Thirukkural 131 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒழுக்கம் விழுப்பந் தரலான் ஒழுக்கம்
உயிரினும் ஓம்பப் படும்.
Transliteration
Ozhukkam Vizhuppan Tharalaan Ozhukkam
Uyirinum Ompap Patum
Modern English
“Good conduct is what actually earns someone lasting respect and standing, so it's worth protecting even more carefully than life itself.”
Modern Interpretation
Good conduct is what actually earns someone lasting respect and standing, so it's worth protecting even more carefully than life itself. Reputation, once damaged, is much harder to rebuild than almost anything else. For example, someone who protects their reputation for honesty by never cheating, even when no one's watching, is guarding something more valuable than any single grade or prize.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
Good conduct is what actually earns someone lasting respect and standing, so it's worth protecting even more carefully than life itself.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Decorum does one dignity More than life guard its purity
G.U. Pope Translation
'Decorum' gives especial excellence; with greater care'Decorum' should men guard than life, which all men share
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Propriety of conduct leads to eminence, it should therefore be preserved more carefully than life
Tamil commentary
ஒழுக்கம், அதை உடையவர்க்குச் சிறப்பைத் தருவதால் உயிரைக் காட்டிலும் மேலானதாக அதைக் காக்க வேண்டும்.
Chapter 14
More from The Possession of Decorum
ஒழுக்கம் உடைமை
Decorum does one dignity More than life guard its purity
Kural 132Virtues of conduct all excel; The soul aid should be guarded well
Kural 133Good conduct shows good family Low manners mark anomaly
Kural 134Readers recall forgotten lore, But conduct lost returns no more
Kural 135The envious prosper but ill The ill-behaved sinks lower still
Kural 136The firm from virtue falter not They know the ills of evil thought
Kural 137Conduct good ennobles man, Bad conduct entails disgrace mean
Kural 138Good conduct sows seeds of blessings Bad conduct endless evil brings
Kural 139Foul words will never fall from lips Of righteous men even by slips
Kural 140Though read much they are ignorant Whose life is not world-accordant