திருக்குறள்

Thirukkural by Saint Thiruvalluvar

Explore the timeless wisdom of Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text consisting of 1,330 couplets dealing with ethics, politics, economics, and love. Each Kural is presented with explanations from renowned Tamil scholars.

குறள் 1141

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??????????? ????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????? ??????
Sirupataiyaan Sellitam Serin UrupataiyaanOokkam Azhindhu Vitum
English: If lord of army vast the safe retreat assailOf him whose host is small, his mightiest efforts fail

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

????? ??? ????????????? ??????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????, ????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

????? ????? ???????, ????? ????? ??????? ??? ????????? ?????????? ??????, ???????? ?????? ???????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

????? ??? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????????

English Explanation

The power of one who has a large army will perish, if he goes into ground where only a small army can act

குறள் 1142

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??????????? ????????? ?????? ????????????????? ??? ???
Valiyaarkku Maaretral Ompuka OmpaaMeliyaarmel Meka Pakai
English: With stronger than thyself, turn from the strife away;With weaker shun not, rather court the fray

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

????? ??? ??????????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ????????, ????? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

?????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????????? ????????? ?????; ??????? ??????? ???? ??????????? ?????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

???????? ????????, ??????? ??????????? ????? ??????????? ????????? ???? ????????????

English Explanation

Avoid offering resistance to the strong; (but) never fail to cherish enmity towards the weak

குறள் 1143

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??????????? ????????? ?????? ????????????????? ????????? ????
Utuppadhooum Unpadhooum Kaanin PirarmelVatukkaana Vatraakum Keezh
English: If neighbours clothed and fed he see, the baseIs mighty man some hidden fault to trace

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

???? ???? ????? ????????????, ?????????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????, ???????? ????? ??????? ??? ???????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

????? ????? ??????, ?????? ???????, ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????, ???????? ???????????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????????

English Explanation

The base will bring an evil (accusation) against others, as soon as he sees them (enjoying) good food

குறள் 1144

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??????????? ????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????
Inaiththunaith Thenpadhon Rillai VirundhinThunaiththunai Velvip Payan
English: To reckon up the fruit of kindly deeds were all in vain;Their worth is as the worth of guests you entertain

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????????? ?????, ????????????? ????????? ???? ???????????

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

????????????? ????????? ??? ?????. ????? ????????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ????????; ????? ????????????? ????? ???????? ????????? ????????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

???????????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ????????????? ??? ??????????? ????????

English Explanation

The advantages of benevolence cannot be measured; the measure (of the virtue) of the guests (entertained) is the only measure

குறள் 1145

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??????????? ????????? ?????? ????????????????????? ??????????? ???
Irundhulli Enparidhal Nenje ParindhullalPaidhalnoi Seydhaarkan Il
English: What comes of sitting here in pining thought, O heart? He knowsNo pitying thought, the cause of all these wasting woes

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?????? (????????) ??????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????? ???????????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ???????!

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

??????! ???? ????????? ???????????? ???????, ????? ???????? ???????, ??????????????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ?????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

???????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ????, ??????! ?? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????????? ???? ?????

English Explanation

O my soul! why remain (here) and suffer thinking (of him)? There are no lewd thoughts (of you) in him who has caused you this disease of sorrow

குறள் 1146

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??????????? ????????? ??????? ?????????????????? ????????? ??????
Penniyalaar Ellaarum Kannin PodhuunparNannen Paraththanin Maarpu
English: From thy regard all womankind Enjoys an equal grace;O thou of wandering fickle mind, I shrink from thine embrace

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

??????? ???????! ???? ????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ????????????????; ??????? ??? ???????? ???????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

???? ??????????! ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????; ?????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????? ????????? ?????????, ??????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ????????

English Explanation

You are given to prostitution; all those who are born as womankind enjoy you with their eyes in an ordinary way I will not embrace you

குறள் 1147

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??????????? ????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ????
Vitumaatram Vendharkku Uraippaan VatumaatramVaaiseraa Vanka Navan
English: His faltering lips must utter no unworthy thing,Who stands, with steady eye, to speak the mandates of his king

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?????????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????????????? ??????? ???? ??????????? ????????? ?????????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

??? ???? ??????????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????????, ????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????, ???? ???????? ????? ??????????, ?????? ????????? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ????????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????????????? ?????, ?????????????, ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ???????? ????????

