Farming

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Suzhandrumerp Pinnadhu Ulakam Adhanaal
Uzhandhum Uzhave Thalai.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Uzhuvaar Ulakaththaarkku Aaniaq Thaatraadhu
Ezhuvaarai Ellaam Poruththu.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Uzhudhuntu Vaazhvaare Vaazhvaarmar Rellaam
Thozhudhuntu Pinsel Pavar.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Palakutai Neezhalum Thangutaikkeezhk Kaanpar
Alakutai Neezha Lavar.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Iravaar Irappaarkkondru Eevar Karavaadhu
Kaiseydhoon Maalai Yavar.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Uzhavinaar Kaimmatangin Illai Vizhaivadhooum
Vittemen Paarkkum Nilai.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Thotippuzhudhi Kaqsaa Unakkin Pitiththeruvum
Ventaadhu Saalap Patum.

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).

Tamil Transliteration
Erinum Nandraal Eruvitudhal Kattapin
Neerinum Nandradhan Kaappu.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Sellaan Kizhavan Iruppin Nilampulandhu
Illaalin Ooti Vitum.

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.

Tamil Transliteration
Ilamendru Asaii Iruppaaraik Kaanin
Nilamennum Nallaal Nakum.