Tirukkural translations into Fijian

As of 2015, Fijian had at least two translations available of the Tirukkural.[1]

History of translations edit

There are at least two translations known of the Kural text in the Fijian language. The first Fijian translation of the Kural was made by Samuel L. Berwick who translated it in 1964. Swami Rudrananda, who established the Ramakrishna Mission in Fiji in 1953, requested Berwick, then editor of the Fijian section of his newspaper Pacific Review (Vakalewa ni Pasifika) published from Nadi, to work on the translation in 1962 to mark the birth centenary of Swami Vivekananda. It was published in Nadi, Fiji under the title Na Tirukurala.[2][3] This has long been out of print and is now said to be available only in National Archives of Fiji.[4]

The second one was by the Irish-English linguist Paul Geraghty, based at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji.[4] Not knowing Tamil, he made the Fijian translation from English and French translations of the Kural text in two years.[4] It was published under the title Tirukurali Na sere tabu in 2008,[3] which was released by former Vice President of Fiji Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi.[4]

Translations edit

Translation Chapter 26, Tabu lewenimanumanu
Kural 254 (Couplet 26:4) Kural 258 (Couplet 26:8)
Samuel L. Berwick, 1964 Na veivakamatei na tawa loloma
Vakamatei me kanii kua e tokona.
Ke da rai yawa ka savasava
Lewe ni manumanu ’da na tawa sagaa.
Paul Geraghty, 2008 Na laba na ivalavalaca; e ivalavalaca tale ga na kania na lewe ni manumanu labati. Koya e cecere nona vakasama ena sega ni kana lewenimanumanu, ni dau rawa ga ena kena kau tani na bula ni manumanu.

Published translations edit

  • S. L. Berwick (1964). Na Tirukurala. Nadi: Sri Ramakrishna Mission.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Pallu, Nelza Mara; Mohanty, Panchanan; Durga, Shiva (May 2023). "Thirukkural Translations: A Sacred Text From the Town of Peacocks—Mayilâpûr India" (PDF). International Journal of Development Research. 13 (5): 62551–62553. doi:10.37118/ijdr.26323.05.2023 (inactive 31 January 2024). ISSN 2230-9926. Retrieved 18 November 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2024 (link)
  2. ^ Sanjeevi, N. (1973). Bibliography on Tirukkural. In First All India Tirukkural Seminar Papers. Chennai: University of Madras. p. 139.
  3. ^ a b Polilan; K. Gunathogai; Lena Kumar; Tagadur Sampath; Mutthamizh; G. Picchai Vallinayagam; D. Anbunidhi; K. V. Neduncheraladhan, eds. (2019). Tiruvalluvar 2050 (in Tamil) (1 ed.). Chennai: Periyar Enthusiasts Group. p. 686.
  4. ^ a b c d Dev Nadkarni and Padmini Gaunder (10 July 2009). "And Now, Thirukkural in Fijian". The Indian Weekender. Retrieved 20 November 2023.

External links edit