Thirukkural 111 in English

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

Tamil original

தகுதி எனவொன்று நன்றே பகுதியால்
பாற்பட்டு ஒழுகப் பெறின்.

Transliteration

Thakudhi Enavondru Nandre Pakudhiyaal
Paarpattu Ozhukap Perin

Modern English

“Treating enemies, strangers, and friends with the same fairness is a virtue so complete that it's almost enough on its own to build a good life.”

Modern Interpretation

Treating enemies, strangers, and friends with the same fairness is a virtue so complete that it's almost enough on its own to build a good life. Fairness shouldn't depend on how close someone is to you. For example, a referee who calls fouls the same way for both teams, even their own friend's team, earns real respect.

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Modern Plain English

Treating enemies, strangers, and friends with the same fairness is a virtue so complete that it's almost enough on its own to build a good life.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

Equity is supreme virtue It is to give each man his due

G.U. Pope Translation

If justice, failing not, its quality maintain,Giving to each his due, -'tis man's one highest gain

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

That equity which consists in acting with equal regard to each of (the three) divisions of men [enemies, strangers and friends] is a pre-eminent virtue

Tamil commentary

பகைவர், நண்பர், அயலார் என்னும் பிரிவினர் தோறும் நீதி தவறாது பின்பற்றப்படுமானால் நடுவுநிலைமை என்று சொல்லப்படும் ஓர் அறம் மட்டுமே வாழ்க்கைக்குப் போதும்.

Chapter 12

More from Impartiality

நடுவு நிலைமை

Read all 10 Kurals →

Kural 111

Equity is supreme virtue It is to give each man his due

Kural 112

Wealth of the man of equity Grows and lasts to posterity

Kural 113

Though profitable, turn away From unjust gains without delay

Kural 114

The worthy and the unworthy Are seen in their posterity

Kural 115

Loss and gain by cause arise; Equal mind adorns the wise

Kural 116

Of perdition let him be sure Who leaves justice to sinful lure

Kural 117

The just reduced to poverty Is not held down by equity

Kural 118

Like balance holding equal scales A well poised mind is jewel of the wise

Kural 119

Justice is upright, unbending And free from crooked word-twisting

Kural 120

A trader's trade prospers fairly When his dealings are neighbourly