104.3 Agriculture
(104.3 உழவு)
Question:
What are the important steps in farming?
Answer:
If the plowed soil is left to dry to a fourth of its
bulk, the yield
will be plentiful without even using a handful of manure.
(Couplet –
1037)
Manuring is more rewarding than plowing. After weeding,
guarding the crops is more important than watering.
(Couplet
– 1038)
If the landowner does not pay personal attention to his
land,
his land will sulk like a neglected wife, and the yield
will be (Couplet
– 1039)
தொடிப்புழுதி கஃசா உணக்கின் பிடித்தெருவும்
வேண்டாது சாலப் படும். (குறள் – 1037)
ஏரினும் நன்றால் எருவிடுதல் கட்டபின்
நீரினும் நன்றதன் காப்பு. (குறள்
– 1038)
செல்லான் கிழவன் இருப்பின் நிலம்புலந்து
இல்லாளின் ஊடி விடும். (குறள்
– 1039)
Explanation:
In
Couplet 1037, Valluvar says that after plowing the field when it is wet, if the
turned-up soil is left to dry in the sun and air so that the dried-up soil is
only one-fourth of the quantity of the original soil, then the field does not
need any manure. If the mud is left to dry, it gets aerated and absorbs the
nitrogen from the atmosphere. In Couplet 1038, Valluvar emphasizes that
manuring, weeding, watering, and protecting crops from pests and diseases are
all important steps in farming. Actually, Valluvar is saying manuring is more
important than plowing, and protecting crops is more important than weeding and
watering. Although Valluvar compares one step in the farming process with
another, it is evident that all the steps are vital to get the maximum yield. In Couplet 1039, Valluvar warns the
farmer that if he does not pay attention to his land, it will sulk at him like
a neglected wife and yield nothing.
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