Tirukkural in Fijian

Till recently, the only Fijian translation was the one published in 1964 by the Ramakrishna Math in Fiji Islands. The translator was Samuel Berwick. In February 2009, a new Fijian translation of Tirukkural (Tirukkurali: Na sere tabu) was launched by Reddy Group of Companies, Suva. Translator Dr. Paul Geraghty did the rendering based on the English and French translations available to him. The project was coordinated by Mr. Kantilal Jinna with the assistance of the Indian High Commission in Suva. Writes Dr. Geraghty in his introduction to his translation: "I have taken a rather different approach in this translation, one which I believe to be better suited to these not-so-leisurely times, and have also had the advantage of access to a number different English and French translations. I hope what has undoubtedly been lost in elegance and poetic style may be made up for in accuracy and conciseness."

Thanks to Mr. Kantilal for sparing two copies of the work to me, I could upload the entire translation in full. Those who intend to procure a copy of the same can contact him at kantijinna@iprimus.com.au. 

Vakamacala taumada & Na itataunaki

Na Thirukurali e soqoni vata kina e 1330 na 'Kurali' (serekali yarua na laini) a vota o Thiruvalluvar. E nodra ivola dokani na Tamil, na ldu, kei na Jaini. E vakabauti ni isevu ni ivola dusidusi ni itovo savasava nodra na lotu Buda kei na Jaini. E rabailevu sara na itovo ni noda bula e tarai kina. E wili me dua vei irta na ivola usutu ni vosa vakatamil. a rairai volai ena maliwa ni ikarua ni yabakidrau ni bere na Karisito kei na ikawalu ni yabakidrau ni gauna vakarisito.

Na Tirukurali e 133 na kena wase, yatini na tikina (Kurali). E tolu na kena iwasewase lelevu. Kena imatai e 38 na kena wase, baleta na aram -na itovo vinaka. Kena ikarua e 70 na kena ease, baleta na porul- noda iyau kei na kena yaga vei keda na vakaitovo. Kena ikatolu e 25 na kena wase, e baleta na kamam se inbam -na veilomani, kei na itovo tale eso ni lomada.

Na ivola vutuniyau qo e dodonu meda veivotayaka, ni itokani uvasivi ena noda dui bula. Na kenaile e vakaibalebale ena tabana kece ni noda bula. E yaga vei keda kece, se da kai vei se lotu cava. E saga ni dua na wase se tikina mada ga e sega ni vakaibalebale vei keda e Viti.

Qo na rai nei Albert Schweitzer, turaga rogo ena volaivola kei na kaulotu, me baleta na ivola qo:

" Na veimataqali taro me baleta na noda itovo kei na noda veimaliwai, a sauma o Tiruvaluva ena yalo vakaturaga kei na yalomatua. E vuravura taucoko, e kunekune dredre sara na ivola ni vosa vakaibalebale me bau torova na kena qo ena cecere ni kena vuku."

A vola o VVS Aiyar, turaga dau valataka na nona vanua o Tamil, ena ivakamacala taumada ni nona vakadewa ni Kural ena 1915:

" Era lawe lailai sara na sa bau rogoca na yacai koya sa mai vakaperitaniataki tiko qo na nona serekali. la e turaga raiyawa sara, nona vakasama e sega ni yala ga ena nona vanua se na nona itabagauna, e ganiti vuravura taucoko kei na veitabagauna kece."

A mai vakaiyautaki dina na noda vanua ena isevu ni vakadewa vakaviti ni Kural ena limasagavulu na yabaki sa oti, ni a mai votai kina vei keda na iyau vakaitovo vakayalo ni vanua o Tamil.

Na vakadewa vou qo nei Paula Qereli, na daunivosa rogo, e na mai yaga vakalevu kina na ivola qo. Au sega ni vakatitiqataka ni na vakavutuniyautaka na noda itovo kei na noda lotu na lewei Viti kece.

vakamacala taumada:

Yenktesh Permal Reddy CF OBE JP Lautoka 30June 2008

Na itataunaki: Paca Pat Mc Caffrey, SSC 14 Maji 2008

Source (TIRUKURALI Na sere tabu: Translated into Fijian by Dr. Paul Geraghty, Published by: Reddy Group of Companies.)