Kural 115Chapter 12: Impartiality

Thirukkural 115 in English

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

Tamil original

கேடும் பெருக்கமும் இல்லல்ல நெஞ்சத்துக்
கோடாமை சான்றோர்க் கணி.

Transliteration

Ketum Perukkamum Illalla Nenjaththuk
Kotaamai Saandrork Kani

Modern English

“Both success and failure happen to everyone; neither comes without reason.”

Modern Interpretation

Both success and failure happen to everyone; neither comes without reason. Staying level-headed through both is what actually makes a person admirable. For example, someone who stays calm and fair after losing an election, and after winning one, earns more respect than someone who only handles one of those well.

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Modern Plain English

Both success and failure happen to everyone; neither comes without reason.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

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

G.U. Pope Translation

The gain and loss in life are not mere accident;Just mind inflexible is sages' ornament

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

Loss and gain come not without cause; it is the ornament of the wise to preserve evenness of mind (under both)

Tamil commentary

தீமையும் நன்மையும் எல்லார்க்கும் முன்பே குறிக்கப்பட்டு விட்டன; இதை அறிந்து நெஞ்சத்தால் நீதி தவறாது இருப்பது சான்றோர்க்கு அழகாகும்.

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