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
Modern English
“Wicked people may look exactly like everyone else, but their lack of character sets them apart.”
Modern Interpretation
Wicked people may look exactly like everyone else, but their lack of character sets them apart. A polite-looking classmate who secretly bullies others shows why appearance alone cannot prove goodness.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Wicked people may look exactly like everyone else, but their lack of character sets them apart.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The base resemble men perfectly (as regards form); and we have not seen such (exact) resemblance (among any other species)
Tamil commentary
கயவர் வெளித்தோற்றத்தில் மனிதரைப் போலவே இருப்பர்; விலங்கு பறவை போன்ற பிற இனங்களில் அவருக்கு ஒப்பானவரை நான் கண்டது இல்லை.
Chapter 108
More from Baseness
கயமை
The mean seem men only in form We have never seen such a sham
Kural 1072The base seem richer than the good For no care enters their heart or head
Kural 1073The base are like gods; for they too As prompted by their desire do
Kural 1074When the base meets a rake so vile Him he will exceed, exult and smile
Kural 1075Fear forms the conduct of the low Craving avails a bit below
Kural 1076The base are like the beaten drum Since other's secrets they proclaim
Kural 1077The base their damp hand will not shake But for fists clenched their jaws to break
Kural 1078The good by soft words profits yield The cane-like base when crushed and killed
Kural 1079Faults in others the mean will guess On seeing how they eat and dress
Kural 1080The base hasten to sell themselves From doom to flit and nothing else