English Explanation

He alone is fit to communicate (his sovereign's) reply, who possesses the firmness not to utter even inadvertently what may reflect discredit (on the latter)

குறள் 1148

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??????????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ?????
Vazhuththinaal Thumminen Aaka AzhiththazhudhaalYaarullith Thummineer Endru
English: She hailed me when I sneezed one day; But straight with anger seized,She cried; 'Who was the woman, pray, Thinking of whom you sneezed?'

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

???? ???????????; ???? ???????? ?? ????????????; ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??????????? ??????????? ????? ?????? ????????

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

???? ?????, ???? ????????? ????????????; ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ??????????? ??????????, ????? ?????? ??? ???????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????????; ?????????? ???? ????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ``???? ????? ??????????? ??????????'' ????? ??????, ??????? ?????? ???????????? ????? ???? ???????????????

English Explanation

When I sneezed she blessed me, but at once changed (her mind) and wept, asking, "At the thought of whom did you sneeze?"

குறள் 1149

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??????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????? ???? ??????
Nerunatruch Chendraarem Kaadhalar YaamumEzhunaalem Meni Pasandhu
English: My loved one left me, was it yesterday?Days seven my pallid body wastes away

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ????????; ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

??? ?????? ???????????? ??????? ???????? ??????; ????????????? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ????????? ??? ???????????????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

???????????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????????; ???????, ?? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????

English Explanation

It was but yesterday my lover departed (from me); and it is seven days since my complexion turned sallow

குறள் 1150

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??????????? ?????????? ??????? ????????????????? ????????? ????
Uvandhuraivar Ullaththul Endrum IkandhuraivarEdhilar Ennum Iv Voor
English: Rejoicing in my very soul he ever lies;'Her love estranged is gone far off!' the village cries

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?????? ????????? ??? ?????????? ????????? ????????????, ????? ??? ???????? ???????? ????????????, ????????????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

??????? ????????? ??? ???????????????? ????????? ???????????. ??? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ???????????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????, ????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????, ??? ????? ????????? ??????? ????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ????

English Explanation

My lover dwells in my heart with perpetual delight; but the town says he is unloving and (therefore) dwells afar

குறள் 1151

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??????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????????? ????????? ????
Solvanakkam Onnaarkan Kollarka VilvanakkamTheengu Kuriththamai Yaan
English: To pliant speech from hostile lips give thou no ear;'Tis pliant bow that show the deadly peril near

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

???????? ??????? ???????? ??????????? ?????? ??????????????????????, ??????????????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ??????? ??????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

???? ?????? ???? ???????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???????????; ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

????????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ????????, ???? ?????? ??????

English Explanation

Since the bending of the bow bespeaks evil, one should not accept (as good) the humiliating speeches of one's foes

குறள் 1152

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??????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????
Vinaivaliyum Thanvaliyum Maatraan ValiyumThunaivaliyum Thookkich Cheyal
English: The force the strife demands, the force he owns, the force of foes,The force of friends; these should he weigh ere to the war he goes

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

??????? ????????? ??? ????????? ????????? ????????? ,???????????? ???????????? ????????? ????????? ??????? ????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

?????????? ??????? ??????? ?????, ????? ??????? ??? ?????, ??? ??????????? ????????? ?????, ???????????? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????? ?????, ???? ?????, ???????? ?????, ??????????????? ??????? ??????????? ????? ????????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????????

English Explanation

Let (one) weigh well the strength of the deed (he purposes to do), his own strength, the strength of his enemy, and the strength of the allies (of both), and then let him act

குறள் 1153

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??????????? ?????????? ????????? ???????????????? ???? ??????
Ezhudhungaal Kolkaanaak Kannepol KonkanPazhikaanen Kanta Itaththu
English: The eye sees not the rod that paints it; nor can ISee any fault, when I behold my husband nigh

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????? ????, ???????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????????? ?????? ????????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

?????? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???, ??????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ????? ?????????, ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????, ???????? ???????????? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ????????? ?????? ??????????

English Explanation

Like the eyes which see not the pencil that paints it, I cannot see my husband's fault (just) when I meet him

குறள் 1154

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??????????? ?????????? ????????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ??????
Vilakkatram Paarkkum Irulepol KonkanMuyakkatram Paarkkum Pasappu
English: As darkness waits till lamp expires, to fill the place,This pallor waits till I enjoy no more my lord's embrace

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

???????????? ??????? ?????????? ??????????????? ??????? ?????, ????????? ?????????? ????????? ?????????? ????????????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

??????? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ??? ????????? ?????? ??????????? ?????????? ??????????? ???? ?????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

????????? ??????????? ????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ??????????, ??????? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ?????????

