Thirukkural 137 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒழுக்கத்தின் எய்துவர் மேன்மை இழுக்கத்தின்
எய்துவர் எய்தாப் பழி.
Transliteration
Ozhukkaththin Eydhuvar Menmai Izhukkaththin
Eydhuvar Eydhaap Pazhi
Modern English
“Good conduct is what actually brings people genuine standing in life; slipping from it brings a kind of disgrace that's hard to shake off, often worse than the person expects.”
Modern Interpretation
Good conduct is what actually brings people genuine standing in life; slipping from it brings a kind of disgrace that's hard to shake off, often worse than the person expects. For example, someone caught lying to cover a small mistake often ends up facing far more embarrassment than if they'd simply admitted the mistake in the first place.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
Good conduct is what actually brings people genuine standing in life; slipping from it brings a kind of disgrace that's hard to shake off, often worse than the person expects.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Conduct good ennobles man, Bad conduct entails disgrace mean
G.U. Pope Translation
'Tis source of dignity when 'true decorum' is preserved;Who break 'decorum's' rules endure e'en censures undeserved
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
From propriety of conduct men obtain greatness; from impropriety comes insufferable disgrace
Tamil commentary
ஒழுக்கத்தினால் உயர்வை அடைவர்; ஒழுக்கம் இல்லாதவர் வேண்டாத பழியை அடைவர்.
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