Thirukkural 120 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
வாணிகம் செய்வார்க்கு வாணிகம் பேணிப்
பிறவும் தமபோல் செயின்.
Transliteration
Vaanikam Seyvaarkku Vaanikam Penip
Piravum Thamapol Seyin
Modern English
“The real mark of honest business is treating what belongs to someone else with the same care you'd give your own things.”
Modern Interpretation
The real mark of honest business is treating what belongs to someone else with the same care you'd give your own things. That's what earns lasting trust, not just a good sales pitch. For example, a delivery driver who handles a stranger's parcel as carefully as they would their own belongings is practicing real integrity.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The real mark of honest business is treating what belongs to someone else with the same care you'd give your own things.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
A trader's trade prospers fairly When his dealings are neighbourly
G.U. Pope Translation
As thriving trader is the trader known,Who guards another's interests as his own
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The true merchandize of merchants is to guard and do by the things of others as they do by their own
Tamil commentary
பிறர் பொருளையும் தம் பொருள் போலக் காத்து, வியாபாரம் செய்தால் வியாபாரிகளுக்கு நல்ல வியாபார முறை ஆகும்.
Chapter 12
More from Impartiality
நடுவு நிலைமை
Equity is supreme virtue It is to give each man his due
Kural 112Wealth of the man of equity Grows and lasts to posterity
Kural 113Though profitable, turn away From unjust gains without delay
Kural 114The worthy and the unworthy Are seen in their posterity
Kural 115Loss and gain by cause arise; Equal mind adorns the wise
Kural 116Of perdition let him be sure Who leaves justice to sinful lure
Kural 117The just reduced to poverty Is not held down by equity
Kural 118Like balance holding equal scales A well poised mind is jewel of the wise
Kural 119Justice is upright, unbending And free from crooked word-twisting
Kural 120A trader's trade prospers fairly When his dealings are neighbourly