World Colleges Information

Chapter. 2. The Excellence of Rain
Kural-11
The world its course maintains through life that rain unfailing gives;
Thus rain is known the true ambrosial food of all that lives.
Meaning : By the continuance of rain the world is preserved in existence; it is therefore worthy to be called ambrosia.
Kural-12
The rain makes pleasant food for eaters rise;
As food itself, thirst-quenching draught supplies.
Meaning : Rain produces good food, and is itself food.
Kural-13
If clouds, that promised rain, deceive, and in the sky remain,
Famine, sore torment, stalks o'er earth's vast ocean-girdled plain.
Meaning : If the cloud, withholding rain, deceive (our hopes) hunger will long distress the sea-girt spacious world.
Kural-14
If clouds their wealth of waters fail on earth to pour,
The ploughers plough with oxen's sturdy team no more.
Meaning : If the abundance of wealth imparting rain diminish, the labour of the plough must cease.
Kural-15
'Tis rain works all: it ruin spreads, then timely aid supplies;
As, in the happy days before, it bids the ruined rise.
Meaning : Rain by its absence ruins men; and by its existence restores them to fortune.
Kural-16
If from the clouds no drops of rain are shed.
'Tis rare to see green herb lift up its head.
Meaning : If no drop falls from the clouds, not even the green blade of grass will be seen.
Kural-17
If clouds restrain their gifts and grant no rain,
The treasures fail in ocean's wide domain.
Meaning : Even the wealth of the wide sea will be diminished, if the cloud that has drawn (its waters) up gives them not back again (in rain).
Kural-18
If heaven grow dry, with feast and offering never more,
Will men on earth the heavenly ones adore.
Meaning : If the heaven dry up, neither yearly festivals, nor daily worship will be offered in this world, to the celestials.
Kural-19
If heaven its watery treasures ceases to dispense,
Through the wide world cease gifts, and deeds of 'penitence'.
Meaning : If rain fall not, penance and alms-deeds will not dwell within this spacious world.
Kural-20
When water fails, functions of nature cease, you say;
Thus when rain fails, no men can walk in 'duty's ordered way'.
Meaning : If it be said that the duties of life cannot be discharged by any person without water, so without rain there cannot be the flowing of water.