Thirukkural 10 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் நீந்துவர் நீந்தார்
இறைவன் அடிசேரா தார்.

Transliteration

Piravip Perungatal Neendhuvar Neendhaar
Iraivan Atiseraa Thaar

English Translation

“The sea of births they alone swim Who clench His feet and cleave to Him”

Plain-English meaning

None can swim the great sea of births but those who are united to the feet of God

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

The sea of births they alone swim Who clench His feet and cleave to Him

G.U. Pope Translation

They swim the sea of births, the 'Monarch's' foot who gain;None others reach the shore of being's mighty main

Plain-English Meaning

None can swim the great sea of births but those who are united to the feet of God

கடவுளின் திருவடிகளைச் சேர்ந்தவர் பிறவியாகிய பெருங்கடலை நீந்திக் கடப்பர்; மற்றவர் நீந்தவும் மாட்டார்

Chapter 1

கடவுள் வாழ்த்து

'A' leads letters; the Ancient Lord Leads and lords the entire world

That lore is vain which does not fall At His good feet who knoweth all

Long they live on earth who gain The feet of God in florid brain

Who hold His feet who likes nor loathes Are free from woes of human births

God's praise who tell, are free from right And wrong, the twins of dreaming night

They prosper long who walk His way Who has the senses signed away

His feet, whose likeness none can find, Alone can ease the anxious mind

Who swims the sea of vice is he Who clasps the feet of Virtue's sea

Like senses stale that head is vain Which bows not to Eight-Virtued Divine

The sea of births they alone swim Who clench His feet and cleave to Him