Thirukkural 1 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு.
Transliteration
Akara Mudhala Ezhuththellaam Aadhi
Pakavan Mudhatre Ulaku
Modern English
“Every lasting achievement starts with a foundation.”
Modern Interpretation
Every lasting achievement starts with a foundation. A happy family depends on trust. A successful career depends on discipline. A strong friendship depends on honesty. Just as a house needs a solid foundation before its walls can stand, our lives need strong values before success can truly last.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Every lasting achievement starts with a foundation.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
'A' leads letters; the Ancient Lord Leads and lords the entire world
G.U. Pope Translation
A, as its first of letters, every speech maintains;The "Primal Deity" is first through all the world's domains
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
As the letter A is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is first in the world
Tamil commentary
எழுத்துக்கள் எல்லாம் அகரத்தில் தொடங்குகின்றன; (அது போல) உலகம் கடவுளில் தொடங்குகிறது.
Chapter 1
More from The Praise of God
கடவுள் வாழ்த்து
'A' leads letters; the Ancient Lord Leads and lords the entire world
Kural 2That lore is vain which does not fall At His good feet who knoweth all
Kural 3Long they live on earth who gain The feet of God in florid brain
Kural 4Who hold His feet who likes nor loathes Are free from woes of human births
Kural 5God's praise who tell, are free from right And wrong, the twins of dreaming night
Kural 6They prosper long who walk His way Who has the senses signed away
Kural 7His feet, whose likeness none can find, Alone can ease the anxious mind
Kural 8Who swims the sea of vice is he Who clasps the feet of Virtue's sea
Kural 9Like senses stale that head is vain Which bows not to Eight-Virtued Divine
Kural 10The sea of births they alone swim Who clench His feet and cleave to Him