559. Accounts reveal the drain

முகில்கண்ட போதறிவான் வீட்டின் ஒழுகல்தொகைகண்ட போதறிவான் தான்

mukilkanda podharivaan veettin ozhukalthokaikanda podharivaan thaan

Seeing a cloud, a man knows where his house leaks; seeing the total, he knows his own.

A cloud warns of rain coming through the roof’s weak spots; the sum of the accounts shows money slipping away in the same manner.

560. Using up tomorrow

விதையுண்ணும் கூழுக்கே வித்திழந்தான் நாளும்விதைகுறையத் தோன்றும் பசி

vidhaiyunnum koozhukke vithizhandaan naalumvidhaikuraiyadh thondrum pasi

For mere gruel he lost his seed, gruel that eats the seed; each day, as the seed runs low, hunger appears.

Seed-grain is next season’s crop: cooked into gruel, it feeds today and leaves less to sow.

561. Leaving room to recover

நாளொன் றிறைப்பினும் ஊறும் கிணறுமுழுதிறைப்பின் வற்றும் அது

naalon riraippinum oorum kinarumuzhudhiraippin vatrum adhu

A well drawn on for a day still fills again; drawn out entirely, it runs dry.