Thirukkural 1298 in English

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

Tamil original

எள்ளின் இளிவாம்என்று எண்ணி அவர்திறம்
உள்ளும் உயிர்க்காதல் நெஞ்சு.

Transliteration

Ellin Ilivaamendru Enni Avardhiram
Ullum Uyirkkaadhal Nenju

Modern English

“Love remembers a beloved's good qualities because treating that person with contempt would also diminish the self.”

Modern Interpretation

Love remembers a beloved's good qualities because treating that person with contempt would also diminish the self. Even after a separation, someone may speak respectfully instead of mocking the person they once loved.

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Tamil pronunciation

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Modern Plain English

Love remembers a beloved's good qualities because treating that person with contempt would also diminish the self.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

My heart living in love of him Hails his glory ignoring blame

G.U. Pope Translation

If I contemn him, then disgrace awaits me evermore;My soul that seeks to live his virtues numbers o'er

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

My soul which clings to life thinks only of his (own) gain in the belief that it would be disgraceful for it to despise him

Tamil commentary

உயிர்மேல் காதலை உடைய என் நெஞ்சு, நாமும் அவரை இகழ்ந்தால் பிறகு நமக்கும் இழிவுவரும் என்று எண்ணி, அவர் வரவையும் கலவியையுமே நினைத்து நின்றது.

Chapter 130

More from Expostulation with Oneself

நெஞ்சொடு புலத்தல்

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