Thirukkural 1299 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
துன்பத்திற்கு யாரே துணையாவார் தாமுடைய
நெஞ்சந் துணையல் வழி.
Transliteration
Thunpaththirku Yaare Thunaiyaavaar Thaamutaiya
Nenjan Thunaiyal Vazhi
Modern English
“When our own heart will not support us in hardship, no outside person can fully take its place.”
Modern Interpretation
When our own heart will not support us in hardship, no outside person can fully take its place. During heartbreak, a person must first allow themselves to feel and comfort their own pain.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
When our own heart will not support us in hardship, no outside person can fully take its place.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who support a man in grief If lover's heart denies relief?
G.U. Pope Translation
And who will aid me in my hour of grief,If my own heart comes not to my relief
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Who would help me out of one's distress, when one's own soul refuses help to one?
Tamil commentary
ஒருவரது துன்பத்திற்குத் தாம் உரிமையாகப் பெற்றிருக்கும் தம் நெஞ்சமே துணையாகாதபோது, வேறு யார் துணையாவார்?
Chapter 130
More from Expostulation with Oneself
நெஞ்சொடு புலத்தல்
You see, his heart is his alone; Why not my heart be all my own?
Kural 1292O heart, you see how he slights me Yet you clasp him as if friendly
Kural 1293You follow him at will Is it \"The fallen have no friends\" my heart?
Kural 1294You won't sulk first and then submit Who will then consult you, my heart?
Kural 1295Frets to gain and fears loss in gain O my heart suffers ceaseless pain
Kural 1296My itching mind eats me anon As I muse on him all alone
Kural 1297I forget shame but not his thought In mean foolish mind I'm caught
Kural 1298My heart living in love of him Hails his glory ignoring blame
Kural 1299Who support a man in grief If lover's heart denies relief?
Kural 1300Why wonder if strangers disown When one's own heart is not his own?