Thirukkural 138 in English

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

Tamil original

நன்றிக்கு வித்தாகும் நல்லொழுக்கம் தீயொழுக்கம்
என்றும் இடும்பை தரும்.

Transliteration

Nandrikku Viththaakum Nallozhukkam Theeyozhukkam
Endrum Itumpai Tharum

English Translation

“Good conduct sows seeds of blessings Bad conduct endless evil brings”

Plain-English meaning

Propriety of conduct is the seed of virtue; impropriety will ever cause sorrow

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Good conduct sows seeds of blessings Bad conduct endless evil brings

G.U. Pope Translation

'Decorum true' observed a seed of good will be;'Decorum's breach' will sorrow yield eternally

Plain-English Meaning

Propriety of conduct is the seed of virtue; impropriety will ever cause sorrow

நல்லொழுக்கம், அறமாகிய நன்மைக்கு வித்தாக அமைந்து இம்மை மறுமையிலும் இன்பம் தரும்; தீயொழுக்கமோ துன்பமே தரும்.

Chapter 14

ஒழுக்கம் உடைமை

Decorum does one dignity More than life guard its purity

Virtues of conduct all excel; The soul aid should be guarded well

Good conduct shows good family Low manners mark anomaly

Readers recall forgotten lore, But conduct lost returns no more

The envious prosper but ill The ill-behaved sinks lower still

The firm from virtue falter not They know the ills of evil thought

Conduct good ennobles man, Bad conduct entails disgrace mean

Good conduct sows seeds of blessings Bad conduct endless evil brings

Foul words will never fall from lips Of righteous men even by slips

Though read much they are ignorant Whose life is not world-accordant