Thirukkural 1078 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
சொல்லப் பயன்படுவர் சான்றோர் கரும்புபோல்
கொல்லப் பயன்படும் கீழ்.
Transliteration
Sollap Payanpatuvar Saandror Karumpupol
Kollap Payanpatum Keezh
Modern English
“Good people help when they hear a genuine need; mean people yield only after being pressured hard.”
Modern Interpretation
Good people help when they hear a genuine need; mean people yield only after being pressured hard. A respected neighbor brings food when asked, while a selfish landlord acts only after repeated complaints.
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Modern Plain English
Good people help when they hear a genuine need; mean people yield only after being pressured hard.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The good by soft words profits yield The cane-like base when crushed and killed
G.U. Pope Translation
The good to those will profit yield fair words who use;The base, like sugar-cane, will profit those who bruise
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The great bestow (their alms) as soon as they are informed; (but) the mean, like the sugar-cane, only when they are tortured to death
Tamil commentary
இல்லாதவர் சென்று தம் நிலையைச் சொன்ன அளவில், சான்றோர் இரங்கிக் கொடுப்பர்; கயவர்களோ கரும்பைப் பிழிவதுபோல் பிழிந்தால்தான் கொடுப்பர்.
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