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 1

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?? ????? ???????? ???? ????????????? ??????? ???
Oo Inidhe Emakkinnoi SeydhakanThaaam Itharpat Tadhu
English: Oho! how sweet a thing to see! the eyeThat wrought this pain, in the same gulf doth lie

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

The eyes that have given me this disease have themselves been seized with this (suffering) Oh! I am much delighted

குறள் 2

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?? ?????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????
Eedhal Isaipata Vaazhdhal AdhuvalladhuOodhiyam Illai Uyirkku
English: See that thy life the praise of generous gifts obtain;Save this for living man exists no real gain

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

Give to the poor and live with praise There is no greater profit to man than that

குறள் 3

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??? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ?????
Ooti Yavarai Unaraamai VaatiyaValli Mudhalarin Thatru
English: To use no kind conciliating art when lover grieves,Is cutting out the root of tender winding plant that droops

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

Not to reconcile those who have feigned dislike is like cutting a faded creeper at its root

குறள் 4

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??? ???? ????????????? ???????? ??????? ????
Akara Mudhala Ezhuththellaam AadhiPakavan Mudhatre Ulaku
English: A, as its first of letters, every speech maintains;The "Primal Deity" is first through all the world's domains

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

???????????? ??????? ????????? ?????????????; (??? ???) ????? ???????? ????????????.

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

As the letter A is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is first in the world

குறள் 5

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??? ?????? ????? ?????????????? ????????? ????
Thevar Anaiyar Kayavar AvarundhaamMevana Seydhozhuka Laan
English: The base are as the Gods; they tooDo ever what they list to do

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

The base resemble the Gods; for the base act as they like

குறள் 6

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??? ?????? ??????????? ????????????? ?????? ?????
Aaraa Iyarkai Avaaneeppin AnnilaiyePeraa Iyarkai Tharum
English: Drive from thy soul desire insatiate;Straight'way is gained the moveless blissful state

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

The removal of desire, whose nature it is never to be satisfied, will immediately confer a nature that can never be changed

குறள் 7

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??? ??????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ??????
Kaadhal Avarilar Aakanee NovadhuPedhaimai Vaazhiyen Nenju
English: Since he loves not, thy smartIs folly, fare thee well my heart

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

???? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ????, ??????! ?? ??????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????; ?? ?????

English Explanation

Is folly, fare thee well my heart!

குறள் 8

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??? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???
Aakaaru Alavitti Thaayinung KetillaiPokaaru Akalaak Katai
English: Incomings may be scant; but yet, no failure there,If in expenditure you rightly learn to spare

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?????? ????? ??? (???????) ??????? ???????????, ?????? ??? (?????)
????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

Even though the income (of a king) be small, it will not cause his (ruin), if his outgoings be not larger than his income

குறள் 9

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??? ???????? ????????? ??????????????? ?????? ?????
Kaana Muyaleydha Ampinil YaanaiPizhaiththavel Endhal Inidhu
English: Who aims at elephant, though dart should fail, has greater praiseThan he who woodland hare with winged arrow slays

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

It is more pleasant to hold the dart that has missed an elephant than that which has hit hare in the forest

குறள் 10

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??? ????????? ??????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????
Oozhi Peyarinum Thaampeyaraar SaandraanmaikkuAazhi Enappatu Vaar
English: Call them of perfect virtue's sea the shore,Who, though the fates should fail, fail not for evermore

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

Those who are said to be the shore of the sea of perfection will never change, though ages may change

குறள் 11

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??? ?????????? ????????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???
Odhi Unarndhum Pirarkkuraiththum ThaanatangaapPedhaiyin Pedhaiyaar Il
English: The sacred law he reads and learns, to other men expounds,-Himself obeys not; where can greater fool be found

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

There are no greater fools than he who, though he has read and understood (a great deal) and even taught it to others, does not walk according to his own teaching

குறள் 12

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??? ??????????? ?????????? ????????????????? ???????? ???????
Ooti Irundhemaath Thumminaar YaamdhammaiNeetuvaazh Kenpaak Karindhu
English: One day we silent sulked; he sneezed: The reason well I knew;He thought that I, to speak well pleased, Would say, 'Long life to you!'

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

???? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????????; ???? ?????, ????? ?????? ?????? ????????. ????? ?????, ???????? ????? ??????????! ???? ????????? (??????? ????????????)

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

When I continued to be sulky he sneezed and thought I would (then) wish him a long life

குறள் 13

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???? ???? ????? ???????????????????? ??????? ?????
Aiyap Pataaadhu Akaththadhu UnarvaanaithTheyvaththo Toppak Kolal
English: Undoubting, who the minds of men can scan,As deity regard that gifted man

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? (???? ?????? ???????) ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ????????.

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

He is to be esteemed a god who is able to ascertain without a doubt what is within (one's mind)

குறள் 14

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???? ???? ????????? ???????????????????????? ??????? ????
Olva Tharivadhu Arindhadhan KandhangichChelvaarkkuch Chellaadhadhu Il
English: Who know what can be wrought, with knowledge of the means, on this,Their mind firm set, go forth, nought goes with them amiss

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

There is nothing which may not be accomplished by those who, before they attack (an enemy), make themselves acquainted with their own ability, and with whatever else is (needful) to be known, and

குறள் 15

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???? ????? ???? ???????????? ????? ?????
Evva Thuraivadhu Ulakam UlakaththotuAvva Thuraiva Tharivu
English: As dwells the world, so with the world to dwellIn harmony- this is to wisely live and well

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

To live as the world lives, is wisdom

குறள் 16

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???? ????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????
Iniya Ulavaaka Innaadha KooralKaniiruppak Kaaikavarn Thatru
English: When pleasant words are easy, bitter words to use,Is, leaving sweet ripe fruit, the sour unripe to choose

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

To say disagreeable things when agreeable are at hand is like eating unripe fruit when there is ripe

குறள் 17

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???? ????? ??????? ????????????? ????? ???
Ootuka Manno Oliyizhai YaamirappaNeetuka Manno Iraa
English: Let her, whose jewels brightly shine, aversion feignThat I may still plead on, O night, prolong thy reign

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

May the bright-jewelled one feign dislike, and may the night be prolonged for me to implore her!

குறள் 18

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???? ????? ??????? ????????????????? ??????? ????
Kaadhala Kaadhal Ariyaamai UykkirpinEdhila Edhilaar Nool
English: If, to your foes unknown, you cherish what you love,Counsels of men who wish you harm will harmless prove

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

If (a king) enjoys, privately the things which he desires, the designs of his enemies will be useless

குறள் 19

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???? ????? ???????? ??????????????????? ???? ???
Ootal Unanga Vituvaarotu EnnenjamKootuvem Enpadhu Avaa
English: Of her who leaves me thus in variance languishing,To think within my heart with love is fond desire

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

It is nothing but strong desire that makes her mind unite with me who can leave her to her own dislike

குறள் 20

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???? ????? ??????????? ????????????????? ????? ??????
Aqki Akandra Arivennaam YaarmaattumVeqki Veriya Seyin
English: What gain, though lore refined of amplest reach he learn,His acts towards all mankind if covetous desire to folly turn

மு. வரதராசனார் விளக்கம்

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

சாலமன் பாப்பையா விளக்கம்

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

கலைஞர் விளக்கம்

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

English Explanation

What is the advantage of extensive and accurate knowledge if a man through covetousness act senselessly towards all ?