Thirukkural 1071 in English

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

Tamil original

மக்களே போல்வர் கயவர் அவரன்ன
ஒப்பாரி யாங்கண்ட தில்.

Transliteration

Makkale Polvar Kayavar Avaranna
Oppaari Yaanganta Thil

English Translation

“The mean seem men only in form We have never seen such a sham”

Plain-English meaning

The base resemble men perfectly (as regards form); and we have not seen such (exact) resemblance (among any other species)

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

The mean seem men only in form We have never seen such a sham

G.U. Pope Translation

The base resemble men in outward form, I ween;But counterpart exact to them I've never seen

Plain-English Meaning

The base resemble men perfectly (as regards form); and we have not seen such (exact) resemblance (among any other species)

கயவர் வெளித்தோற்றத்தில் மனிதரைப் போலவே இருப்பர்; விலங்கு பறவை போன்ற பிற இனங்களில் அவருக்கு ஒப்பானவரை நான் கண்டது இல்லை.

Chapter 108

கயமை

The mean seem men only in form We have never seen such a sham

The base seem richer than the good For no care enters their heart or head

The base are like gods; for they too As prompted by their desire do

When the base meets a rake so vile Him he will exceed, exult and smile

Fear forms the conduct of the low Craving avails a bit below

The base are like the beaten drum Since other's secrets they proclaim

The base their damp hand will not shake But for fists clenched their jaws to break

The good by soft words profits yield The cane-like base when crushed and killed

Faults in others the mean will guess On seeing how they eat and dress

The base hasten to sell themselves From doom to flit and nothing else