Thirukkural 1012 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஊணுடை எச்சம் உயிர்க்கெல்லாம் வேறல்ல
நாணுடைமை மாந்தர் சிறப்பு.
Transliteration
Oonutai Echcham Uyirkkellaam Veralla
Naanutaimai Maandhar Sirappu
Modern English
“Food, clothing, and other needs are common to everyone; what especially marks a good person is the modesty that keeps them from shameful acts.”
Modern Interpretation
Food, clothing, and other needs are common to everyone; what especially marks a good person is the modesty that keeps them from shameful acts. For example, someone may dress like everyone else but stand out by refusing to cheat.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Food, clothing, and other needs are common to everyone; what especially marks a good person is the modesty that keeps them from shameful acts.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Food, dress and such are one for all Modesty marks the higher soul
G.U. Pope Translation
Food, clothing, and other things alike all beings own;By sense of shame the excellence of men is known
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Food, clothing and the like are common to all men but modesty is peculiar to the good
Tamil commentary
உணவு, உடை இன்னும் பிற சிறப்புகள், எல்லா மனிதர்க்கும் ஒன்றே; நல்ல மனிதர்க்குச் சிறப்பாவது நாண் உடைமையே.
Chapter 102
More from Shame
நாணுடைமை
To shrink from evil deed is shame The rest is blush of fair-faced dame
Kural 1012Food, dress and such are one for all Modesty marks the higher soul
Kural 1013All lives have their lodge in flesh Perfection has its home in blush
Kural 1014Shame is the jewel of dignity Shameless swagger is vanity
Kural 1015In them resides the sense of shame Who blush for their and other's blame
Kural 1016The great refuse the wonder-world Without modesty's hedge and shield
Kural 1017For shame their life the shame-sensed give Loss of shame they won't outlive
Kural 1018Virtue is much ashamed of him Who shameless does what others shame
Kural 1019Lapse in manners injures the race Want of shame harms every good grace
Kural 1020Movements of the shameless in heart Are string-led puppet show in fact