Thirukkural 1077 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஈர்ங்கை விதிரார் கயவர் கொடிறுடைக்கும்
கூன்கையர் அல்லா தவர்க்கு.
Transliteration
Eerngai Vidhiraar Kayavar Kotirutaikkum
Koonkaiyar Allaa Thavarkku
Modern English
“The mean will not share even leftovers with the vulnerable, but they may give something to a person strong enough to hurt them.”
Modern Interpretation
The mean will not share even leftovers with the vulnerable, but they may give something to a person strong enough to hurt them. Someone who tips a threatening bully but ignores a hungry worker reveals how fear, not generosity, guides them.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The mean will not share even leftovers with the vulnerable, but they may give something to a person strong enough to hurt them.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The base their damp hand will not shake But for fists clenched their jaws to break
G.U. Pope Translation
From off their moistened hands no clinging grain they shake,Unless to those with clenched fist their jaws who break
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The mean will not (even) shake off (what sticks to) their hands (soon after a meal) to any but those who would break their jaws with their clenched fists
Tamil commentary
தாடையை உடைக்கும் முறுக்கிய கை இல்லாதவர்க்குக் கயவர், தாம் உண்டு கழுவிய ஈரக் கையைக்கூட உதறமாட்டார்.
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