Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,004

Date uploaded in London – 22 July 2026

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Earth is our Mother and the Sky is our father is in all Sanskrit boos. It first appeared in the Bhumi Sukta of Atharvana Veda. It is in Kural 151.

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Following Translations are used:

1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933

2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD Year 2000

3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

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Part 31 The Possession of Patience, Forbearance  பொறையுடைமை – Forgiveness; Patience

151.Behold the earth holding in her lap the very man who delves deep into her; even so the great do bear with those who revile them; for is not forbearance the kingliest of virtues?— 1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933

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151.Just like the earth which supports the men who dig it

Men of virtues bear with those who heap scorn on them- S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000

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151
As earth bears up the men who delve into her breast,
To bear with scornful men of virtues is the best.
To bear with those who revile us, just as the earth bears up those who dig it, is the first of virtues. – Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

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151.As earth bears up with diggers too
To bear revilers is prime virtue —Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB.        

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151.The earth supports the men who dig at it. Similarly, bear with those who scorn you; that is the best virtue– EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

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151.As earth bears up the men who pierce her sore,

To bear with our revilers, chief of virtues is— H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

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151. அகழ்வாரைத் தாங்கும் நிலம்போலத் தம்மை
இகழ்வார்ப் பொறுத்தல் தலை

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152. To forgive an insult out of strength is noble; nobler still is to forget it— ANM+2

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152.It is essential to counter wrongs with forbearance

But better still to forget them altogether- SMD

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152
Forgiving trespasses is good always;
Forgetting them hath even higher praise;
Bear with reproach even when you can retaliate; but to forget it will be still better than that. – GUP

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152.Forgive insults is a good habit
Better it is to forget it– SB.        

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152.Forgive wrongs done to you; better still, forget them– EVS

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152.Forgive always the ills that others do;

But to forget them- this is nobler still – HAP

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152. பொறுத்தல் இறப்பினை என்றும் அதனை
மறத்தல் அதனினும் நன்று

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153.There is a poverty within poverty; it is the poverty of the soul that shuts its doors against a stranger. There is a strength within strength; it is the strength of those who forgive the folly of the ignorant— ANM+2

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153.It is the worst of poverty to have an unfed guest

While the best in strength is to bear with a fool- SMD

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153
The sorest poverty is bidding guest unfed depart;
The mightiest might to bear with men of foolish heart.
To neglect hospitality is poverty of poverty. To bear with the ignorant is might of might. – GUP

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153.Neglect the guest is dearth of dearth
To bear with fools is strength of strength– SB.        

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153. The greatest want is not looking after a guest; the greatest courage is suffering fools patiently—EVS

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153.To turn away a guest is poorest poverty;

But he who bears with fools shows mightiest might— HAP

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153. இன்மையுள் இன்மை விருந்தொரால் வன்மையுள்
வன்மை மடவார்ப் பொறை

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154.It is the unbending spirit of patience that guards the soul of our being- ANM+2

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154.If a man aspires for the fulness of virtue,

He should cherish the practice of forbearance— SMD

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154
Seek’st thou honour never tarnished to retain;
So must thou patience, guarding evermore, maintain.
If you desire that greatness should never leave, you preserve in your conduct the exercise of patience. – GUP

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154.Practice of patient quality
Retains intact integrity– SB.        

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154.One who desires to maintain one’s goodness should cultivate forbearance— EVS

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154.If you nobility would have for aye

Keep on forbearing day by day – HAP

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154. நிறையுடமை நீங்காமை வேண்டின் பொறையுடைமை
போற்றி ஒழுகப் படும்

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155. Mere chaff among men are the unforgiving; but pure gold is the that harbours no thoughts of revenge— ANM+2

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155.Knowing people will not esteem the vengeful one,

But they will value forbearance as gold— SMD

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155
Who wreak their wrath as worthless are despised;
Who patiently forbear as gold are prized.
(The wise) will not at all esteem the resentful. They will esteem the patient just as the gold which they lay up with care. – GUP

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155.Vengeance is not in esteem held
Patience is praised as hidden gold– SB.      

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155. The wise regard not those retaliate but they esteem those that forbear—EVS

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155. ஒறுத்தாரை ஒன்றாக வையாரே வைப்பர்
பொறுத்தாரைப் பொன்போற் பொதிந்து

To be continued…………………

Tags- Earth is Mother!  Tirukkural Encyclopaedia ,Chapter 16, (Kural 151-155)