொடுத்துக் கோடல் விளக்குத்
துளக்கமின் றென்றனைத்தும் தூக்கி விளக்கு
மருள்படுவ தாயின் மலைநாட! என்னை ‘பொருள்கொடுத்துக் கொள்ளார் இருள்’. . . .  (பாடல் 334)

Roman Transliteration:

Viḷakku vilaikoṭuttuk kōṭal viḷakkut
tuḷakkamiṉ ṟeṉṟaṉaittum tūkki viḷakku
maruḷpaṭuva tāyiṉ malaināṭa! Eṉṉai
'poruḷkoṭuttuk koḷḷār iruḷ'. . . .


English Translations By Others:

1. Lamps we buy to see all things in Ample light much better what if it brings in Darkness and Chaos? [so with good and bad books] Hark, you the King of mountains!  (M D Jayabalan)

2. Pondering over everything, that without a lamp there is no light. One obtains a lamp paying its price; if the lamp were To be stricken with dimness, Lord of the hills, what is the use? None pays money bartering for darkness. (S Raman)

3. O chief of the hill-country! It is only after examining the real nature of the lamp i.e., that it will not create confusion, we buy oil, wick, etc., for the lamp. If it were to create confusion in the mind (without showing things in their real perspective) what is the use? None will buy darkness with money. (Nalladi R Balakrishna)

My Translation: (Dr J Ravikumar Stephen G.)

English Quatrain 334:

One buys a lamp to banish darkness from the sight,
With hope that oil and flame will spread their light;
But if the lamp itself should deepen night,
Who would pay coin for darkness, void of light?

Meaning:

A lamp is purchased with the expectation that it will dispel darkness and bring illumination. If, instead, the lamp itself produces darkness and fails to fulfil its purpose, buying such a lamp would be folly. In the same way, education or knowledge that does not enlighten the mind but instead fosters ignorance is useless, no matter how much effort or expense is invested in it.

The Proverb (Maxim) of the poem in English:

No one pays a price to purchase darkness.

Central Message (Adage):

Knowledge is worth seeking only when it enlightens; learning that breeds ignorance is but darkness bought at a cost.


Proverb - 004:

Original Tamil Text:

ஆற்றவும் கற்றவும் அறிவுடையார்; அஃதுடையார்
நாற்றிசையும் செல்லாத நாடில்லை - அந்நாடு
வேற்றுநா டாகா; தமவேயாம் ஆயினால்
'ஆற்றுணா வேண்டுவ தில்'. (பாடல் 055)


Roman Transliteration:

Āṟṟavum kaṟṟavum aṟivuṭaiyār; aḥtuṭaiyār
nāṟṟicaiyum cellāta nāṭillai - annāṭu
vēṟṟunā ṭākā; tamavēyām āyiṉāl
'āṟṟuṇā vēṇṭuva til'.


English Translations By Others:

1. Wise are the learned; no nation is no-Wise strange to them; they travel in all Directions. And have no need to carry Their packed food wherever they might go. (M D Jayabalan)

2. Possessors of knowledge are those that have learnt very we There is no land in the four directions that its possessors Have not sojourned; that land is no alien land; It becomes their own; and so, no need to carry food for the journ (S Raman)

3. Only those who have studied deeply worthwhile books a learned people. There is no country to which their fame do not spread. All such places are not alien countries; they a their own. If that be so (in that case) there is no need for the to carry food for their journey to those places. (Nalladi R Balakrishna)

My Translation: (Dr J Ravikumar Stephen G.)

English Quatrain 055:

Those rich in learning bear a well-trained mind;
Their fame spreads forth to every realm and clime.
No land they reach is foreign or unkind,
For food and welcome greet them every time.

Meaning:

Those who have diligently acquired essential learning are truly knowledgeable. Their reputation spreads in all directions, and there is no land where their worth is unknown. Wherever they travel, no place feels foreign; every country becomes their own, and they need not worry about sustenance, for people everywhere are eager to welcome and support them.

The Proverb (Maxim) of the poem in English:

The learned need not worry about their sustenance on the road.

Central Message (Adage):

Learning makes the whole world one’s home, and wisdom ensures provision wherever one may go.


Proverb – 005:

Original Tamil Text:

உணற்கினிய இன்னீர் பிறிதுழி இல்லென்றும்
கிணற்றுகத்துத் தேரைபோல் ஆகார் - கணக்கினை
முற்றப் பகலும் முனியா(து) இனிதோதிக்
'கற்றலின் கேட்டலே நன்று'. (பாடல் 061)

Roman Transliteration:

Uṇaṟkiṉiya iṉṉīr piṟituḻi illeṉṟum
kiṇaṟṟukattut tēraipōl ākār - kaṇakkiṉai
muṟṟap pakalum muṉiyā(tu) iṉitōtik
'kaṟṟaliṉ kēṭṭalē naṉṟu'.

English Translations By Others:

1. Unlike the frog in a well which deems sweeter Than the waters of all other wells its own One who pours over books by himself and is content Can have better knowledge by listening to others. (M D Jayabalan)

2. “Sweet water so sweet to drink is not there anywhere else. They don’t become like the frog in the well speaking thus. It is far better to listen than to learn pouring over texts All through the day without aversion and delight. (S Raman)


3. The frog in the well thinks that there is no water so good ane sweet elsewhere (than where it dwells). Unlike that frog, one without getting absorbed each day without disgust in the study of one kind of books only in their entirety, should with advantage listen to the words of those well versed in varied lore. (Nalladi R Balakrishna)

My Translation: (Dr J Ravikumar Stephen G.)

English Quatrain - 061:

Like the well-bound toad that deems its pool supreme,
And knows no sweeter draught beyond its stream,
So errs the mind that trusts its learning lone:
Far wiser is to learn from elders known.

Meaning:

One should not remain confined to a narrow understanding, like the toad that lives within a well and imagines that no sweeter water exists elsewhere. In the same way, those who seek knowledge should not rely solely on tireless self-reading, however diligent it may be. True wisdom is better gained by listening attentively to learned elders and receiving knowledge through their experience and insight.

The Proverb (Maxim) of the poem in English:

Better than learning by oneself is learning by attentive listening.

Central Message (Adage):

He who learns only from himself lives like a toad in a well; he who listens to the wise discovers the wider world.


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