English Explanation

Just as darkness waits for the failing light; so does sallowness wait for the laxity of my husband's intercourse

குறள் 1155

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??????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????????? ?????? ????
Pukazhindraal Puththelnaattu Uyyaadhaal EnmatruIkazhvaarpin Sendru Nilai
English: It yields no praise, nor to the land of Gods throws wide the gate:Why follow men who scorn, and at their bidding wait

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ????, ?????????? ??????? ?????, ???????????? ??????????, ???? ???? ????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????????????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????, ??????????? ????? ?????. ????????? ????????????? ??????????; ???? ???????? ????? ????

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????????? ????????????????, ??????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ???????????

English Explanation

Why follow men who scorn, and at their bidding wait?

குறள் 1156

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??????????? ?????????? ??????????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????
Kaliththorum Kalluntal Vettatraal KaamamVelippatun Thorum Inidhu
English: The more man drinks, the more he ever drunk would be;The more my love's revealed, the sweeter 'tis to me

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

????? ?????? ???????? ?????????, ??????????? ????????? ????? ????? ??? ???????????? ???????????? ???????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

??? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ????????? ?????????????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ????????????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ????? ????? ?????????? ??????????? ???????????

English Explanation

As drinking liquor is delightful (to one) whenever one is in mirth, so is lust delightful to me whenever it is the subject of rumour

குறள் 1157

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??????????? ??????????? ???? ????????????????? ????? ???
Kootrutandru Melvarinum Kooti EdhirnirkumAatra Ladhuve Patai
English: That is a 'host' that joins its ranks, and mightily withstands,Though death with sudden wrath should fall upon its bands

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

???? ??????????? ??? ???? ????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

???? ????????? ?????????, ???? ?????? ??????????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????? ????????? ???? ??????????? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ??? ???? ????? ??????????

English Explanation

That indeed is an army which is capable of offering a united resistance, even if Yama advances against it with fury

குறள் 1158

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??????????? ??????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ????
Tharkaaththuth Tharkontaar Penith ThakaisaandraSorkaaththuch Chorvilaal Pen
English: Who guards herself, for husband's comfort cares, her household's fame,In perfect wise with sleepless soul preserves, -give her a woman's name

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

????? ???????? ????????? ??????????????, ???????????? ??????????, ??????????? ????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????????? ????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

???????? ???????????? ??????? ??????, ??? ??????? ????????? ????? ??????, ??????????????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????, ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ????????? ?????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

????????????? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? ??????, ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ???????????? ????????? ????? ????????? ????????? ????

English Explanation

She is a wife who unweariedly guards herself, takes care of her husband, and preserves an unsullied fame

குறள் 1159

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??????????? ??????????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ?????????? ???????
Uraisiriyaar Ulnatungal Anjik KuraiperinKolvar Periyaarp Panindhu
English: The men of lesser realm, fearing the people's inward dread, Accepting granted terms, to mightier ruler bow the head

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

????? ??????????, ????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????, ????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? ????????? ??????? ???????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

????? ???????? ????????, ????????? ???????? ????????? ????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????????????? ????? ????????????? ??????? ??????? ???????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

???????? ?????????????? ??????????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????? ???? ??????????????? ???? ???????????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???????????

English Explanation

Ministers of small states, afraid of their people being frightened, will yield to and acknowledge their superior foes, if the latter offer them a chance of reconciliation

குறள் 1160

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??????????? ??????????? ??????? ??????????????????? ?????? ?????
Patiyutaiyaar Patramaindhak Kannum MatiyutaiyaarMaanpayan Eydhal Aridhu
English: Though lords of earth unearned possessions gain,The slothful ones no yield of good obtain

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?????? ????? ????????? ?????? ???? ????? ????????????, ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

????? ????????? ???? ??????????? ??????? ??????? ??????????????????, ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

??????????????? ??????????? ?????????????? ??????????? ???????????????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????????? ?????????

English Explanation

It is a rare thing for the idle, even when possessed of the riches of kings who ruled over the whole earth, to derive any great benefit from it