Thirukkural 165 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அழுக்காறு உடையார்க்கு அதுசாலும் ஒன்னார்
வழுக்காயும் கேடீன் பது.
Transliteration
Azhukkaaru Utaiyaarkku Adhusaalum Onnaar
Vazhukka�yum Keteen Padhu
Modern English
“For someone who's genuinely consumed by envy, that alone is enough to bring them down, no outside enemy required.”
Modern Interpretation
For someone who's genuinely consumed by envy, that alone is enough to bring them down, no outside enemy required. Envy does the damage all by itself. For example, someone who can't stop resenting a friend's success ends up isolating themselves through their own bitterness, without anyone else needing to do anything.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
For someone who's genuinely consumed by envy, that alone is enough to bring them down, no outside enemy required.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Man shall be wrecked by envy's whim Even if enemies spare him
G.U. Pope Translation
Envy they have within! Enough to seat their fate!Though foemen fail, envy can ruin consummate
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
To those who cherish envy that is enough Though free from enemies that (envy) will bring destruction
Tamil commentary
பொறாமை உடையவர்க்குத் தீமை தரப் பகைவர் வேண்டியதில்லை; பொறாமையே போதும்
Chapter 17
More from Not Envying
அழுக்காறாமை
Deem your heart as virtuous When your nature is not jealous
Kural 162No excellence excels the one That by nature envies none
Kural 163Who envies others' good fortune Can't prosper in virtue of his own
Kural 164The wise through envy don't others wrong Knowing that woes from evils throng
Kural 165Man shall be wrecked by envy's whim Even if enemies spare him
Kural 166Who envies gifts shall suffer ruin Without food and clothes with his kin
Kural 167Fortune deserts the envious Leaving misfortune omnious
Kural 168Caitiff envy despoils wealth And drags one into evil path
Kural 169Why is envy rich, goodmen poor People with surprise think over
Kural 170The envious prosper never The envyless prosper ever